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Sugar Ray Leonard
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Sugar Ray Leonard
Leonard in 2007
Statistics
Real name
Ray Charles Leonard[1]
Nickname(s)
Sugar
Weight(s)
Welterweight
Light middleweight
Middleweight
Super middleweight
Light heavyweight
Height
5 ft 10 in (178 cm)
Reach
74 in (188 cm)
Nationality
American
Born
(1956-05-17) May 17, 1956 (age 61)[1]
Wilmington, North Carolina, U.S.[1]
Stance
Orthodox
Boxing record
Total fights
40
Wins
36
Wins by KO
25
Losses
3
Draws
1
Medal record[hide]
Men's amateur boxing
Representing United States
Olympic Games
1976 Montreal Light welterweight
Pan American Games
1975 Mexico City Light welterweight
Ray Charles Leonard (born May 17, 1956), best known as "Sugar" Ray Leonard, is an American former professional boxer, motivational speaker, and occasional actor. Often regarded as one of the greatest boxers of all time, he competed from 1977 to 1997, winning world titles in five weight divisions; the lineal championship in three weight divisions;[2] as well as the undisputed welterweight title.[3] Leonard was part of "The Fabulous Four",[4] a group of boxers who all fought each other throughout the 1980s, consisting of himself, Roberto Durán, Thomas Hearns and Marvin Hagler.
"The Fabulous Four" created a wave of popularity in the lower weight classes that kept boxing relevant in the post-Muhammad Ali era, during which Leonard defeated future fellow International Boxing Hall of Fame inductees Hearns, Durán, Hagler, and Wilfred Benítez.[5][6] Leonard was also the first boxer to earn more than $100 million in purses, and was named "Boxer of the Decade" in the 1980s.[7] The Ring magazine named him Fighter of the Year in 1979 and 1981, while the Boxing Writers Association of America (BWAA) named him Fighter of the Year in 1976, 1979, and 1981.
Contents
[hide]
1 Early life
2 Amateur career
2.1 Achievements
3 Change in plans
4 Professional career
4.1 Early professional career
4.2 First world title
4.2.1 Leonard vs. Benitez
4.2.2 Leonard vs. Green
4.3 The Brawl in Montreal
4.4 Revenge in New Orleans
4.5 Second world title
4.5.1 Leonard vs. Bonds
4.5.2 Leonard vs. Kalule
4.6 The Showdown
5 Retirement and return
5.1 Leonard vs. Hagler
5.2 Another comeback
5.2.1 Leonard v Lalonde
5.2.2 Leonard v Hearns
5.2.3 Leonard v Duran
5.2.4 Leonard v Norris
5.3 The last comeback
6 Professional boxing record
7 Media appearances
8 Personal life
8.1 Family
8.2 Charity work
8.3 Molestation
9 See also
10 References
11 External links
Early life[edit]
Leonard, the fifth of seven children of Cicero and Getha Leonard, was born in Wilmington, North Carolina.[1] He was named after Ray Charles, his mother's favorite singer.[8] The family moved to Washington, D.C., when he was three, and they settled permanently in Palmer Park, Maryland when he was ten. His father worked as a supermarket night manager and his mother was a nurse. He attended Parkdale High School, 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. He stayed home a lot, reading comic books and playing with his dog. His mother said: "He never did talk too much. We never could tell what he was thinking. But I never had any problems with him. I never had to go to school once because of him."[9]
Amateur career[edit]
Leonard started boxing at the Palmer Park Recreation Center in 1969. His older brother, Roger, started boxing first. Roger helped start the boxing program, urging the center's director, Ollie Dunlap, to form a team. Dave Jacobs, a former boxer, and Janks Morton volunteered as boxing coaches. Roger won some trophies and showed them off in front of Ray, goading him to start boxing.
In 1972, Leonard boxed in the featherweight quarterfinals of the National AAU Tournament, losing by decision to Jerome Artis. It was his first defeat. Later that year, he boxed in the Eastern Olympic Trials. The rules stated that a boxer had to be seventeen to box in international competition, so Leonard, only sixteen, lied about his age.[10] He made it to the lightweight semifinals, losing a disputed decision to Greg Whaley, who took such a beating that he wasn't allowed to continue in the trials and never boxed again.[11]
Sarge Johnson, assistant coach of the U.S. Olympic Boxing Team, said to Dave Jacobs, "That kid you got is sweet as sugar". The nickname stuck. However, given his style and first name, it was probably only a matter of time before people started calling him Sugar Ray, after the man many consider to be the best boxer of all time, Sugar Ray Robinson.[12]
In 1973, Leonard won the National Golden Gloves Lightweight Championship, but lost to Randy Shields in the lightweight final of the National AAU Tournament. The following year, Leonard won the National Golden Gloves and National AAU Lightweight Championships. Leonard suffered his last two losses as an amateur in 1974. He lost a disputed decision to Anatoli Kamnev in Moscow, after which, Kamnev gave the winner's trophy to Leonard. In Poland, Kazimierz Szczerba was given a decision victory over Leonard, even though he was dominated in the first two rounds and dropped three times in the third.[13]
Leonard won the National Golden Gloves and National AAU Light Welterweight Championships in 1974. The following year, he again won the National AAU Light Welterweight Championship, as well as the Light Welterweight Championship at the Pan American Games.
In 1976, Leonard made the U.S. Olympic Team as the light welterweight representative. The team also included Leon and Michael Spinks, Howard Davis, Jr., Leo Randolph, Charles Mooney, and John Tate. Many consider the 1976 U.S. team to be the greatest boxing team in the history of the Olympics.[14] Leonard won his first four Olympic bouts by 5–0 decisions. He faced Kazimierz Szczerba in the semifinals and won by a 5–0 decision, avenging his last amateur loss.
In the final, Leonard boxed the great Cuban knockout artist Andrés Aldama, who scored five straight knockouts to reach the final. Leonard landed several good left hooks in the first round. In the second, he dropped Aldama with a left to the chin. Late in the final round, he again hurt Aldama, which brought a standing eight count from the referee.
With only a few seconds left in the fight, a Leonard combination forced another standing eight count. Leonard was awarded a 5–0 decision and the Olympic Gold Medal. Afterward, Leonard announced, "I'm finished...I've fought my last fight. My journey has ended, my dream is fulfilled. Now I want to go to school." He was given a scholarship to the University of Maryland, a gift from the citizens of Glenarden, Maryland. He planned to study business administration and communications.[15] He finished his amateur career with a record of 145–5 and 75 KO's.[16]
Achievements[edit]
1973 National Golden Gloves Lightweight Champion, defeating Hilmer Kenty.
1973 National AAU Light Welterweight Championship runner-up, losing to Randy Shields.
1974 National Golden Gloves Light Welterweight Champion, defeating Jeff Lemeir.
1974 National AAU Light Welterweight Champion, defeating Paul Sherry.
1974 North American Championships Gold Medalist, defeating Robert Proulx.
1975 National AAU Light Welterweight Champion, defeating Milton Seward.
1975 North American Championships Gold Medalist, defeating Michel Briere.
1975 Pan American Games Light Welterweight Gold Medalist, defeating Victor Corona.
1976 Olympic Light Welterweight Gold Medalist, defeating Andrés Aldama.
Olympic Results
Defeated Ulf Carlsson (Sweden) points 5–0
Defeated Valery Limassov (Soviet Union) points 5–0
Defeated Clinton McKenzie (Great Britain) points 5–0
Defeated Ulrich Beyer (East Germany) points 5–0
Defeated Kazimierz Szczerba (Poland) points 5–0
Defeated Andrés Aldama (Cuba) points 5–0[17]
Change in plans[edit]
Juanita Wilkinson, Leonard's high school girlfriend, told him she was pregnant in the summer of 1973. They decided to have the baby but marriage would be put off until after the Olympics in 1976. Leonard would continue to pursue his Olympic dream while she and the baby, Ray Charles Leonard, Jr., lived with her parents. When Leonard boxed in the Olympics, he had a picture of Wilkinson taped to his sock.
