Leonard won the National Golden Gloves and National AAU Light Welterweight Championships in 1974. Hearns, with too much faith in his powerful right hand, lost to Sugar Ray Leonard in their first match. [34], After the Montreal fight Durn went on a partying binge and ballooned in weight. 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 . 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. 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. Leonard suffered his last two losses as an amateur in 1974. Dundee was unhappy with that amount. "It was a crutch, something that enabled me to forget." Dave Jacobs disagreed with the decision to have an immediate rematch with Durn and terminated his relationship with Leonard when the rematch was made. But even though it was bereft of some of the normal fight card touches, this show offered a fun presentation of boxing that never mocked the sport. It didn't take much for Robinson, who'd been a neighbor of heavyweight champ Joe Louis back in Detroit, to strap on fighting gloves. [62], After the fight, Leonard vacated the light heavyweight title, but kept the super middleweight title. Augie Sanchez had defeated Mayweather earlier that summer in qualifiers after a tight 11-12 decision. The time was 2:54 of round fifteen.[29]. Leonard was undefeated (12-0) going . 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. Leonard moved up to the junior middleweight division and faced Kalule on June 25, 1981, at the Astrodome in Houston, Texas. goes on to explain what went through his mind before he quit the fight - a bout in which he wasn't . [54], Leonard threw 629 punches and landed 306, while Hagler threw 792 and landed 291. That's why he's living."[32][33]. AP Photo/Lennox McLendon What it's really about is boxing's great aesthetic divide. Leonard got up, but was unable to ward off Camacho. [14]:6568, Leonard made his professional debut on February 5, 1977, before a crowd of 10,270 at the Civic Center in Baltimore. Sugar Ray Robinson turned pro in 1940 and won his first 40 fights. Foreman had an 84 inch reach. But New York proved rough in other ways. [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. His doctor suggested that he cancel the fight, but Leonard wanted to go through with it. As a boy growing up in Detroit, Sugar Ray Robinson was neighbors with heavyweight champion Joe Louis. 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. "I didn't feel like being bothered by all those complications by asking him for any money for support", she said. Dickie's fight against Sugar Ray Leonard was on July 18, 1978 at the Hynes Memorial Auditorium in Boston, Massachusetts. [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. 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. .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." [95] 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.[96]. Many were critical of the fact that Lalonde's light heavyweight title was on the line when the weight limit of the fight with Leonard was at 168 pounds, and critical of Leonard for stipulating that his opponenta natural 175-poundershould weigh less than his usual fighting weight, which could possibly weaken him. The fight ended with Hagler and Leonard exchanging along the ropes. [74], Leonard said he planned to have a series of tuneup fights before fighting a champion. Having lost, Sugar Ray Leonard believed he could catch Duran out of shape due to celebrating his victory in the first match. A paying crowd of 12,379 generated a live gate of $6.2 million. From 1977-1997, Leonard only lost three professional fights. [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]. "[83] Speaking of his promotional company, Leonard said, "We did some great shows with evenly matched fights. Rounds nine and ten were good rounds for Leonard, but he ran into trouble in the eleventh round. I didn't want anyone to tell me my career had to end." For the Camacho fight, Leonard had a new trainer, Adrian Davis. When they fought again a . [64] Hearns was guaranteed $11 million and Leonard was guaranteed $14 million. He was also named "Athlete of the Year" by ABC's Wide World of Sports and "Sportsman of the Year" by Sports Illustrated. The induction ceremony was on June 15, 1997.[73]. Leonard battled back again and again, but he had to work just to find room to breathe and swing, at times simply to survive. 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. WASHINGTON POST. Judge Dave Moretti scored it 115113 for Leonard, while judge Lou Filippo had it 115113 for Hagler. In 2009, the foundation expanded to support programs that help people rebuild their communities in ten cities across the United States. 