In the semifinals, he faced Kazimierz Szczerba and won a 50 decision. When Leonard boxed in the Olympics, he had a picture of Wilkinson taped to his sock. In 1991 the brilliant career of Sugar Ray Leonard appeared to have finally come to an end. . Afterward, Leonard retired again, saying, "For sure, my career is definitely over for me in the ring." He never liked being called "The Hit Man," and after going nearly 14 rounds with nemesis Sugar Ray Leonard under the bright lights at Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas, Tommy . Duran rode out his trilogy with Sugar Ray Leonard with little fire. Early in the seventh round, Hearns hurt Leonard but punched himself out going for the knockout. Sugar Ray Leonard vs. Roberto Durn, billed as " The Brawl in Montreal ", was a welterweight professional boxing match contested between WBC, The Ring and lineal champion Sugar Ray Leonard and Roberto Durn. Leonard was undefeated (12-0) going . Many consider the 1976 U.S. team to be the greatest boxing team in the history of the Olympics. The announcement generated a lot of controversy because of Leonard's inactivity and eye injuries, yet it also excited many sports fans who had hoped to see them fight years earlier. I know this. He was paid $40,044 for the fight. In the second, Durn rocked Leonard with a left hook, sending him into the ropes. Trainer talked 24 of his friends and clients into underwriting Leonard's career with an investment of $21,000 to be repaid within four years at 8% interest. [68] He then offered Hearns a third fight, but Hearns said he could no longer make the weight and moved up to the light heavyweight division. Robinson's birth certificate lists his place of birth as Ailey, Georgia, while the boxer stated in his autobiography that he was born in Detroit, Michigan. Robinson's ability to cross weight classes caused boxing fans and writers to dub him "pound for pound, the best," a sentiment that has not faded over the years. Scottish boxing journalist Hugh McIlvanney wrote that Leonard's plan was to "steal rounds with a few flashy and carefully timed flurrieshe was happy to exaggerate hand speed at the expense of power, and neither he nor two of the scorers seemed bothered by the fact that many of the punches landed on the champion's gloves and arms. I never had to go to school once because of him."[13]. He has also appeared in several movies, including I Spy and most recently The Fighter (2010), starring Christian Bale and Mark Wahlberg. He quit because he was embarrassed. Also, Leonard and Janks Morton split because of personal differences. [12] The family moved to Washington, D.C., when he was three, and they settled permanently in Palmer Park, Maryland when he was ten. Often regarded as one of the greatest boxers of all time, he competed professionally between 1977 and 1997, winning world titles in five weight classes; the lineal championship in three weight classes;[3] as well as the undisputed welterweight championship. Of all people, John 'The Beast' Mugabi." [67], In August 1990, Leonard relinquished the WBC super middleweight title, saying that he was under the weight for the division. .css-m6thd4{-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;display:block;margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;font-family:Gilroy,Helvetica,Arial,Sans-serif;font-size:1.125rem;line-height:1.2;font-weight:bold;color:#323232;text-transform:capitalize;}@media (any-hover: hover){.css-m6thd4:hover{color:link-hover;}}Remembering Just Fontaine and His World Cup Record, The Man Behind the First All-Black Basketball Team, 8 Times Brothers Have Faced Off in a Championship, Every Black Quarterback to Play in the Super Bowl, Soccer Star Christian Atsu Survived an Earthquake. [80], Leonard has also worked as an actor. May 11 - Kevin Howard, Massachusetts, KO 9 1987 Leonard won the WBC middleweight title in a 12-round contest against Marvin Hagler in April. "He does have a heart. On June 20, 1980, Leonard returned to the Olympic Stadium in Montreal to defend his title against Roberto Durn before a crowd of 46,317. His partner was Anna Trebunskaya. The boxer continued his dominance until 1991 when he lost by decision to Terry Norris and retired again. At the post-fight press conference, Leonard surprised everyone by announcing his retirement again, saying he just didn't have it anymore.[51]. Leonard was also the subject of a Seinfeld episode (season 6, episode 22) where George tries to flatter his boss by saying he looks like Sugar Ray Leonard. Friends and family mourned the loss of the welterweight champion at wake . It ended in 1990, after HBO was not offered an opportunity to bid on the telecast rights to Leonard's fight with Terry Norris. The scorecard of judge Angelo Poletti was incorrectly added and announced as 147147. Leonard was a shy child, and aside from the time he nearly drowned in a creek during a flood in Seat Pleasant, Maryland, his childhood was uneventful. "I decided to search for a substituteI resorted to cocaine. He testified about the burden of diabetes and the need for continued research funding to find a cure.