Shortly before the Olympics, Wilkinson had filed an application to receive $156 a month in child support payments from Prince George's County. She named Leonard as the father and the county's state attorney's office filed a civil suit against Leonard to establish paternity and get support payments for the child. Leonard learned of the suit several days after returning home from the Olympics. The headline in the Washington Star read, "Sugar Ray Leonard Named in Welfare Dept. Paternity Suit".[18]
Wilkinson went to the Olympics to watch Leonard box, but she did not tell him about the suit and never asked him for any money. "I didn't feel like being bothered by all those complications by asking him for any money for support", she said. Leonard pledged he would support his son, even if he had to scrap plans to attend college.[19]
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. To make matters worse, his father was hospitalized with meningitis and his mother suffered a heart attack. 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.[20]
Professional career[edit]
Early professional career[edit]
When Leonard decided to turn professional, Janks Morton introduced him to Mike Trainer, a friend of his who was an attorney. 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. Trainer then made Leonard the sole stockholder in Sugar Ray Leonard, Inc. Angelo Dundee, Muhammad Ali's trainer, was brought in to be Leonard's trainer and manager. Many of the people being considered wanted absolute control and a cut somewhere near the manager's traditional 33%. Dundee had a different proposition. Although he would prescribe the training procedures, he would leave the day-to-day work to Dave Jacobs and Janks Morton. He would also choose Leonard's opponents. For his services, Dundee would get 15% of Leonard's purse.[21]
Leonard made his professional debut on February 5, 1977 before a crowd of 10,270 at the Civic Center in Baltimore. He was paid $40,044 for the fight. His opponent was Luis "The Bull" Vega, whom he defeated by a six-round unanimous decision.[22] After the fight, Leonard paid back his $21,000 loan to the investors.[23]
In his fourteenth professional fight, Leonard fought his first world-ranked opponent, Floyd Mayweather, who was ranked seventeenth. The fight took place on September 9, 1978.[citation needed] Leonard won by a tenth-round knockout.[24] A month later, Leonard defeated his old amateur nemesis Randy Shields by a ten-round unanimous decision.[25][26]
On August 12, 1979, Leonard knocked out Pete Ranzany in four rounds to win the NABF Welterweight Championship.[27] The following month, he made his first title defense against Andy Price. Many felt that Price would give Leonard a tough fight, but Leonard took him out in the first round, advancing his record to 25–0 with 16 knockouts.[28]
First world title[edit]
Leonard vs. Benitez[edit]
Leonard fought Wilfred Benítez for the WBC Welterweight Championship on November 30, 1979, at Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas, Nevada. There was a capacity crowd of about 4,600. Leonard received $1 million and Benitez, a two-division champion with a record of 38–0–1, received $1.2 million.
It was a highly competitive and tactical battle. In the first round, Leonard rocked Benitez with a left hook that came off a jab and right cross. Late in the third, Leonard dropped Benitez on the seat of his pants with a stiff left jab. More embarrassed than hurt, Benitez got up quickly.
Benitez started to do better in the fourth, slipping numerous punches and finding the range with his right hand. "I wasn't aware I was in a championship early because I hit him so easy", Leonard said. "But then he adjusted to my style. It was like looking in a mirror".
In the sixth, there was an accidental clash of heads, which opened a cut on the forehead of Benitez. Blood flowed down his forehead and the bridge of his nose but stayed out of his eyes.
Leonard landed the harder punches and had Benitez hurt several times late in the fight, but Leonard couldn't put him away. Benitez was very slick. "No one, I mean no one, can make me miss punches like that", Leonard said.
Going into the final round, Leonard led by scores of 137–130, 137–133, and 136–134. The two went toe-to-toe in the fifteenth. Late in the round, Leonard dropped Benitez with a left. He got up, but after a few more punches, the referee stopped the fight. The time was 2:54 of round fifteen.[29]
The Boxing Writers Association of America and The Ring named Leonard "Fighter of the Year" for 1979.
Leonard vs. Green[edit]
Leonard made his first title defense in Landover, Maryland, on March 31, 1980. His opponent was Dave "Boy" Green. The British challenger had a record of 33–2. In the fourth round, Leonard knocked Green out with a devastating left hook. Leonard called it "the hardest single punch I ever threw."[30]
The Brawl in Montreal[edit]
On June 20, 1980, Leonard returned to the Olympic Stadium in Montreal to defend his title against Roberto Durán before a crowd of 46,317. Durán, the former Undisputed World Lightweight Champion for 6 1/2 years, had a record of 71–1 and was the #1 welterweight contender and considered the best "Pound for Pound" fighter in the world. Durán received $1.5 million and Leonard, working for a percentage of the closed-circuit gate as well as a guarantee, received over $9 million.
Angelo Dundee counseled Leonard to box, to move side to side and not to get caught on the ropes. However, Leonard decided to fight Durán's way. "Flat-footed", he said. "I will not run."[31]
Durán forced the issue and took the fight to Leonard, cutting off the ring and denying Leonard space to fight his fight. Durán attacked at almost every turn. Leonard battled back again and again, but he had to work just to find room to breathe and swing, at times simply to survive. In the second, Durán rocked Leonard with a left hook, sending him into the ropes. Leonard started to do better by the fifth round, finding some punching room and throwing numerous multi-punch combinations. The two fought with great intensity throughout the fight. According to Bill Nack:
It was, from almost the opening salvo, a fight that belonged to Durán. The Panamanian seized the evening and gave it what shape and momentum it had. 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. Always moving forward, he mauled and wrestled Leonard, scoring inside with hooks and rights. For three rounds Durán drove at Sugar Ray with a fury, and there were moments when it seemed the fight could not last five. Unable to get away, unable to counter and unable to slide away to open up the ring, Leonard seemed almost helpless under the assault. Now and then he got loose and countered—left-right-left to Durán's bobbing head—but he missed punches and could not work inside, could not jab, could not mount an offense to keep Durán at bay.[31]
Durán was awarded a unanimous decision, although it was mistakenly read as a majority decision in the ring. The scorecard of judge Angelo Poletti was incorrectly added and announced as 147–147. He actually scored it 148–147. In rounds, he had it three for Durán, two for Leonard, and ten even. Sports Illustrated called his scorecard "a monument to indecision." Judges Raymond Baldeyrou and Harry Gibbs scored the fight 146–144 and 145–144, respectively. Associated Press had it 144–141 for Durán, while The New York Times had Leonard ahead 144–142.
"I did the best I could", Leonard said. "I think I pretty much fought from the heart." Asked if Leonard was the best he ever fought, Durán thought for a moment and then answered, "Si, si." Durán said. "He does have a heart. That's why he's living."[32][33]
Revenge in New Orleans[edit]
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. Leonard received $7 million and Durán received $8 million.
Dave Jacobs disagreed with the decision to have an immediate rematch with Durán and terminated his relationship with Leonard when the rematch was made. "My idea is that he should have a tuneup fight before he fights with Roberto again", Jacobs said. "I think he won the fight with Durán, but I don't think it is healthy for him to be fighting Durán right away".[34]
After the Montreal fight Durán went on a partying binge and ballooned in weight. Leonard was aware of this, and in an interview for Beyond the Glory he said: "My intention was to fight Durán ASAP because I knew Durán's habits. I knew he would indulge himself, he'd gain 40–50 lbs and then sweat it off to make 147." Unlike the fight in Montreal, Leonard used his superior speed and movement to outbox and befuddle Durán. "The whole fight, I was moving, I was moving", Leonard said. "And Voom! I snapped his head back with a jab. Voom! I snapped it back again. He tried to get me against the ropes, I'd pivot, spin off and Pow! Come under with a punch."
In round seven, Leonard started to taunt Durán. Leonard's most memorable punch came late in the round. Winding up his right hand, as if to throw a bolo punch, Leonard snapped out a left jab and caught Durán flush in the face. "It made his eyes water", Leonard said. He continued to taunt Durán mercilessly. He stuck out his chin, inviting Durán to hit it. Durán hesitated. Leonard kept it up, continuing to move, stop, and mug.
In the closing seconds of the eighth round, Durán turned his back to Leonard and quit, saying to referee Octavio Meyran, "No Mas." Leonard was the winner by a technical knockout at 2:44 of round eight, regaining the WBC Welterweight Championship. Leonard led by scores of 68–66, 68–66 and 67–66.[35]
Durán said he quit because of stomach cramps, caused by overeating after the weigh-in. "At the end of the fifth round, I got cramps in my stomach and it kept getting worse and worse", Duran later said. "I felt weaker and weaker in my body and arms." He then announced, "I am retiring from boxing right now." During the night Durán was admitted to a hospital with stomach pains, and discharged the following day.