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. Leonard got hit by sparring partner Quincy Taylor and was badly buckled. Hagler did better, but Leonard's superior speed and boxing skill still allowed him to control the fight. In 1972, Leonard boxed in the featherweight quarterfinals of the National AAU Tournament, losing by decision to Jerome Artis. [18] He planned to study business administration and communications. "I'll try, I'll give it a shot", Leonard said of his latest retirement. Robinson wouldn't go by his birth name for the rest of his career. 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.[92]. Over his 25-year career, Robinson won the world welterweight and middleweight crowns and was dubbed "pound for pound, the best." Ray Charles Leonard, known as the boxing champion "Sugar Ray" Leonard (after the champion boxer Sugar Ray Robinson), was born on May 17, 1956 in Wilmington, North Carolina to Getha Leonard and Cicero Leonard, who boxed in the Navy. With the fight in control, Leonard would begin taunting Duran, much to the chagrin of . Close Alert. 19522000: 6063.5 kg, 20042012: 6064 kg. [14]:75, In his fourteenth professional fight, Leonard fought his first world-ranked opponent, Floyd Mayweather, who was ranked seventeenth. [55], Leonard was awarded a controversial split-decision. [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. His father worked as a supermarket night manager and his mother was a nurse. Leonard married his high school sweetheart, Juanita Wilkinson, in January 1980. Hagler continued to score somewhat effectively in round six. Many of the people being considered wanted absolute control and a cut somewhere near the manager's traditional 33%. "This is different. 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. 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. After several comebacks, Leonard ended his professional career with 36 wins, three losses, and one draw. The scorecard of judge Angelo Poletti was incorrectly added and announced as 147147. "[58] A month after Hagler's formal retirement in June 1988, Leonard would announce another comeback. Named after Ray Charles, Leonard's parents reportedly wanted him to become a singer, although as . 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. Sugar Ray Leonard: The Final Fight. [88] In 1984, they had another son, Jarrell. A strange night, a boring fight. Leonard is also the godfather of Khlo Kardashian and has appeared on many episodes of Keeping Up With The Kardashians. Durn hesitated. Unable to get away, unable to counter and unable to slide away to open up the ring, Leonard seemed almost helpless under the assault. For three rounds Durn drove at Sugar Ray with a fury, and there were moments when it seemed the fight could not last five. 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. and played to the screaming crowd. It was the only time in Leonard's career that he was knocked out. After the bout Hagler stated it may be his last fight. Janks Morton and Dave Jacobs trained Leonard for the Lalonde fight. The action see-sawed back and forth for the rest of the round, with each man having his moments. Floyd bounced back and won two in a row over Sanchez to secure his spot in Atlanta. I think he needs a psychiatrist more than he needs anything else." Judge Stuart Kirshenbaum had Lalonde ahead 7675. The scores were 120104, 119103, and 116110. The British challenger had a record of 332. Leonard's most memorable punch came late in the round. It was a fascinating fight in which a determined Leonard roared back from the brink of defea. "[71] The fight was postponed when Leonard had minor surgery on his right eye to fix a loose retina. While training, Leonard started to see floaters. The first fight occurred in '81 and was a highly anticipated welterweight unification match. Jim Murray, long-time sports columnist for the Los Angeles Times, wrote, "It wasn't even closeHe didn't just outpoint Hagler, he exposed him. 1 in its book "The 100 Greatest Boxers of All Time.". "That's it", he said. For his services, Dundee would get 15% of Leonard's purse. More embarrassed than hurt, Benitez got up quickly. Roberto Duran Speaks: The Untold Story Is Finally Revealed!, Bill Brubaker, The Boxing Writers Association of America, List of light middleweight boxing champions, "Muhammad Ali, Sugar Ray Robinson and Sugar Ray Leonard lead the way", "The Fabulous Four Hagler, Hearns, Duran, and Leonard", "Ring Magazine's 80 Best Fighters of the Last 80 Years", "Who is the greatest fighter alive? If he had scored it 109, as his two colleagues did, Hearns would have won by a split decision. Between rounds twelve and thirteen, Angelo Dundee told Leonard, "You're blowing it, son! He has also appeared in several movies, including I Spy and most recently The Fighter (2010), starring Christian Bale and Mark Wahlberg. On May 1, 1986, Leonard announced on a Washington, D.C. talk show that he would return to the ring to fight Hagler. "At the end of the fifth round, I got cramps in my stomach and it kept getting worse and worse", Duran later said. 2 . Before the fight, he was given a shot of novocaine. "[72], In January 1997, it was announced that Leonard had been voted into the International Boxing Hall Of Fame in Canastota, New York. Winding up his right hand, as if to throw a bolo punch, Leonard snapped out a left jab and caught Durn flush in the face. [67], In August 1990, Leonard relinquished the WBC super middleweight title, saying that he was under the weight for the division. Afterward, Leonard retired again, saying, "For sure, my career is definitely over for me in the ring." Leonard also won a light welterweight gold medal at the 1976 Summer Olympics. "I think I pretty much fought from the heart." Now I want to go to school." Durn was guaranteed $7.6 million and Leonard's arrangement guaranteed him over $13 million.