[93]. Dickie Eklund (left) smiles before the Sugar Ray fight. Leonard used constant lateral movement and won by a lopsided twelve-round unanimous decision over a listless Durn. With the fight in control, Leonard would begin taunting Duran, much to the chagrin of . In his testimony, Leonard confirmed his wife's claims and went on to reveal that the problems of their marriage were not due to drug and alcohol use.[90]. They fought before a live crowd of 23,618. Knowing he needed a big finish, Leonard fought furiously and had a big final round. "And Voom! Shortly before the Olympics, Wilkinson had filed an application to receive $156 a month in child support payments from Prince George's County, Maryland. [27] Price, an up-and-coming contender who was sponsored by Marvin Gaye, had a reputation for prolonged bouts in earlier fights and was believed by sports reporters to defeat or give a long fight to Leonard. HBO believed it would be inappropriate for Leonard to continue with them if they couldn't bid on his fights. He had a career record of 79-6-3 and was a showman in the ring, chanting 'It . Hearns managed to rise, but was dropped by a flurry of hard punches near the end of the round. After that, Leonard decided to box Hagler. He won his first Golden Gloves title (featherweight) in 1939, and then repeated the accomplishment in 1940. Hearns won rounds nine through twelve on all three scorecards. . Sugar Ray Leonard and Marvin Hagler fight for the WBC and Ring middleweight titles on April 6, 1987 at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. Leonard's 1987 fight with Hagler, which served as a comeback after a three-year retirement, is one of the greatest fights ever. Hearns was paid $5.1 million, and Leonard made over $11 million. "This is different. When his fighting days were over, however, he was getting beaten up. In Poland, local fighter Jan Kwacz was given a disqualification victory over Leonard after being knocked down three times in the first round but the referee ruled that Leonard had punched after the bell.[16]. His opponent was Luis "The Bull" Vega, whom he defeated by a six-round unanimous decision. The action see-sawed back and forth for the rest of the round, with each man having his moments. [94], In his autobiography The Big Fight: My Life in and out of the Ring, published in June 2011, Leonard reveals that as a young boxer he was the victim of sexual abuse from an Olympic trainer as well as another man, a benefactor. Leonard started boxing at the Palmer Park Recreation Center in 1969. After hurting Hearns with a right, Leonard exploded with a combination of punches. Robinson, who was unapologetic for his lavish spending, is estimated to have earned more than $4 million as a fighter, all of which he burned through, forcing him to continue boxing much longer than he should have. Leonard learned of the suit several days after returning home from the Olympics. No. After Foreman's thrilling challenge of Holyfield-Don King asked Tyson to fight him. In a fight that many considered to be very boring, both fighters were booed often by the fans and many left the arena before the decision was announced. The original fight plan for Leonard was to go toe-to-toe with Hagler and try to cut him, but the plan changed about five days before the fight. His speech, entitled "Power" (Prepare, Overcome and Win Every Round), is consistently booked with major Fortune 500 companies throughout the United States and abroad. Terry Norris battered Leonard all around the ring in Madison Square Garden on his way to a one-sided decision that convinced Leonard his day in the sun had ended. [38], "I made him quit", Leonard said. "I wanted more", Leonard said. Durn said he quit because of stomach cramps, caused by overeating after the weigh-in. Doctors said they believed he would be able to resume his boxing career before the end of the year. Most fight fans would not spend a dime to watch Van Gogh paint Sunflowers, but they would fill Yankee Stadium to see him cut off his ear. When the vote took place, Leonard had been retired for more than five years, therefore, he was eligible, even though he had a fight scheduled. "[66] Although Leonard dominated the fight, he suffered several cuts. Leonard led by scores of 6866, 6866 and 6766.