Sugar Ray Leonard gives edge to Mayweather vs Pacquiao

MANILA, Philippines -- Boxing legend Sugar Ray Leonard gives Floyd Mayweather, Jr. the edge when he takes on Manny Pacquiao on May 2 in Las Vegas to settle who's the best pound-for-pound boxer of this generation. 

Leonard, a former five-division champion, is rooting for Mayweather because of his unblemished 47-0 record. 

"I give the edge to Mayweather because he hasn't tasted a defeat in his career," Leonard told UK's Evening Express. 

Long before Mayweather and Pacquiao, there was Leonard and Roberto Duran, one of the biggest and most exciting boxing rivalries in the 80's. 

Leonard and Duran figured in a classic trilogy that was even relieved in ESPN's documentary series 30 for 30 entitled 'No Mas'. 

Sugar Ray Leonard throws a punch against his Panamanian rival Roberto Duran during the third installment of their classic trilogy. Photo from Boxrec.com

The American ring legend also figured in memorable fights against fellow boxing greats Thomas Hearns and Marvin Hagler but none bigger than his rivalry with Duran. He believes that the Mayweather-Pacquiao fight can rival his "No Mas" showdown with Duran in 1980. 

"The Mayweather-Pacquiao has already come close in size to the one between myself and Roberto Duran due to the global anticipation," Leonard said. 

Leonard, who was the Boxer of the Decade in the 80's, won two of the three fights against his Panamanian rival. 

Their first showdown in June, 1980 went to Duran via a unanimous decision. Five months later, they met again in one of the most anticipated fights of their era. Leonard went on to win via 8th round TKO where Duran made 'No Mas' (Spanish word for 'No More') famous. A 33-year old Leonard scored a unanimous decision over a washed-up 38-year old Duran for one last time in 1989 in a fight dubbed as 'Uno Mas' (One More) a rhetorical spin for 'No Mas' in a fitting end to a classic rivalry. 

Mayweather-Pacquiao has the makings of another classic trilogy like the Leonard-Duran but the Filipino boxing icon would need to prove the American boxing legend wrong on May 2 before entertaining that possibility.