Everyone was surprised by Durán's actions, none more so than his veteran trainers, Freddie Brown and Ray Arcel. "I was shocked", Brown said. "There was no indication that he was in pain or getting weak."[36] Arcel was angry. "That's it", he said. "I've had it. This is terrible. I've handled thousands of fighters and never had anyone quit on me. I think he needs a psychiatrist more than he needs anything else." Durán's manager, Carlos Eleta, said, "Durán didn't quit because of stomach cramps. He quit because he was embarrassed. I know this."[37] According to Randy Gordon, who witnessed Durán's antics beforehand and was in his dressing room immediately afterwards, Durán quit because of his huge eating binge prior to the fight.[38]
"I made him quit", Leonard said. "To make a man quit, to make Roberto Durán quit, was better than knocking him out."[39]
Second world title[edit]
Leonard vs. Bonds[edit]
On March 28, 1981, Leonard defended his title against Larry Bonds, the WBC sixth-ranked contender, at the Carrier Dome in Syracuse, New York. Bonds was a southpaw, which made him a good opponent for Leonard, given that his next opponent was scheduled to be the WBA Light Middleweight Champion Ayub Kalule, a southpaw.
Leonard was the aggressor throughout, with Bonds circling the ring. He staggered Bonds with a right in the fourth round and dropped him with a follow-up combination. Bonds got up and continued to move, with Leonard in pursuit. Leonard dropped him again in the tenth. Bonds rose but Leonard didn't let him off the hook. The referee stopped the fight with Bonds taking punishment in a corner.[40]
Leonard vs. Kalule[edit]
Leonard moved up to the junior middleweight division and faced Kalule on June 25, 1981 at the Astrodome in Houston, Texas. Kalule, who was 36–0, had been the WBA Light Middleweight Champion for two years.
Kalule and his handlers had expected Leonard to use lateral movement against him, but Leonard took the fight to Kalule. After eight tough rounds, Leonard was ahead although Kalule appeared to be coming on strong in the eight and ninth. Leonard finally hurt him with a right to the head. Shortly afterward, Leonard dropped him with a flurry of punches. Kalule got up but the referee waved it off. Leonard celebrated his victory with a full 360-degree, no-hands flip.[41] 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.[42]
The Showdown[edit]
Main article: Sugar Ray Leonard vs. Thomas Hearns
Promoted as "The Showdown", Leonard fought Thomas Hearns on September 16, 1981 at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas to unify the World Welterweight Championship in a scheduled fifteen-rounder. They fought before a live crowd of 23,618. Hearns was paid $5.1 million, and Leonard made over $11 million. The fight grossed over $35 million. The live gate was $5.9 million, and the revenue from pay-per-view was $7.5 million.
Hearns, 32–0 with 30 knockouts, won the WBA Welterweight Championship in 1980, scoring a second-round knockout of José "Pipino" Cuevas in Detroit, Michigan. He made three successful title defenses, stopping Luis Primera, Randy Shields, and Pablo Baez.
The fight began as expected, Leonard boxing from a distance and Hearns stalking. Leonard had difficulty with Hearns' long reach and sharp jab. By the end of round five, Leonard had a growing swelling under his left eye, and Hearns had built a considerable lead on the scorecards. Leonard, becoming more aggressive, hurt Hearns in the sixth with a left hook to the chin. Leonard battered Hearns in rounds six and seven, but Hearns regrouped. Hearns started to stick and move, and he started to pile up points again. The roles reversed: Leonard became the stalker and Hearns became the boxer. 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 tactical and boring fight.
Hearns won rounds nine through twelve on all three scorecards. Between rounds twelve and thirteen, Angelo Dundee told Leonard, "You're blowing it, son! You're blowing it!".
Leonard, with a badly swollen left eye, came out roaring for the thirteenth round. After hurting Hearns with a right, Leonard exploded with a combination of punches. Hearns' legs were clearly gone and after more pressure from Leonard he was bundled through the ropes, no knockdown was given as it wasn't a punch that sent him there. Hearns managed to rise, but was dropped by a flurry of hard punches near the end of the round.
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. Hearns was leading by scores of 124–122, 125–122, and 125–121.
After the fight, there was controversy due to the scoring of rounds six and seven. Even though Leonard dominated, hurting Hearns and battering him, all three judges gave both rounds to Leonard by a 10–9 margin. Many felt that the ten-point must scoring system was not properly used and those rounds should have been scored 10–8.[43] Some also considered the stoppage premature. Veteran ringside commentator Don Dunphy said "They're stopping the fight. I don't believe it. Hearns was ahead on points." However, Emanuel Steward, Hearns' manager and trainer, said, "I felt that the referee was justified in stopping the fight ... Tommy did not have enough energy to make it through the fight."[44]
The fight was named "Fight of the Year" by The Ring.
Leonard was named "Fighter of the Year" by The Ring and The Boxing Writers Association of America. He was also named "Athlete of the Year" by ABC's Wide World of Sports and "Sportsman of the Year" by Sports Illustrated.[45]
Retirement and return[edit]
On February 15, 1982, Leonard defended the unified title against Bruce Finch, the WBC fourth-ranked contender. Leonard knocked him out in the third round.[46] Leonard's next fight was scheduled to be against Roger Stafford on May 14, 1982, in Buffalo, New York. While training, Leonard started to see floaters. He went to a doctor and discovered that he had a detached retina. The fight was cancelled, and Leonard had surgery to repair the retina on May 9, 1982.[47]
On November 9, 1982, Leonard invited Marvin Hagler and other boxing dignitaries to a charity event in Baltimore, Maryland to hear him announce whether he would continue his career. 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. Leonard maintained his eye was fully healed, but that he just didn't want to box anymore.[48]
Missing the limelight and the competition, Leonard announced in December 1983 that he was returning to the ring. Leonard boasted that he would have a couple of ten-round bouts and then take on Milton McCrory, Donald Curry, Durán, Hearns and finally Hagler. This decision was met with a torrent of criticism from fans and the media, who felt Leonard was taking unnecessary risks with his surgically repaired eye.[49]
A bout with Philadelphia's Kevin Howard, who was 20–4–1, was scheduled for February 25, 1984. The fight was postponed when Leonard had minor surgery on his right eye to fix a loose retina. This latest eye problem further fueled the flames of those who opposed Leonard's comeback.[50]
Before the fight with Howard, Dave Jacobs rejoined Leonard's team in a limited role. Jacobs had quit in 1980, disagreeing with Leonard's decision to have an immediate rematch with Durán.[51]
Leonard and Howard fought on May 11, 1984, in Worcester, Massachusetts. Howard knocked Leonard flat on his back in the fourth round. It was the first knockdown of Leonard's professional career. Leonard came back to stop Howard in the ninth round, but the stoppage was disputed, with some feeling that the referee stopped the fight prematurely. Leonard was ahead on all three scorecards at the time of the stoppage. At the post-fight press conference, Leonard surprised everyone by announcing his retirement again, saying he just didn't have it anymore.[52]
Leonard vs. Hagler[edit]
It has been suggested that this section be split out into another article titled Sugar Ray Leonard vs. Marvin Hagler. (Discuss) (September 2017)
On March 10, 1986, Marvin Hagler knocked out John Mugabi in eleven rounds to retain the Undisputed World Middleweight Championship for the twelfth time and advance his record to 62–2–2. "I was ringside", Leonard said. "I'm watching John 'The Beast' Mugabi fight Hagler. Of all people, John 'The Beast' Mugabi." It was then that Leonard decided to come back and fight Hagler. He called Mike Trainer and said, "I can beat Hagler".
On May 1, 1986, Leonard announced on a Washington, D.C. talk show that he would return to the ring to fight Hagler. 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. Hagler took a few months to decide, then agreed to the match.[53]
The fight, promoted as "The Super Fight" and "The King of the Ring", was scheduled for April 6, 1987, at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. Leonard was guaranteed $11 million, and Hagler was guaranteed $12 million. Hagler was a heavy favorite. The odds started at 4–1, then settled at 3–1. A paying crowd 12,379 generated a live gate of $6.2 million. According to Bob Arum, the fight grossed $78 million which would equates to $170m in 2016.
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. Leonard got hit by sparring partner Quincy Taylor and was badly buckled. "He almost knocked me out", Leonard said. After that, Leonard decided to box Hagler.[54]
Many were surprised that Hagler, a natural southpaw, opened the fight boxing out of an orthodox stance. After the quick and slick Leonard won the first two rounds on all three scorecards, Hagler started the third round as a southpaw. Hagler did better, but Leonard's superior speed and boxing skill still allowed him to control the fight. Hagler looked stiff and mechanical and missed the speedy Leonard time and again prompting ringside commentator for the NBC network re-broadcast Gil Clancy to remark "...and is he ever missing...Leonard isn't doing anything to make him miss, he's just missing!"