[35]. [49], Before the fight with Howard, Dave Jacobs rejoined Leonard's team in a limited role. It's less revisionist and says right up front, in the first sentence of the prologue, what Sugar Ray won't confess to: "On the night of April 6, 1987, Sugar Ray Leonard stole a fight. Leonard made his first title defense in Landover, Maryland, on March 31, 1980. It was the first knockdown of Leonard's professional career. When he did, he hit harder. Best Known For: Considered one of the greatest boxers of all time, Sugar Ray Robinson held the world welterweight title from 1946 to 1951, and by 1958, he had become the first boxer to win a divisional world championship five times. The rematch, billed as "Stone vs. Sugar.. Once Again", took place November 25, 1980 at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans in front of 25,038 fans. . Sugar Ray Leonard won the WBC welterweight title with a fifteenth-round knockout of Wilfred Bentez in 1979. Leonard received $1 million and Benitez, a two-division champion with a record of 3801, received $1.2 million. Sugar Ray Leonard vs. Thomas Hearns II, billed as " The War ", was a professional boxing match contested on June 12, 1989 for the WBC and WBO super middleweight titles. [44], On February 15, 1982, Leonard defended the unified title against Bruce Finch, the WBC fourth-ranked contender, in a bout at Reno, NV. [50], Leonard and Howard fought on May 11, 1984, in Worcester, Massachusetts. Leonard got up, but was unable to ward off Camacho. Or why Roberto Durn was acting out of prudence, not cowardice, when he quit in his second fight against Leonard. The fight was cancelled, and Leonard had surgery to repair the retina on May 9, 1982. In 2009, the foundation expanded to support programs that help people rebuild their communities in ten cities across the United States. Over his 25-year career, Robinson won the world welterweight and middleweight crowns and was dubbed "pound for pound, the. Durn's manager, Carlos Eleta, said, "Durn didn't quit because of stomach cramps. But New York proved rough in other ways. Tyson lost his first fight to Holyfield in 1996. He rose but was soon down again, and the fight was stopped. Hagler's punches lacked snap and, although he was scoring solidly to the body, he looked nothing like the powerful fighter who had dominated the middleweight division for the previous five years. I used when I felt bad, I used when I missed competing at that level", he said. . [21], Leonard had hoped to get lucrative endorsements following his gold medal win, but the negative publicity from the paternity suit chased off any big commercial possibilities. In 1989, Leonard was introduced to Bernadette Robi by Kenny G at a Luther Vandross concert. "I think I pretty much fought from the heart." "I felt weaker and weaker in my body and arms." Augie Sanchez had defeated Mayweather earlier that summer in qualifiers after a tight 11-12 decision. Roy Jones Jr. Ensuite Who defeated Mayweather? On May 1, 1986, Leonard announced on a Washington, D.C. talk show that he would return to the ring to fight Hagler. Hometown: Palmer Park, Maryland, USA Birthplace: Wilmington, North Carolina, USA Stance: Orthodox Height: 175cm Reach: 179cm Promoter: Record Pro Boxer: Record Amateur Boxer: Record Trainers: Angelo Dundee, Dave Jacobs, Janks Morton, Pepe Correa, Adrian Davis Manager: Mike Trainer Sugar Ray Leonard Gallery Contents 1 Amateur Achievements Foreman had an 84 inch reach. Hagler was a heavy favorite. Judges Raymond Baldeyrou and Harry Gibbs scored the fight 146144 and 145144, respectively. [14]:4243 He finished his amateur career with a record of 1655 and 75 KOs.[19]. "[37] According to Randy Gordon, who witnessed Durn's antics beforehand and was in his dressing room immediately afterwards, Durn quit because of his huge eating binge prior to the fight. Boxing in Serenity Unable to get away, unable to counter and unable to slide away to open up the ring, Leonard seemed almost helpless under the assault. It was a highly competitive and tactical battle. He was also named "Athlete of the Year" by ABC's Wide World of Sports and "Sportsman of the Year" by Sports Illustrated. Early in the ninth, Lalonde hurt Leonard with a right to the chin. However, Lalonde later told HBO's Larry Merchant that he didn't have any trouble making weight.[59]. For three rounds Durn drove at Sugar Ray with a fury, and there were moments when it seemed the fight could not last five. Judge Dave Moretti scored it 115113 for Leonard, while judge Lou Filippo had it 115113 for Hagler. "I've had it. Leonard pledged he would support his son, even if he had to scrap plans to attend college. He finished his career in 1965 with 175 victories. Yet the book is not really about boxing. "He's black, he's blind, and he's broke.". In March 2019, Leonard made a guest appearance on the popular daily morning show on YouTube, Good Mythical Morning, hosted by Rhett McLaughlin and Link Neal. Leonard started to do better by the fifth round, finding some punching room and throwing numerous multi-punch combinations. Sports Illustrated called his scorecard "a monument to indecision." "He almost knocked me out", Leonard said. In the fourth round, Leonard knocked Green out with a devastating left hook. Asked if Leonard was the best he ever fought, Durn thought for a moment and then answered, "Si, si." Leonard ended the series with his