"Ray Arcel trained Duran, Leonard, and a slew of bum of the month victims for Joe Louis. He was truly a great trainer and always said that Benny Leonard was the best fighter he had ever trained. "

Actually you are wrong on this one Harry Greb (except that both were trained by Arcel) as I distinctly remember the ring magazine article circa 1977 in which both Ray Arcel and Fred Brown pronounced Roberto Duran the best lightweight ever.

I agree with Randyman: too close to call! And yet, who wouldn't have wanted to see this lightweight battle of the ages? Benny Leonard was, like Roberto Duran, a boxing technician who dissected opponents throughout the fight amidst their perpetual motion and forward advancements. But where Duran was a fighter who drained opponents on sheer will and fortitude, Leonard was possibly the more tactical thinker who improvised and adjusted when necessary. Both were hard hitters (though Duran might have had the edge on this count) who could also take a punch. In any case, the fight would have resembled a chess match complete with the ebbs and flows that one would expect. Hard to say if there would have been a knockout in this one, but it wouldn't be beyond any imagination that both fighters would have visited the canvas on more than one occasion.

Jay Wilton (see below), you have my commendations. Ray Arcel trained Duran, Leonard, and a slew of bum of the month victims for Joe Louis. He was truly a great trainer and always said that Benny Leonard was the best fighter he had ever trained. After Duran defeated Ray Leonard, Ray changed his mind... that says a lot. Duran would have been too much for Benny although he would have trouble with the movement and the matidor-like style of Benny. Duran would have cornered him and banged him up on the inside. Benny's ribs never looked too formidable too me and Duran had murder on his body punches....

the 2 best lightweights ever,their is not that much film on benny,the little i have seen of the great benny i just dont see him staying away from duran for all those rounds they fought back then,plus can you imagine duran with smaller gloves!!

The two greatest lightweights that ever lived. I can't call it. When it comes to Duran I always lead with my heart. But in all fairness this one is just too close to call. No matter who wins I would just love to see it. There is never a time machine around when you need it.

Benny Leonard,who was lightweight champ from 1917 until his first retirement in 1925,was generally conceeded to be the best lightweight ever,until Roberto Duran. At least one film of him in his first fight with Lou Tendler is available;this set up a rematch which Leonard won solidly and which sold out Yankee Stadium in 1923.To watch Leonard is to watch one of the revolutionaries of a modern style of boxing. In rating the top eighty fighters ever,Duran came in fifth and Leonard was rated eighth;both coincidentally were trained by Ray Arcel.