By the fifth, Leonard, who was moving a lot, began to tire and Hagler started to get closer. Hagler buckled Leonard's knees with a right uppercut near the end of the round, which finished with Leonard on the ropes. Hagler continued to score somewhat effectively in round six. Leonard, having slowed down, was obliged to fight more and move less. However, he was able to outpunch Hagler along the ropes and got the better of several bristling exchanges. Hagler never seized total control of the fight as he had against Thomas Hearns two years earlier, when he brutalized Hearns and scored a third-round knockout. 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. Leonard's observation that the Hagler who beat John Mugabi was older and slower proved to be spot on. In rounds seven and eight, Hagler's southpaw jab was landing solidly and Leonard's counter flurries were less frequent.
Round nine was the most exciting round of the fight. Hagler hurt Leonard with a left cross and pinned him in a corner. Leonard looked to be in trouble, but he furiously fought his way out of the corner. The action see-sawed back and forth for the rest of the round, with each man having his moments. However, Hagler's moments were more spectacular and one of Hagler's cornermen: Roger Perron (in an interview that took place on an episode of HBO's Legendary Nights episode segments in 2003) later stated that: "the ninth round was probably Marvin (Hagler)'s, best round".
Round ten was tame by comparison, as the pace slowed after the furious action of the previous round but with Hagler having more spectacular moments. Despite Leonard's obvious fatigue, he boxed well in the eleventh. Every time Hagler scored, Leonard came back with something flashier and more eye-catching, if not as effective. But at that point in the fight, Hagler appeared to be slightly more ring-general and clearly more aggressive. Between rounds eleven and twelve, Leonard's trainer: Angelo Dundee, implored Sugar Ray to get up off his stool yelling "We got three minutes...new champ...new champ!" Leonard yelled "Yeah!" and played to the screaming crowd. Hagler's corner was much more reserved prompting Clancy to comment: "They're talking to him like it's an IBM meeting or something...no emotion." In the final round, Hagler continued to chase Leonard. He hit Leonard with a big left hand and backed him into a corner. Leonard responded with a furious flurry, landing few punches but whipping the upset-hoping crowd into a frenzy. Hagler backed off, and Leonard danced away with Hagler in pursuit. The fight ended with Hagler and Leonard exchanging along the ropes. At the final bell, even uniformed ringside security rushed into the ring applauding and lauding Leonard's effort.[55]
Leonard threw 629 punches and landed 306, while Hagler threw 792 and landed 291.[56]
Leonard was awarded a controversial split-decision. Judge Dave Moretti scored it 115–113 for Leonard, while judge Lou Filippo had it 115–113 for Hagler. Judge José Guerra scored the fight 118–110 for Leonard. Many felt that Hagler deserved the decision because he was the aggressor and landed the harder punches. Scottish boxing journalist Hugh McIlvanney wrote that Leonard's plan was to "steal rounds with a few flashy and carefully timed flurries....he 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."[57]
Many others felt that Leonard deservedly got the decision, arguing that Leonard landed more punches and showed better defense and ring generalship. Jim Murray, long-time sports columnist for the Los Angeles Times, wrote, "It wasn't even close...He didn't just outpoint Hagler, he exposed him. He made him look like a guy chasing a bus. In snowshoes.... Leonard repeatedly beat Hagler to the punch. When he did, he hit harder. He hit more often.... He made Hagler into what he perceived him to be throughout his career—a brawler, a swarmer, a man who could club you to death only if you stood there and let him. If you moved, he was lost."[58]
The fight was named "Fight of the Year" and "Upset of the Year" by The Ring.
Despite requests from the Hagler camp, Leonard was uninterested in a rematch and retired on May 27, 1987. "I'll try, I'll give it a shot", Leonard said of his latest retirement. "But you guys know me."[59] A month after Hagler's formal retirement in June 1988 Leonard would announce another comeback.
Another comeback[edit]
Leonard v Lalonde[edit]
On November 7, 1988, Leonard made another comeback, facing Don Lalonde at Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas. They fought for Lalonde's WBC Light Heavyweight Championship and the newly created WBC Super Middleweight Championship, which meant that Lalonde had to make 168 lbs. Many were critical of Leonard for stipulating that his opponent—a natural 175 pounder—should weigh less than his usual fighting weight, which could possibly weaken him. However, Lalonde later told HBO's Larry Merchant that he didn't have any trouble making weight.[60]
Lalonde, 31–2 with 26 knockouts, was guaranteed at least $6 million and Leonard was guaranteed over $10 million.
This would be Leonard's first professional fight without Angelo Dundee. For Leonard's fight with Hagler, Dundee worked without a contract and received $175,000, which was less than 2% of Leonard's purse. Dundee was unhappy with that amount. He requested a contract for the Lalonde fight and Leonard refused. "I don't have contracts. My word is my bond", Leonard said. Janks Morton and Dave Jacobs trained Leonard for the Lalonde fight.[61][62]
Lalonde's size and awkwardness troubled Leonard. In the fourth round, a right hand to the top of Leonard's head dropped him for just the second time in his career. Early in the ninth, Lalonde hurt Leonard with a right to the chin. Leonard fired back and hurt Lalonde with a right. He drove him to the ropes and unleashed a furious assault. Lalonde tried to tie up Leonard, but got dropped with a powerful left hook. He rose but was soon down again, and the fight was stopped. Judges Chuck Giampa and Franz Marti had Leonard ahead by scores of 77–74 and 77–75, respectively. Judge Stuart Kirshenbaum had Lalonde ahead 76–75.[63]
After the fight, Leonard vacated the light heavyweight title, but kept the super middleweight title. Also, Leonard and Janks Morton split because of personal differences. Morton was replaced as co-trainer by Pepe Correa, who had worked with Leonard for most of the previous fifteen years.[64]
Leonard v Hearns[edit]
On June 12, 1989, Leonard defended the WBC Super Middleweight Championship in a rematch with Thomas Hearns at Caesar's Palace. It was promoted as "The War." Hearns was guaranteed $11 million and Leonard was guaranteed $14 million.
Hearns dropped Leonard with a right cross in the third round, but Leonard came back and battered Hearns around the ring in the fifth. Early in the seventh round, Hearns hurt Leonard but punched himself out going for the knockout. With Hearns fatigued, Leonard came back and had a strong finish to the round. Rounds nine and ten were good rounds for Leonard, but he ran into trouble in the eleventh round. Three booming rights from Hearns sent Leonard down for the second time in the fight. Knowing he needed a big finish, Leonard fought furiously and had a big final round.
The judges scored the fight a draw and Leonard retained the title. Judge Jerry Roth scored the fight 113–112 for Hearns, Judge Tom Kazmarek scored it 113–112 for Leonard, and Judge Dalby Shirley scored it 112–112. Shirley was the only judge to give Leonard a 10–8 margin in the twelfth. If he had scored it 10–9, as his two colleagues did, Hearns would have won by a split decision. The decision was soundly booed, as most felt that Hearns had won.[65] Eventually, Leonard admitted that Hearns deserved the decision.
Leonard v Duran[edit]
On December 7, 1989, Leonard defended the title against Roberto Durán, who was the reigning WBC Middleweight Champion. Durán was guaranteed $7.6 million and Leonard's arrangement guaranteed him over $13 million.[66]
For the Durán fight, Leonard cut his entourage from twenty-one to six. Dave Jacobs was one of the people let go, leaving Correa as the sole trainer. Correa was instructed not to spare the whip. "For the first time in a long time, I allowed someone to push me", Leonard said.