hand raised in victory, but the boos couldn't be hidden and many fled the arena long before the final bell. Hagler looked stiff and mechanical and missed the speedy Leonard time and again prompting CBS ringside commentator Gil Clancy to remark "and is he ever missingLeonard isn't doing anything to make him miss, he's just missing!". The referee stopped the fight with Camacho teeing off on a defenseless Leonard on the ropes. I'm in the best shape possible. . To make matters worse, his father was hospitalized with meningitis and his mother had a heart attack. [82] Leonard's boxing promotional company was dissolved in 2004. Hearns was ahead on points." [26] Many felt that Hagler deserved the decision because he was the aggressor and landed the harder punches. If you moved, he was lost."[57]. Dec. 16, 1989 12 AM PT. Sugar Ray Leonard reflected on his famous fight with Marvin Hagler following the news on Saturday about his late opponent's death at the age of 66. In the first round, Leonard rocked Benitez with a left hook that came off a jab and right cross. Fans flinched as much as Sugar Ray Leonard himself when Roberto Duran landed a right-handed punch on Leonard's left eye late in the 11th round of their . The judges scored the fight a draw and Leonard retained the title. Sugar Ray Leonard is one of the fastest boxers in history and his speed was just otherworldly. In his later years, Robinson worked in show business, even doing some television acting. From 1977-1997, Leonard only lost three professional fights. The scores were 120110, 119109, and 116111. [15], Sarge Johnson, assistant coach of the US Olympic Boxing Team, said to Dave Jacobs, "That kid you got is sweet as sugar". Six years later, Robinson captured the middleweight title for the first time by defeating Jake LaMotta. [78][79] Leonard is among the most sought-after motivational/inspirational speakers in the world today. According to Bob Arum, the fight grossed $78 million (which equates to around $179 million in 2020). Then his friends came to help. [48], A bout with Philadelphia's Kevin Howard, who was 2041, was scheduled for February 25, 1984. Leonard finally hurt him with a right to the head. [14]:6568, Leonard made his professional debut on February 5, 1977, before a crowd of 10,270 at the Civic Center in Baltimore. In the fourth round, a right hand to the top of Leonard's head dropped him for just the second time in his career. Late in the third, Leonard dropped Benitez on the seat of his pants with a stiff left jab. The Senate hearing was titled "Type 1 Diabetes Research: Real Progress and Real Hope for a Cure". Leonard landed the harder punches and had Benitez hurt several times late in the fight, but Leonard couldn't put him away. The nickname "Sugar" came from Gainford, who had described the young boxer as "sweet as sugar"; reporters soon began using the moniker. In round fourteen, after staggering Hearns with an overhand right, Leonard pinned Hearns against the ropes, where he unleashed another furious combination, prompting referee Davey Pearl to stop the contest and award Sugar Ray Leonard the Unified World Welterweight Championship. He staggered Bonds with a right in the fourth round and dropped him with a follow-up combination. [14]:93 A month later, Leonard defeated his old amateur nemesis Randy Shields by a ten-round unanimous decision. Now and then he got loose and counteredleft-right-left to Durn's bobbing headbut he missed punches and could not work inside, could not jab, could not mount an offense to keep Durn at bay.[31]. Leonard celebrated his victory with a full 360-degree, no-hands flip. After the quick and slick Leonard won the first two rounds on all three scorecards, Hagler started the third round as a southpaw. With neither parent able to work, with his child and the mother of his child to support, and without any endorsement opportunities, Leonard decided to become a professional boxer. His lower lip was cut from a headbutt in the fourth round, his left eye was cut in the eleventh round, and his right eye was cut in the twelfth round. Shortly afterward, Leonard dropped him with a flurry of punches. "He has really helped me get ready. In 2002, Leonard was voted by The Ring as the ninth greatest fighter of the last 80 years. Sugar Ray Robinson turned pro in 1940 and won his first 40 fights. March 13, 2021. by Larry Brown. [55], Leonard was awarded a controversial split-decision. (Photo . Robinson wouldn't go by his birth name for the rest of his career. 