Sugar Ray Leonard
Speed, smarts and a finisher's instinct.
- Born
- May 17, 1956, Wilmington, North Carolina, US
- Nationality
United States- Height
- 178 cm (5′10″)
- Reach
- 188 cm (6′2″)
- Stance
- Orthodox
- Style
- Speed boxer-puncher
- Weight
- Welterweight, Light middleweight, Middleweight, Super middleweight, Light heavyweight
- Active
- 1977–1997
- Status
- Retired · age 70
The record
Professional; matches IBHOF record
1976 Olympic gold (light welterweight)
The story
ay Charles Leonard won Olympic light welterweight gold in Montreal in 1976 and turned pro in 1977. He stopped Wilfred Benítez for the WBC welterweight title in 1979, lost it to Roberto Durán in a brawl in Montreal, then outboxed him so badly in the rematch that Durán quit in the eighth round. In 1981 he was behind on all three cards against Thomas Hearns before stopping him in the 14th to unify the division. A detached retina pushed him into retirement; after a one-fight return in 1984 he sat out nearly three more years, then beat Marvelous Marvin Hagler in 1987. He won world titles in five weight classes, starred among the 'Four Kings' of the 1980s and was the first boxer to earn more than $100 million in purses.
- Undisputed welterweight champion (1981)
- World champion in five weight classes, welterweight to light heavyweight
- Lineal champion in three weight classes
- International Boxing Hall of Fame (1997)
- The Ring Fighter of the Year (1979, 1981)
- Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year (1981)
- Boxer of the Decade (1980s)
Defining fights
- 1979WINvs Wilfred Benítez (TKO 15, won WBC welterweight title)
- 1980LOSSvs Roberto Durán (UD 15, Brawl in Montreal)
- 1980WINvs Roberto Durán (TKO 8, 'No Más')
- 1981WINvs Thomas Hearns (TKO 14, undisputed welterweight title)
- 1987WINvs Marvin Hagler (SD 12, won middleweight title)
Change the plan when it is not working: after losing a brawl to Durán, Leonard won the rematch with lateral movement and speed. Practise switching from trading in the pocket to boxing on the move within a single round.