The fight took place at the new Mirage Hotel in Las Vegas. Leonard used constant lateral movement and won by a lopsided twelve-round unanimous decision over a listless Durán. The scores were 120–110, 119–109, and 116–111. 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. Pat Putnam of Sports Illustrated wrote, "Leonard gave them artistic perfection when they wanted heated battle, and they booed lustily. 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."[67] Although Leonard dominated the fight, he suffered several cuts. 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. The cuts required a total of sixty stitches.[68]
In January 1990, Leonard relinquished the WBC Super Middleweight Championship, saying that he was unsure whether he would fight again.[69] When Leonard decided to continue his career, he offered Hagler a rematch, but Hagler decided to stay retired.[70] 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.[71]
Leonard v Norris[edit]
On February 9, 1991, Leonard went down to 154 lbs and fought WBC Light Middleweight Champion Terry Norris at Madison Square Garden. Leonard entered the bout as a 3-1 favorite but Norris dominated the fight, giving Leonard a heavy beating. He knocked Leonard down with a left hook in the second round, and in the seventh, he dropped Leonard again with a short right. Leonard had no answer for the skillful, younger, faster man. Leonard went the distance but lost by a lopsided decision. The scores were 120–104, 119–103, and 116–110. After the verdict was announced, Leonard announced his retirement. "It took this fight to show me it is no longer my time", Leonard said. "Tonight was my last fight. I know how Hagler felt now."[72]
The last comeback[edit]
In October 1996, the 40-year-old Leonard announced that he was coming out of retirement to fight 34-year-old Héctor Camacho for the lightly regarded International Boxing Council (IBC) Middleweight Championship. Camacho, a light-hitting southpaw, was a three-time world champion with a record of 62–3–1. However, Camacho was also considered to be past his prime. Leonard decided to fight Camacho after commentating on his fight with the 45-year-old Roberto Durán the previous year. Camacho won by a disputed unanimous decision, which Leonard called "an early Christmas gift".
Leonard blamed his poor performance against Norris on lack of motivation, a rib injury, moving down in weight, and divorce, which was being litigated while he was in training. "It was stupid for me to fight Norris at 154 lbs", Leonard said. "This is different. I'm in the best shape possible."[73]
For the Camacho fight, Leonard had a new trainer, Adrian Davis. "He's a great trainer, a throwback", Leonard said. "He has really helped me get ready."[74]
In January 1997, it was announced that Leonard had been voted into the International Boxing Hall Of Fame in Canastota, New York. The rules state that a boxer must be retired for five years before being eligible for induction. 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. The induction ceremony was on June 15, 1997.[75]
The fight with Camacho took place on March 1, 1997, in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Camacho applied pressure from the opening bell and started to score well in the third. He continued to score well in the fourth and opened a cut above Leonard's right eye. In the fifth, Camacho dropped Leonard with a right followed by two left uppercuts. Leonard got up, but was unable to ward off Camacho. The referee stopped the fight with Camacho teeing off on a defenseless Leonard on the ropes. It was the only time in Leonard's career that he was knocked out.
Afterward, Leonard retired again, saying, "For sure, my career is definitely over for me in the ring." However, less than a week after the fight, Leonard said he planned to fight again. He blamed his loss on a torn right calf muscle. His doctor suggested that he cancel the fight, but Leonard wanted to go through with it. Before the fight, he was given a shot of novocaine.[76]
Leonard said he planned to have a series of tuneup fights before fighting a champion.[77] He was scheduled to fight Tony Menefee on February 15, 1998, in Australia, but he pulled out of the fight, saying that he didn't have the motivation. The Camacho fight was Leonard's last. He finished his career with a record of 36–3–1 with 25 knockouts.[78]
Professional boxing record[edit]
Professional record summary
[hide]
40 fights 36 wins 3 losses
By knockout 25 1
By decision 11 2
Draws 1
No.
Result
Record
Opponent
Type
Round, time
Date
Location
Notes
40 Loss 36–3–1 Héctor Camacho TKO 5 (12), 1:08 Mar 1, 1997 Convention Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. For IBC middleweight title
39 Loss 36–2–1 Terry Norris UD 12 Feb 9, 1991 Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S. For WBC light middleweight title
38 Win 36–1–1 Roberto Durán UD 12 Dec 7, 1989 The Mirage, Paradise, Nevada, U.S. Retained WBC super middleweight title
37 Draw 35–1–1 Thomas Hearns SD 12 Jun 12, 1989 Caesars Palace, Paradise, Nevada, U.S. Retained WBC super middleweight title;
For WBO super middleweight title
36 Win 35–1 Donny Lalonde TKO 9 (12), 2:30 Nov 7, 1988 Caesars Palace, Paradise, Nevada, U.S. Won WBC light heavyweight and vacant WBC super middleweight titles
35 Win 34–1 Marvin Hagler SD 12 Apr 6, 1987 Caesars Palace, Paradise, Nevada, U.S. Won WBC, The Ring, and lineal middleweight titles
34 Win 33–1 Kevin Howard TKO 9 (10), 2:27 May 11, 1984 Centrum, Worcester, Massachusetts, U.S.
33 Win 32–1 Bruce Finch TKO 3 (15), 1:50 Feb 15, 1982 Centennial Coliseum, Reno, Nevada, U.S. Retained WBA, WBC, The Ring, and lineal welterweight titles
32 Win 31–1 Thomas Hearns TKO 14 (15), 1:45 Sep 16, 1981 Caesars Palace, Paradise, Nevada, U.S. Retained WBC, The Ring, and lineal welterweight titles;
Won WBA welterweight title
31 Win 30–1 Ayub Kalule TKO 9 (15), 3:06 Jun 25, 1981 Astrodome, Houston, Texas, U.S. Won WBA, The Ring, and lineal light middleweight titles
30 Win 29–1 Larry Bonds TKO 10 (15), 2:22 Mar 28, 1981 Carrier Dome, Syracuse, New York, U.S. Retained WBC, The Ring, and lineal welterweight titles
29 Win 28–1 Roberto Durán RTD 8 (15), 2:44 Nov 25, 1980 Superdome, New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S. Won WBC, The Ring, and lineal welterweight titles
28 Loss 27–1 Roberto Durán UD 15 Jun 20, 1980 Olympic Stadium, Montreal, Quebec, Canada Lost WBC, The Ring, and lineal welterweight titles
27 Win 27–0 Dave Boy Green KO 4 (15), 2:27 Mar 31, 1980 Capital Centre, Landover, Maryland, U.S. Retained WBC, The Ring, and lineal welterweight titles
26 Win 26–0 Wilfred Benítez TKO 15 (15), 2:54 Nov 30, 1979 Caesars Palace, Paradise, Nevada, U.S. Won WBC, The Ring, and lineal welterweight titles
25 Win 25–0 Andy Price KO 1 (12), 2:52 Sep 28, 1979 Caesars Palace, Paradise, Nevada, U.S. Retained NABF welterweight title
24 Win 24–0 Pete Ranzany TKO 4 (12), 2:41 Aug 12, 1979 Caesars Palace, Paradise, Nevada, U.S. Won NABF welterweight title
23 Win 23–0 Tony Chiaverini RTD 4 (10) Jun 24, 1979 Caesars Palace, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.
22 Win 22–0 Marcos Geraldo UD 10 May 20, 1979 Riverside Centroplex, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, U.S.
21 Win 21–0 Adolfo Viruet UD 10 Apr 21, 1979 Dunes, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.
20 Win 20–0 Daniel Aldo Gonzalez TKO 1 (10), 2:03 Mar 24, 1979 Community Center, Tucson, Arizona, U.S.
19 Win 19–0 Fernand Marcotte TKO 8 (10), 2:33 Feb 11, 1979 Convention Center, Miami Beach, Florida, U.S.
18 Win 18–0 Johnny Gant TKO 8 (12), 2:57 Jan 11, 1979 Capital Centre, Landover, Maryland, U.S.
17 Win 17–0 Armando Muniz RTD 6 (10), 3:00 Dec 9, 1978 Civic Center, Springfield, Massachusetts, U.S.
16 Win 16–0 Bernardo Prada UD 10 Nov 3, 1978 Cumberland County Civic Center, Portland, Maine, U.S.
15 Win 15–0 Randy Shields UD 10 Oct 6, 1978 Civic Center, Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.
14 Win 14–0 Floyd Mayweather Sr. TKO 10 (10), 2:16 Sep 9, 1978 Civic Center, Providence, Rhode Island, U.S.
13 Win 13–0 Dicky Eklund UD 10 Jul 18, 1978 John B. Hynes Memorial Auditorium, Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.
12 Win 12–0 Rafael Rodriguez UD 10 Jun 3, 1978 Civic Center, Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.
11 Win 11–0 Randy Milton TKO 8 (10), 2:55 May 13, 1978 Memorial Auditorium, Utica, New York, U.S.
10 Win 10–0 Bobby Haymon RTD 3 (10) Apr 13, 1978 Capital Centre, Landover, Maryland, U.S.
9 Win 9–0 Javier Muniz KO 1 (8), 2:45 Mar 19, 1978 Veterans Memorial Coliseum, New Haven, Connecticut, U.S.
8 Win 8–0 Art McKnight TKO 7 (8), 1:52 Mar 1, 1978 Hara Arena, Dayton, Ohio, U.S.
7 Win 7–0 Rocky Ramon UD 8 Feb 4, 1978 Civic Center, Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.
6 Win 6–0 Hector Diaz KO 2 (8), 2:20 Dec 17, 1977 D.C. Armory, Washington, D.C., U.S.
5 Win 5–0 Augustin Estrada KO 6 (8), 1:54 Nov 5, 1977 Caesars Palace, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.