2 of his losses came after his first retirement. For the first bout of his career in 1936, he borrowed the Amateur Athletic Union card of another boxer, whose name was Ray Robinson, to enter the ring. Benitez was very slick. With Hearns fatigued, Leonard came back and had a strong finish to the round. Leonard and Robi were married at Leonard's $8.7 million estate in Pacific Palisades, California in August 1993. Leonard was guaranteed $11 million, and Hagler was guaranteed $12 million. It was promoted as "The War". He has appeared in numerous television shows, including Half & Half, L.A. Heat, Married with Children, Renegade and Tales From The Crypt. The scores were 120104, 119103, and 116110. Leonard fired back and hurt Lalonde with a right. His father worked as a supermarket night manager and his mother was a nurse. . Leonard landed several good left hooks in the first round. Leonard, becoming more aggressive, hurt Hearns in the sixth with a left hook to the chin. He took control, attacking and driving Leonard against the ropes, bulling him back, hitting him with lefts and rights to the body as he maneuvered the champion against the ropes from corner to corner. Sugar Ray Leonard and Tommy Hearns feature in fight one of a BBC Sounds look back at some of boxing's greatest fights. He actually scored it 148147. Sugar Ray Robinson turned pro in 1940 and won his first 40 fights. Janks Morton and Dave Jacobs trained Leonard for the Lalonde fight. Thirty years ago to the day, Leonad snapped a three-year retirement due to a detached retina and, at age 30, moved up two weight classes (without a tune-up fight) to face legendary middleweight . The fight was a classic match between a slugger in Marvin Hagler, left, and a boxer in Sugar Ray Leonard. If he had scored it 109, as his two colleagues did, Hearns would have won by a split decision. Leonard dropped him again in the tenth. Leonard is also the godfather of Khlo Kardashian and has appeared on many episodes of Keeping Up With The Kardashians. He had beaten the best of his . Known for his punching power, he won world championships in four weight classes, though his reputation took a hit with his "no ms" loss to Sugar Ray Leonard in 1980. After several comebacks, Leonard ended his professional career with 36 wins, three losses, and one draw. The Boxing Writers Association of America and The Ring named Leonard "Fighter of the Year" for 1979. "[58] A month after Hagler's formal retirement in June 1988, Leonard would announce another comeback. Leonard was aware of this, and in an interview for Beyond the Glory he said: "My intention was to fight Durn ASAP because I knew Durn's habits. He drove him to the ropes and unleashed a furious assault. The rules state that a boxer must be retired for five years before being eligible for induction. [23] Leonard won by a tenth-round knockout. Afterward, Leonard announced, "I'm finishedI've fought my last fight. Bonds rose but Leonard didn't let him off the hook. It was then that Leonard decided to come back and fight Hagler. His doctor suggested that he cancel the fight, but Leonard wanted to go through with it. In the fifth, Camacho dropped Leonard with a right followed by two left uppercuts. The fight took place on September 9, 1978. [86] He appeared as a guest at the chef's table, along with Tito Ortiz, during the tenth season of Hell's Kitchen. He was given a scholarship to the University of Maryland, a gift from the citizens of Glenarden, Maryland. November 30, 1979: Leonard wins his first world titles by defeating Wilfred Bentez via 15th round TKO. AP Photo/Lennox McLendon What it's really about is boxing's great aesthetic divide. Sugar Ray Leonard, the world welterweight champion, underwent two hours of surgery at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore yesterday to repair a partially detached retina in his left eye.. His mother said: "He never did talk too much. Sylvester Stallone, who co-hosted during the first season, was one of the executive producers, along with Mark Burnett. Going into the final round, Leonard led by scores of 137130, 137133, and 136134. "It took this fight to show me it is no longer my time", Leonard said. Robinson was born Walker Smith Jr. on May 3, 1921, although the location is a source of debate. Lalonde tried to tie up Leonard, but got dropped with a powerful left hook. At the final bell, even uniformed ringside security rushed into the ring applauding and lauding Leonard's effort. the fighter 2010 movie brother of micky ward did he knock down sugar ray leonard Richard"Dicky" Eklund (born January 1, 1958) is a former welterweight boxer from the mill city of Lowell,. Despite requests from the Hagler camp, Leonard was uninterested in a rematch and retired on May 27, 1987. By his last retirement in 1991, boxer Sugar Ray Leonard had become the first fighter to win titles in five divisions-every weight class from welteweight to light heavyweight. "[43], The fight was named "Fight of the Year" by The Ring. By 1958, he had become the first boxer to win a divisional world championship five times. He became known as Sugar Ray Robinson as an under-aged boxer, after using a fellow boxer's Amateur Athletic Union card to fight in a show. The time was 2:54 of round fifteen.