Sugar Ray Leonard

Sugar Ray Leonard (born 1956) is an American former boxer. He was one of the leading boxers in the world in the 1970s and 1980s, winning world titles at multiple weights and triumphing in contests with such celebrated opponents as Thomas Hearns, Roberto Duran and Marvin Hagler. Born Ray Charles Leonard, named for the singing legend Ray Charles, Leonard later adopted the nickname used by Sugar Ray Robinson.

World Champion

Leonard won his first defense by knocking out British challenger Dave Green in 4 rounds in Landover, Maryland. Green was frozen with a right to the chin. The fight was broadcast to a national audience in the United States. Next, Leonard went back to the Olympic Stadium in Montreal to defend his title against Roberto Duran, in the first superfight of the 1980s. Leonard fell prey to Duran's courage, toughness and superior skills. Duran punished and humiliated Leonard, inflicting his first loss.

Related Topics:
British - Dave Green - Landover - Maryland - United States - Olympic Stadium - Montreal - Roberto Duran - 1980s

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Leonard came back for their rematch in New Orleans on November 25, 1980. He ran from Duran, frustrating him from the opening bell, and with 17 seconds to go in round 8, the unthinkable happened: Duran turned around, walked to his corner and gave up, saying the now famous words: no más. Referee Octavio Meyran, perhaps as incredulous as was the rest of the world at what he was seeing, asked Duran if he was sure, and Duran repeated: No más, no más. It was later discovered that Duran was suffering from food poisoning - a fact often downplayed or ignored by the media.

Related Topics:
New Orleans - November 25 - 1980 - Octavio Meyran

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Leonard was a world champion again and, after avenging his only defeat, once more on top of the world.

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Next came his fight with Ayub Kalule, world junior middleweight champion. Kalule gave Leonard a tough fight and it was closely contested, but in round 9, Leonard connected a right to the chin that sent Kalule down. He was stopped in that round, and in celebration of his second world title, Leonard did a back flip.

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Friend and ring arch-rival Thomas Hearns, meanwhile, was tearing apart the Welterweight division and had won the WBA world title knocking out the Hall Of Famer, Pipino Cuevas. A unification bout was set for September 16, 1981, once again at the Caesar's Palace hotel. In a bout showcased by HBO, Leonard and Hearns fought one for the ages. Superfight 1981, was full of surprises, as after starting out banging, Hearns decided to change from puncher to boxer from round 6 onward, with Leonard also trading roles, from boxer to puncher. With an eye completely closed, trailing on all 3 score cards, Leonard nonetheless started closing the gap until he floored Hearns twice in round 13, the second one almost causing Hearns to fall out of the ring. The spent Hearns could barely get up for round 14, and after a rain of punches caught him against the ropes, referee David Pearl had no choice but to stop the fight, making Leonard the undisputed world welterweight champion. For his performance, he also received Sports Illustrated magazine's "Sportsman of the Year" award.

Related Topics:
Thomas Hearns - Pipino Cuevas - September 16 - 1981 - HBO - David Pearl - Sports Illustrated - Sportsman of the Year

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Defenses against Larry Bonds and Bruce Finch followed, but his next defense, vs Roger Stafford, had to be postponed. Doctors discovered Leonard had suffered a detached retina, and he underwent surgery at Johns Hopkins hospital in July 1982 to repair the problem. By then people were constantly talking about a fight with world Middleweight champion Marvin Hagler.

Related Topics:
Larry Bonds - Bruce Finch - Roger Stafford - Detached retina - Johns Hopkins - July - 1982 - Marvin Hagler

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