4 Win 4–0 Frank Santore KO 5 (8), 2:55 Sep 24, 1977 Civic Center, Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.
3 Win 3–0 Vinnie DeBarros TKO 3 (6), 1:59 Jun 10, 1977 Civic Center, Hartford, Connecticut, U.S.
2 Win 2–0 Willie Rodriguez UD 6 May 14, 1977 Civic Center, Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.
1 Win 1–0 Luis Vega UD 6 Feb 5, 1977 Civic Center, Baltimore, Maryland, U.S. Professional debut
Media appearances[edit]
Leonard signs autographs at a Tristar Productions sports collectors show in Houston in January 2014.
Leonard has worked as a boxing analyst for ABC, CBS, NBC, ESPN, HBO and EPIX. His relationship with HBO lasted for more than a decade. It ended in 1990, after HBO was not offered an opportunity to bid on the telecast rights to Leonard's fight with Terry Norris. HBO believed it would be inappropriate for Leonard to continue with them if they couldn't bid on his fights. Leonard's attorney, Mike Trainer, said, "There never has been a linkage between his broadcasting and his fighting."[79]
Leonard has provided commercial endorsements for companies including Coca-Cola, EA Sports, Ford, Nabisco, Revlon and 7 Up. His most famous commercial was a 7 Up ad he did with his son, Ray Jr., Roberto Durán and Durán's son Roberto Jr. in the early 1980s.[80][81] Leonard is among the most sought-after motivational/inspirational speakers in the world today. His speech, entitled "Power" (Prepare, Overcome and Win Every Round), is consistently booked with major Fortune 500 companies throughout the United States and abroad.[82]
Leonard has also worked as an actor. He has appeared in numerous television shows, including Half & Half, L.A. Heat, Married... with Children, Renegade and Tales From The Crypt. He has also appeared in several movies, including I Spy and most recently The Fighter (2010), starring Christian Bale and Mark Wahlberg. This movie brought back memories of his fight with Dicky Eklund. He also worked as an adviser in the 2011 robot boxing film Real Steel. Leonard served as host and mentor to the aspiring fighters on The Contender. Sylvester Stallone, who co-hosted during the first season, was one of the executive producers, along with Mark Burnett. When Leonard left the show, he was replaced as host by Tony Danza for the final season.[83]
In 2001, Leonard launched Sugar Ray Leonard Boxing Inc., a boxing promotional company, and announced the company's strategic partnership with ESPN. Together, Leonard and ESPN would produce and promote "Sugar Ray Leonard and ESPN II Presents Friday Night Fights", which would air the first Friday of every month for twelve months.[84] Leonard's boxing promotional company was dissolved in 2004. He had a falling out with partner Bjorn Rebney, whom he called "a cancer in my company."[85] Speaking of his promotional company, Leonard said, "We did some great shows with evenly matched fights. I took great pride in it. But the TV show came about and made my decision a lot easier. I already had it in the back of my mind to dissolve the company. The working environment was not healthy."[86]
Leonard competed on season 12 of Dancing with the Stars, which premiered on Monday, March 21, 2011, on ABC. His partner was Anna Trebunskaya. He was voted off in Week 4 of the show.[87][88] During his appearance on The Colbert Report in 2011, Leonard was defeated by host Stephen Colbert in a thumb wrestling contest.[89] He appeared as a guest at the chef's table, along with Tito Ortiz, during the tenth season of Hell's Kitchen. He is the celebrity spokesperson for the Atlanta law firm John Foy and Associates, PC.
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. 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.
Personal life[edit]
Family[edit]
Leonard married his high school sweetheart, Juanita Wilkinson, in January 1980. Their six-year-old son, Ray Jr., served as the ring bearer.[90] In 1984, they had another son, Jarrell.[91]
They were divorced in 1990. During divorce proceedings, Juanita Leonard testified that her husband physically abused her while under the influence of alcohol. She also said he was an occasional cocaine user. 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.[92]
After the Los Angeles Times broke the story, Leonard held a press conference and publicly acknowledged that the accusations were true. He said he started using after he retired in 1982, following surgery to repair a detached retina. "I wanted more", Leonard said. "I wanted that arena. I didn't want anyone to tell me my career had to end."
"I decided to search for a substitute...I resorted to cocaine. I used when I felt bad, I used when I missed competing at that level", he said. "It was a crutch, something that enabled me to forget."
He said he quit using drugs in early 1986, when he woke up one morning and "what I saw in the mirror was scary."
"I can never erase the pain or the scars I have made through my stupidity, my selfishness", Leonard said. "All I can do is say I'm sorry, but that is not enough."[93]
In 2011, Sugar Ray revealed in an NPR broadcast that he had been free of alcohol since July 2006.
In 1989, Leonard was introduced to Bernadette Robi by Kenny G at a Luther Vandross concert. Robi is the daughter of Paul Robi, one of the original Platters and she is the ex-wife of Lynn Swann.
Leonard and Robi were married at Leonard's $8.7 million estate in Pacific Palisades, California in August 1993. At the wedding ceremony, the grounds were converted into a garden with 10,000 roses and blossoms of other flowers flown in from the Netherlands.[94]
Leonard is also the godfather of Khloé Kardashian and has appeared on many episodes of Keeping Up With The Kardashians.
Charity work[edit]
For many years, Leonard has been the International Chairman of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation's Walk for a Cure and is actively involved in raising both awareness and funds.
Leonard testified before the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Government Affairs in 2009. The Senate hearing was titled "Type 1 Diabetes Research: Real Progress and Real Hope for a Cure." He testified about the burden of diabetes and the need for continued research funding to find a cure.[95]
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. In 2009, the foundation expanded to support programs that help people rebuild their communities in ten cities across the United States. It supports accessible housing, healthcare services, and educational services and job training.
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.[96]
Molestation[edit]
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.[97] He has since made public appearances to bring attention to the issue of child sex abuse, declaring himself a "poster child" for the cause and encouraging victims to report their abuse.[98]
See also[edit]
List of lineal boxing world champions
List of welterweight boxing champions
List of light middleweight boxing champions
List of middleweight boxing champions
List of undisputed boxing champions
List of WBA world champions
List of WBC world champions
List of WBO world champions
List of The Ring world champions
List of boxing quintuple champions
Sugar Ray Leonard vs. Roberto Durán II
Sugar Ray Leonard vs. Thomas Hearns
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Jump up ^ Pat Putnam (1989-06-19). "Sports Illustrated, June 19, 1989". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved 2011-11-04.
Jump up ^ Berger, Phil (1989-07-27). "The New York Times, July 27, 1989". Nytimes.com. Retrieved 2011-11-04.
Jump up ^ Pat Putnam (1989-12-18). "Sports Illustrated, December 18, 1989". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved 2011-11-04.
Jump up ^ The Item December 9, 1989
Jump up ^ "Gainesville Sun, January 19, 1990". News.google.com. 1990-01-19. Retrieved 2011-11-04.
Jump up ^ Rick Telander (1990-07-02). "Sports Illustrated, July 2, 1990". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved 2011-11-04.
Jump up ^ Berger, Phil (1991-02-08). "New York Times, February 8, 1991". New York Times. Retrieved 2011-11-04.
Jump up ^ Pat Putnam (1991-02-18). "Sports Illustrated, February 18, 1991". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved 2011-11-04.
Jump up ^ Brown, Clifton (1997-02-26). "The New York Times, February 26, 1997". Nytimes.com. Retrieved 2011-11-04.
Jump up ^ Brown, Clifton (1997-02-27). "The New York Times, February 27, 1997". Nytimes.com. Retrieved 2011-11-04.
Jump up ^ "The Victoria Advocate, January 15, 1997". News.google.com. 1997-01-15. Retrieved 2011-11-04.
Jump up ^ "The Southern Missourian, March 3, 1997". News.google.com. 1997-03-03. Retrieved 2011-11-04.