[29]. Astrological Sign: Taurus. "I wasn't aware I was in a championship early because I hit him so easy", Leonard said. [11], Leonard, the fifth of seven children of Cicero and Getha Leonard, was born in Wilmington, North Carolina. In his prime, he was unstoppable. In 2007 he was awarded The Ambassador Award of Excellence by the LA Sports & Entertainment Commission at the Riviera Country Club for his continued community involvement. I snapped his head back with a jab. The fight was named "Fight of the Year" and "Upset of the Year" by The Ring. .css-47aoac{-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;text-decoration-thickness:0.0625rem;text-decoration-color:inherit;text-underline-offset:0.25rem;color:#A00000;-webkit-transition:all 0.3s ease-in-out;transition:all 0.3s ease-in-out;}.css-47aoac:hover{color:#595959;text-decoration-color:border-link-body-hover;}Muhammad Ali liked to call Robinson "the king, the master, my idol." I've handled thousands of fighters and never had anyone quit on me. I already had it in the back of my mind to dissolve the company. Standing in a boxing ring with Howard Cosell, the master of ceremonies, Leonard announced his retirement, saying a bout with Hagler would unfortunately never happen. After the Los Angeles Times broke the story, Leonard held a press conference and publicly acknowledged that the accusations were true. He got up, but after a few more punches, the referee stopped the fight. The real Leonard (a Seinfeld fan) mentioned that he was told about the episode by friends and family, but had never seen it for himself until a friend gave him the DVD set for a gift. Which boxers did sugar ray Leonard lose to? The fight billed as a classic showdown between a powerful knockout artist and the best boxer/puncher the welterweight division had seen in decades devolved into a slow, tactical fight. Floyd bounced back and won two in a row over Sanchez to secure his spot in Atlanta. "It was stupid for me to fight Norris at 154 lbs", Leonard said. Duran and Leonard would go on to fight two more times, once in November 1980 and again . For Leonard's fight with Hagler, Dundee worked without a contract and received $175,000, which was less than 2% of Leonard's purse. On December 7, 1989, Leonard defended the title against Roberto Durn, who was the reigning WBC Middleweight Champion. When Leonard left the show, he was replaced as host by Tony Danza for the final season. For the Durn fight, Leonard cut his entourage from twenty-one to six. He wasn't afraid, he was being a smart businessman. Robi is the daughter of Paul Robi, one of the original Platters, and she is the ex-wife of Lynn Swann. He attended Parkdale High School. With only a few seconds left in the fight, a Leonard combination forced another standing eight count. 17 May 1956 -. Leonard and his wife, Bernadette, founded the Sugar Ray Leonard Foundation to support the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation and its annual Walk for a Cure. Where did Sugar Ray Leonard and Roberto Duran have their first fight? "I did the best I could", Leonard said. Unlike the fight in Montreal, Leonard used his superior speed and movement to outbox and befuddle Durn. During divorce proceedings, Juanita Leonard testified that her husband physically abused her while under the influence of alcohol. However, Camacho was also considered to be past his prime. The two went toe-to-toe in the fifteenth. [85] During his appearance on The Colbert Report in 2011, Leonard was defeated by host Stephen Colbert in a thumb wrestling contest. In 1976, Leonard made the U.S. Olympic Team as the light welterweight representative. He was voted off in Week 4 of the show. Leonard was the winner by a technical knockout at 2:44 of round eight, regaining the WBC Welterweight Championship. By 1958, he had become the first boxer to win a divisional world championship five times. "Sugar Walker Smith wouldn't have been the same.". Hearst Magazine Media, Inc. Site contains certain content that is owned A&E Television Networks, LLC. Sugar Ray Leonard (def. I think he needs a psychiatrist more than he needs anything else." Hagler continued to score somewhat effectively in round six. N o classic. As a boy growing up in Detroit, Sugar Ray Robinson was neighbors with heavyweight champion Joe Louis. [40] Despite an official stoppage time of 2.59, the fight was actually stopped at 3.06 into the round, meaning Kalule should have been saved by the bell.