Jump up ^ "New Straits Times, March 8, 1997". News.google.com. 1997-03-08. Retrieved 2011-11-04.
Jump up ^ "The Idaho Spokesman-Review, January 12, 1998". News.google.com. 1998-01-12. Retrieved 2011-11-04.
Jump up ^ "Daily Press, October 16, 1990". Pqasb.pqarchiver.com. 1990-10-16. Retrieved 2011-11-04.
Jump up ^ "The Cavalier Daily, April 30, 1982". News.google.com. 1982-04-30. Retrieved 2011-11-04.
Jump up ^ Sugar Ray Leonard 7 Up commercial on YouTube
Jump up ^ "Sugar Ray Leonard Biography about.com". Realitytv.about.com. 2011-05-26. Retrieved 2011-11-04.
Jump up ^ The Contender on IMDb
Jump up ^ "Sugar Ray Leonard Back in the Ring with ESPN Friday Night Fights". Findarticles.com. Archived from the original on 2012-07-09. Retrieved 2011-11-04.
Jump up ^ Rafael, Dan (2004-10-19). "Leonard's promotion business down for count". USA Today.
Jump up ^ Rafael, Dan (2004-10-19). "USA Today, October 19, 2004". Usatoday.com. Retrieved 2011-11-04.
Jump up ^ "People: Sugar Ray departs 'Dancing With the Stars' | Dallas-Fort Worth Celebrity News – Entertainment News for Dallas, Texas – The Dallas Morning News". Dallasnews.com. 2011-04-12. Retrieved 2011-11-04.
Jump up ^ "'I put up a good fight': Sugar Ray Leonard is voted off Dancing With The Stars | Mail Online". Dailymail.co.uk. 2011-04-13. Retrieved 2011-11-04.
Jump up ^ "November 03, 2011 - Nathan Wolfe - The Colbert Report - Full Episode Video | Comedy Central". Colbertnation.com. 2011-10-31. Retrieved 2011-11-04.
Jump up ^ "The Spokesman-Review, January 21, 1980". News.google.com. Retrieved 2011-11-04.
Jump up ^ "Anchorage Daily News, June 15, 1984". News.google.com. 1984-06-15. Retrieved 2011-11-04.
Jump up ^ Messner, Michael; Solomon, William (June 1, 1993). "Outside the Frame: Newspaper Coverage of the Sugar Ray Leonard Wife Abuse Story". Sociology of Sport Journal. 10 (2): 119–134. Retrieved April 24, 2017.
Jump up ^ Daily News. 1991-03-31 https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=2hAbAAAAIBAJ&sjid=FEgEAAAAIBAJ&pg=6730,6962641&dq=sugar+ray+leonard+juanita+divorce&hl=en. Retrieved 2011-11-04 – via Google News. Missing or empty |title= (help)
Jump up ^ "Duran wanted "no mas" of Leonard". Espn.go.com. 2003-11-19. Retrieved 2011-11-04.
Jump up ^ "Sugar Ray Leonard's Testimony before the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Government Affairs". Jdrf.org. Retrieved 2011-11-04.
Jump up ^ Galluzzo, Steve (May 15, 2007). "Pacific Palisades -- Palisades-Post". palisadespost.com. Pacific Palisades, California, USA: Pacific Palisades Post. Retrieved July 21, 2012.
Jump up ^ In Book, Sugar Ray Leonard Says Coach Sexually Abused Him
Jump up ^ Iole, Kevin. Sugar Ray Leonard proves himself a beacon of strength in the fight against child sex abuse. Yahoo! Sports. October 29, 2012. Retrieved October 30, 2012.
External links[edit]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Sugar Ray Leonard.
Wikiquote has quotations related to: Sugar Ray Leonard
Official website
Professional boxing record for Sugar Ray Leonard from BoxRec
Sugar Ray Leonard's Amateur Boxing Record
Sugar Ray Leonard in-depth interview about alcohol, cocaine, and being a champion
Sporting positions
Amateur boxing titles
Previous:
James Busceme U.S. Golden Gloves lightweight champion
1973 Next:
Curtis Harris
Previous:
Larry Bonds U.S. Golden Gloves light welterweight champion
1974 Next:
Paul Sherry
Previous:
Randy Shields U.S. light welterweight champion
1974, 1975 Next:
Milton Seward
Regional boxing titles
Preceded by
Pete Ranzany NABF welterweight champion
August 12, 1979 – November 30, 1979
Won WBC title Vacant
Title next held by
Randy Shields
World boxing titles
Preceded by
Wilfred Benítez WBC welterweight champion
November 30, 1979 – June 20, 1980 Succeeded by
Roberto Durán
The Ring welterweight champion
November 30, 1979 – June 20, 1980
Lineal welterweight champion
November 30, 1979 – June 20, 1980
Preceded by
Roberto Durán WBC welterweight champion
November 25, 1980 – November 9, 1982
Retired Vacant
Title next held by
Milton McCrory
The Ring welterweight champion
November 25, 1980 – November 9, 1982
Retired Vacant
Title next held by
Donald Curry
Lineal welterweight champion
November 25, 1980 – November 9, 1982
Retired
Preceded by
Ayub Kalule WBA light middleweight champion
June 25, 1981 – September 1981
Vacated Vacant
Title next held by
Tadashi Mihara
The Ring light middleweight champion
June 25, 1981 – September 22, 1981
Vacated Vacant
Title next held by
Thomas Hearns
Lineal light middleweight champion
June 25, 1981 – September 22, 1981
Vacated
Preceded by
Thomas Hearns WBA welterweight champion
September 16, 1981 – November 9, 1982
Retired Vacant
Title next held by
Donald Curry
Vacant
Title last held by
José Nápoles Undisputed welterweight champion
September 16, 1981 – November 9, 1982
Retired
Preceded by
Marvin Hagler WBC middleweight champion
April 6, 1987 – May 27, 1987
Retired Vacant
Title next held by
Thomas Hearns
The Ring middleweight champion
April 6, 1987 – May 27, 1987
Retired Vacant
Title next held by
Sumbu Kalambay
Lineal middleweight champion
April 6, 1987 – May 27, 1987
Retired Vacant
Title next held by
Michael Nunn
New title WBC super middleweight champion
November 7, 1988 – August 27, 1990
Vacated Vacant
Title next held by
Mauro Galvano
Preceded by
Donny Lalonde WBC light heavyweight champion
November 7, 1988 – November 17, 1988
Vacated Vacant
Title next held by
Dennis Andries
Awards
Previous:
Matthew Saad Muhammad vs. Yaqui López II The Ring Fight of the Year
vs. Thomas Hearns
1981 Next:
Bobby Chacon vs. Rafael Limón IV
Previous:
U.S. Olympic Hockey Team Wide World of Sports Athlete of the Year
1981 Next:
Wayne Gretzky
Previous:
Steve Cruz vs. Barry McGuigan The Ring Fight of the Year
vs. Marvin Hagler
1987 Next:
Tony Lopez vs. Rocky Lockridge
Previous:
Lloyd Honeyghan
KO6 Donald Curry The Ring Upset of the Year
SD12 Marvin Hagler
1987 Next:
Iran Barkley
TKO3 Thomas Hearns
Previous:
Inaugural award Mark Grossinger Etess Award
for Boxer of the Decade
1980–1989 Next:
Award discontinued
[show]
v
t
e
Olympic boxing champions – men's light welterweight
1952–2000: 60–63.5 kg, 2004-2012: 60–64 kg
1952: Charles Adkins (USA)
1956: Vladimir Yengibaryan (URS)
1960: Bohumil Němeček (TCH)
1964: Jerzy Kulej (POL)
1968: Jerzy Kulej (POL)
1972: Ray Seales (USA)
1976: Ray Leonard (USA)
1980: Patrizio Oliva (ITA)
1984: Jerry Page (USA)
1988: Vyacheslav Yanovskiy (URS)
1992: Héctor Vinent (CUB)
1996: Héctor Vinent (CUB)
2000: Mahammatkodir Abdullaev (UZB)
2004: Manus Boonjumnong (THA)
2008: Manuel Félix Díaz (DOM)
2012: Roniel Iglesias (CUB)
2016: Fazliddin Gaibnazarov (UZB)
[show]
v
t
e
Pan American Boxing Champions in Men's Light Welterweight
1951 – 1999: up to 63.5 kg
2003 – 2011: up to 64 kg
1951: Oscar Pietta (ARG)
1955: Juan Carlos Rivero (ARG)
1959: Vincent Shomo (USA)
1963: Adolfo Moreyra (ARG)
1967: James Wallington (USA)
1971: Enrique Regüeiferos (CUB)
1975: Ray Leonard (USA)
1979: Lemuel Steeples (USA)
1983 – 1987: Candelario Duvergel (CUB)
1991: Stevie Johnston (USA)
1995: Walter Crucce (ARG)
1999: Victor Hugo Castro (ARG)
2003: Patrick López (VEN)
2007: Karl Dargan (USA)
2011: Roniel Iglesias (CUB)
2015: Arthur Biyarslanov (CAN)
[show]
v
t
e
Sports Illustrated Sportsperson of the Year
1954: Roger Bannister
1955: Johnny Podres
1956: Bobby Morrow
1957: Stan Musial
1958: Rafer Johnson
1959: Ingemar Johansson
1960: Arnold Palmer
1961: Jerry Lucas
1962: Terry Baker
1963: Pete Rozelle
1964: Ken Venturi
1965: Sandy Koufax
1966: Jim Ryun
1967: Carl Yastrzemski
1968: Bill Russell
1969: Tom Seaver
1970: Bobby Orr
1971: Lee Trevino
1972: Billie Jean King & John Wooden
1973: Jackie Stewart
1974: Muhammad Ali
1975: Pete Rose
1976: Chris Evert
1977: Steve Cauthen
1978: Jack Nicklaus
1979: Terry Bradshaw & Willie Stargell
1980: U.S. Olympic Hockey Team
1981: Sugar Ray Leonard
1982: Wayne Gretzky
1983: Mary Decker
1984: Edwin Moses & Mary Lou Retton
1985: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
1986: Joe Paterno
1987: Bob Bourne, Judi Brown King, Kipchoge Keino, Dale Murphy, Chip Rives, Patty Sheehan, Rory Sparrow, & Reggie Williams
1988: Orel Hershiser
1989: Greg LeMond
1990: Joe Montana
1991: Michael Jordan
1992: Arthur Ashe
1993: Don Shula
1994: Bonnie Blair & Johann Olav Koss
1995: Cal Ripken Jr.
1996: Tiger Woods
1997: Dean Smith
1998: Mark McGwire & Sammy Sosa
1999: U.S. Women's Soccer Team
2000: Tiger Woods
2001: Curt Schilling & Randy Johnson
2002: Lance Armstrong
2003: David Robinson & Tim Duncan
2004: Boston Red Sox
2005: Tom Brady
2006: Dwyane Wade
2007: Brett Favre
2008: Michael Phelps
2009: Derek Jeter
2010: Drew Brees
2011: Mike Krzyzewski & Pat Summitt
2012: LeBron James
2013: Peyton Manning
2014: Madison Bumgarner
2015: Serena Williams
2016: LeBron James
[show]
v
t
e
1976 USA Olympic Boxing Team
Athletes
Luis Curtis
Leo Randolph
Charles Mooney
David Armstrong
Howard Davis Jr.
Sugar Ray Leonard
Clinton Jackson
Chuck Walker
Michael Spinks
Leon Spinks
John Tate
Coaches
—
[show]
v
t
e
The Ring magazine Fighter of the Year
1928: Tunney
1929: Loughran
1930: Schmeling
1931: Loughran
1932: Sharkey
1933: No award
1934: Canzoneri & Ross
1935: Ross
1936: Louis
1937: Armstrong
1938: Louis
1939: Louis
1940: Conn
1941: Louis
1942: Robinson
1943: Apostoli
1944: Jack
1945: Pep
1946: Zale
1947: Lesnevich
1948: Williams
1949: Charles
1950: Charles
1951: Robinson
1952: Marciano
1953: Olson
1954: Marciano
1955: Marciano
1956: Patterson
1957: Basilio
1958: Johansson
1959: Johansson
1960: Patterson
1961: Brown
1962: Tiger
1963: Clay
1964: Griffith
1965: Tiger
1966: Ali
1967: Frazier
1968: Benvenuti
1969: Nápoles
1970: Frazier
1971: Frazier
1972: Ali & Monzón
1973: Foreman
1974: Ali
1975: Ali
1976: Foreman
1977: Zárate
1978: Ali
1979: Leonard
1980: Hearns
1981: Leonard & Sánchez
1982: Holmes
1983: Hagler
1984: Hearns
1985: Hagler & Curry
1986: Tyson
1987: Holyfield
1988: Tyson
1989: Whitaker
1990: Chávez
1991: Toney
1992: Bowe
1993: Carbajal
1994: Jones Jr.
1995: De La Hoya
1996: Holyfield
1997: Holyfield
1998: Mayweather Jr.
1999: Ayala
2000: Trinidad
2001: Hopkins
2002: Forrest
2003: Toney
2004: Johnson
2005: Hatton
2006: Pacquiao
2007: Mayweather Jr.
2008: Pacquiao
2009: Pacquiao
2010: Martínez
2011: Ward
2012: Márquez
2013: Stevenson
2014: Kovalev
2015: Fury
2016: Frampton
[show]
v
t
e
Sugar Ray Robinson Award
1938: Dempsey
1939: Conn
1940: Armstrong
1941: Louis
1942: Ross
1943: Boxers of the Armed Forces
1944: B. Leonard
1945: Walker
1946: Zale
1947: Lesnevich
1948: Williams
1949: Charles
1950: Robinson
1951: Walcott
1952: Marciano
1953: Gavilán
1954: Olson
1955: Basilio
1956: Patterson
1957: Basilio
1958: Moore
1959: Johansson
1960: Patterson
1961: Fullmer
1962: Tiger
1963: Griffith
1964: Pastrano
1965: Ali
1966: Tiger
1967: Ortiz
1968: Foster
1969: Frazier
1970: Buchanan
1971: Frazier
1972: Monzón
1973: Foreman
1974: Ali
1975: Ali & Frazier
1976: Davis Jr., S. R. Leonard, Randolph, L. Spinks & M. Spinks
1977: Norton
1978: Holmes
1979: S. R. Leonard
1980: Hearns
1981: S. R. Leonard
1982: Pryor
1983: Hagler
1984: Hearns
1985: Hagler
1986: Tyson
1987: Chávez
1988: Tyson
1989: Whitaker
1990: Holyfield
1991: Toney
1992: Bowe
1993: Whitaker
1994: Foreman
1995: De La Hoya
1996: Holyfield
1997: Holyfield
1998: Mosley
1999: Lewis
2000: Trinidad
2001: Hopkins
2002: Forrest
2003: Toney
2004: Johnson
2005: Hatton
2006: Pacquiao
2007: Mayweather Jr.
2008: Pacquiao
2009: Pacquiao
2010: Martínez
2011: Ward
2012: Donaire
2013: Mayweather Jr.
2014: Crawford
2015: Mayweather Jr.
2016: Frampton
Authority control
WorldCat Identities
VIAF: 40715699
LCCN: n82049374
ISNI: 0000 0000 2681 963X
GND: 11888641X
IATH: w6j53h8f
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Sugar_Ray_Leonard&oldid=807795295"
Categories:
1956 births
Living people
African-American boxers
African-American male actors
American male actors
Boxers at the 1976 Summer Olympics
American boxing promoters
International Boxing Hall of Fame inductees
Light-middleweight boxers
Light-heavyweight boxers
Middleweight boxers
Pan American Games gold medalists for the United States
Olympic boxers of the United States
Olympic gold medalists for the United States in boxing
Medalists at the 1976 Summer Olympics
Participants in American reality television series
Super-middleweight boxers
World Boxing Association champions
World Boxing Council champions
World Boxing Organization champions
Welterweight boxers
Winners of the United States Championship for amateur boxers
Sportspeople from Washington, D.C.
Sportspeople from Wilmington, North Carolina
People from Palmer Park, Maryland
American male boxers
The Ring magazine champions
World welterweight boxing champions
World light-middleweight boxing champions
World middleweight boxing champions
World super-middleweight boxing champions
World light-heavyweight boxing champions
Pan American Games medalists in boxing
Light-welterweight boxers
Lightweight boxers
National Golden Gloves champions
Boxers from North Carolina
Hidden categories:
CS1 maint: Extra text: authors list
Pages with citations lacking titles
Pages with citations having bare URLs
All articles with unsourced statements
Articles with unsourced statements from April 2017
Articles to be split from September 2017
All articles to be split
Official website different in Wikidata and Wikipedia
BoxRec template with ID different from Wikidata
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