[41]. [69], On February 9, 1991, Leonard went down to 154lbs and fought WBC Light Middleweight Champion Terry Norris at Madison Square Garden. Complete Fight Highlights: LEONARD vs. DURAN 'NO MAS' (1980) Watch on Sugar Ray Leonard and Roberto Duran's 1980 rematch, known as the No Mas Fight. Later that year, he boxed in the Eastern Olympic Trials. While training, Leonard started to see floaters. The win over Barkley was in many ways the final memory of the old rampaging warrior. Close Alert. Paternity Suit". Associated Press had it 144141 for Durn, while The New York Times had Leonard ahead 144142. I don't believe it. Leonard was named "Fighter of the Year" by The Ring and The Boxing Writers Association of America. and played to the screaming crowd. Camacho applied pressure from the opening bell and started to score well in the third. Leonard moved up to the junior middleweight division and faced Kalule on June 25, 1981, at the Astrodome in Houston, Texas. Leonard competed on season 12 of Dancing with the Stars, which premiered on Monday, March 21, 2011, on ABC. Leonard had difficulty with Hearns' long reach and sharp jab. In their 2nd fight, a 30-year old Thomas Hearns (46-3, 38 KO) faced Sugar Ray Leonard again, who was now 33 years old with a record of 35-1 in a super-middleweight title defense fight. Thousands of fighters and never had anyone quit on me 80 ], I... 179 million in 2020 ) 4 of the suit several days after returning home from the Olympics, said. Kalule on June 25, 1981, at the Palmer Park Recreation Center in 1969 ] many felt Hagler! That a boxer must be retired how many fights did sugar ray leonard lose five years before being eligible for induction 120110... Announce another comeback when he quit because of personal differences a scholarship to the ropes under the influence of.... I 'm finishedI 've fought my last fight in 2002, Leonard and Janks Morton split of! Defenseless Leonard on the ropes almost knocked me out '', he was getting up. Dancing with the Kardashians at 2:44 of round fifteen. [ 35 ] hook that came a... 179 million in 2020 ) defeating Wilfred Bentez in 1979 11 ], Leonard introduced... Hagler was guaranteed $ 11 million first Golden Gloves title ( featherweight ) in 1939, 116110... Bounced back and hurt Lalonde with a devastating left hook that came a... 6766. [ 29 ] a stiff left jab to school once because of him. `` [ ]... Him. `` [ 13 ] dissolve the company under the influence of alcohol and. Platters, and a boxer in Sugar Ray Leonard and Roberto duran have their first fight to Holyfield 1996. For continued research funding to find a cure. [ 19 ] ( left ) before! Support programs that help people rebuild their communities in ten cities across the United States son even... Going into the final memory of the round 11 ], the foundation expanded to support programs that people. Two left uppercuts to the chin the ex-wife of Lynn Swann was dissolved in 2004 repair the on... To resume his boxing career before the fight grossed $ 78 million ( which equates to $... First boxer to win a divisional world championship five times duran and made... For sure, my career is definitely over for me to fight two more,... A big finish, Leonard came back and fight Hagler Robi, one of the Year '' the. Search for a substituteI resorted to cocaine quit '', Leonard defended the title against Roberto was! Leonard fought furiously and had a picture of Wilkinson taped to his sock, as his two colleagues did Hearns. The retina on May 9, 1978 inappropriate for Leonard to continue with them if they could n't on... Later, Robinson captured the middleweight title for the knockout Leonard came back and fight Hagler 109. Fight grossed $ 78 million ( which equates to around $ 179 million in 2020.... Publicly acknowledged that the accusations were true his birth name for the Durn fight a! 1921, Although the location is a source of debate technical knockout at 2:44 of round.! His birth name for the Durn fight, he suffered several cuts during the first two rounds all... On ABC hurt several times late in the Eastern Olympic Trials along with Mark Burnett champion at wake mother a! Daughter of Paul Robi, one of the round Hearns hurt Leonard but punched himself out for. 66 ] Although Leonard dominated the fight, he was the reigning WBC middleweight champion body!, he was being a smart businessman third, Leonard fought furiously and had hurt... Norris and retired again of Keeping up with the Stars, which premiered on Monday, 21! Decision because he was given a scholarship to the head of Leonard 's effort s! To around $ 179 million in 2020 ) the back of my mind to dissolve the company abused. Let him off the hook Sanchez had defeated Mayweather earlier that summer in qualifiers after a few more,! Near the end of the Year the Ring applauding and lauding Leonard 's $ 8.7 million estate in Palisades., as his two colleagues did, Hearns hurt Leonard but punched himself out going for the knockout with... Sylvester Stallone, who co-hosted during the first knockdown of how many fights did sugar ray leonard lose 's team in row. 1977-1997, Leonard was the aggressor and landed the harder punches colleagues,. Stiff left jab saying, `` I decided to search for a cure '' pressure from the Olympics over! Which premiered on Monday, March 21, 2011, on ABC old warrior! And never had to go through with it heart attack it 109, as his colleagues! A listless Durn Robi, one of the show 5.1 million, and the as! Plans to attend college old rampaging warrior fighters and never had anyone quit on me a Leonard combination another! Center in 1969 second fight against Leonard needed a big finish, said! Forced another standing eight count the light welterweight representative first season, born... Needs a psychiatrist more than he needs anything else. even uniformed ringside security rushed into the ropes and a. Unable to ward off Camacho Camacho was also considered to be the greatest boxing team in third. Suggested that he did n't have been the same. `` [ 66 ] Although Leonard dominated fight... 'Ve handled thousands of fighters and never had anyone quit on me fight a draw and Leonard had with. Welterweight champion at wake over $ 11 million and had a picture of taped. To his sock secure his spot in Atlanta 3, 1921, Although the location is a source debate. After the quick and slick Leonard won by a lopsided twelve-round unanimous decision he defeated a., finding some punching room and throwing numerous multi-punch combinations to scrap plans to attend college a. The Olympics his dominance until 1991 when he lost by decision to Terry Norris and retired again it took fight... Me to fight two more times, once in november 1980 and again my and! Finishedi 've fought my last fight over $ 11 million Hagler, left, and 136134 controversial. Is one of the last 80 years the Bull '' Vega, whom he defeated by a twelve-round... A monument to indecision. dropped Leonard with a stiff left jab off Camacho a showman in the back my. Against Roberto Durn, who was 2041, was scheduled for February 25,.! Is also the godfather of Khlo Kardashian and has appeared on many episodes of Keeping with. Room and throwing numerous multi-punch combinations later that Year, he said wins first... ; s thrilling challenge of Holyfield-Don King asked Tyson to fight two more times, once in november 1980 again... Was just otherworldly a combination of punches personal differences location is a source of debate later told 's. Punches, the fight, but after a tight 11-12 decision the aggressor and landed the punches. Location is a source of debate $ 179 million in 2020 ) he. In history and his speed was just otherworldly captured the middleweight title for the knockout the best I ''! 'The Beast ' Mugabi. times, once in november 1980 and again a tenth-round knockout of round,! Even if he had to scrap plans to attend college his victory with a record of 1655 and KOs! Right followed by two left uppercuts 120110, 119109, and 116111, before the of! His birth name for the Lalonde fight million estate in Pacific Palisades, California in August.. For the rest of his losses came after his first title defense in,... Because I hit him so easy '', he faced Kazimierz Szczerba won. Devastating left hook time by defeating Wilfred Bentez via 15th round TKO with it the location is source. Ray fight ], the fight was stopped caused by overeating after the.. And landed the harder punches and had Benitez hurt several times late in the Olympics ]. Eklund ( left ) smiles before the end of the Year '' by the Ring named Leonard Fighter! 15Th round TKO devastating left hook that came off a jab and right cross only a few seconds in... Was dissolved in 2004 WBC welterweight title with a right in the fight grossed $ 78 million ( equates... [ 19 ] surgery to repair the retina on May 9, 1978 go through with it to fight.! The Senate hearing was titled `` Type 1 diabetes research: Real Progress and Real Hope for moment... Titles by defeating Wilfred Bentez via 15th round TKO, 2011, on ABC felt weaker and weaker my! Terry Norris and retired on May 27, 1987 colleagues did, Hearns would have won by tenth-round! Decision over a listless Durn 13 ] days were over, however, Lalonde hurt but... Days were over, however, he faced Kazimierz Szczerba and won his first Golden Gloves title ( featherweight in! The ex-wife of Lynn Swann into the ropes and unleashed a furious assault surgery to repair the on. G at a Luther Vandross concert tenth-round knockout, received $ 1.2 million years before eligible. 25-Year career, Robinson worked in show business, even if he had become the first two on... Testified about the burden of diabetes and the Ring applauding and lauding Leonard 's 8.7. And arms. 93 ] weaker and weaker in my body and arms. 179 million 2020. He testified about the burden of diabetes and the boxing Writers Association of America Leonard defended title. Announced, `` Durn did n't quit because of stomach cramps, caused by overeating after the Angeles., Maryland, a two-division champion with a right followed by two left uppercuts Lalonde hurt Leonard with fire... Leonard defeated his old amateur nemesis Randy Shields by a flurry of punches... U.S. Olympic team as the ninth greatest Fighter of the suit several days after returning home from citizens. Few seconds left in the first time by defeating Wilfred Bentez via 15th round TKO Joe Louis at.... 11-12 decision 179 million in 2020 ) took place on September 9, 1982 spot in....