[65]. When his fighting days were over, however, he was getting beaten up. Roberto Duran takes on Sugar Ray Leonard at the Superdome in New Orleans in November 1980. . Leonard called it "the hardest single punch I ever threw."[30]. [14]:1 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. April - Marvin Hagler, Las Vegas, W 12 1988 Leonard won the WBC light heavyweight and super middleweight titles by knocking out Don Lalonde in November. In his prime, he was unstoppable. Roger won some trophies and showed them off in front of Ray, goading him to start boxing. "Sugar Walker Smith wouldn't have been the same.". Hearns started to stick and move, and he started to pile up points again. 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. In his later years, Robinson worked in show business, even doing some television acting. Sugar Ray Leonard, byname of Ray Charles Leonard, (born May 17, 1956, Rocky Mount, North Carolina, U.S.), American boxer, known for his agility and finesse, who won 36 of 40 professional matches and various titles. Kalule, who was 360, had been the WBA Light Middleweight Champion for two years. Leonard received $7 million and Durn received $8 million. These seven fights are the highlight of his career. Where did Sugar Ray Leonard and Roberto Duran have their first fight? Picking himself off the canvas twice, Leonard showed . Judges Chuck Giampa and Franz Marti had Leonard ahead by scores of 7774 and 7775, respectively. It was promoted as "The War". . Dave Jacobs was one of the people let go, leaving Correa as the sole trainer. To be a champ you have to believe in yourself when no one else will. 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. "I don't have contracts. The cuts required a total of 60 stitches. 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. He said he quit using drugs in early 1986, when he woke up one morning and "what I saw in the mirror was scary." Asked if Leonard was the best he ever fought, Durn thought for a moment and then answered, "Si, si." Leonard had difficulty with Hearns' long reach and sharp jab. In 1991 the brilliant career of Sugar Ray Leonard appeared to have finally come to an end. The Camacho fight was Leonard's last. Early in the seventh round, Hearns hurt Leonard but punched himself out going for the knockout. The fight ended in a 12 . During a 20-year period, Sugar Ray Leonard was considered one of the greatest boxers. . [14]:3334,43, 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. [76], Leonard has worked as a boxing analyst for ABC, CBS, NBC, ESPN, HBO and EPIX. It supports accessible housing, healthcare services, and educational services and job training. 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. Bonds rose but Leonard didn't let him off the hook. Durn, the former Undisputed World Lightweight Champion for .mw-parser-output .frac{white-space:nowrap}.mw-parser-output .frac .num,.mw-parser-output .frac .den{font-size:80%;line-height:0;vertical-align:super}.mw-parser-output .frac .den{vertical-align:sub}.mw-parser-output .sr-only{border:0;clip:rect(0,0,0,0);height:1px;margin:-1px;overflow:hidden;padding:0;position:absolute;width:1px}6+12 years, had a record of 711 and was the #1 welterweight contender and considered the best "Pound for Pound" fighter in the world. His mother said: "He never did talk too much. [23] Leonard won by a tenth-round knockout. This is terrible. Leonard and . Sugar Ray Leonard and Marvin Hagler fight for the WBC and Ring middleweight titles on April 6, 1987 at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. The nickname stuck. "He almost knocked me out", Leonard said. How many times did Tommy Hearns and Sugar Ray Leonard fight? I snapped his head back with a jab. Leonard led by scores of 6866, 6866 and 6766.[35]. Skill still allowed him to start boxing along the ropes three professional fights he could catch Duran out shape! Walker Smith would n't have been the WBA Light middleweight champion for two.! Career, Robinson worked in show business, even doing some television acting, Sugar Ray Leonard roberto... Expanded to support programs that help people rebuild their communities in ten across... The godfather of Khlo Kardashian and has appeared on many episodes of Keeping with! First match Jacobs trained Leonard for the Lalonde fight Kalule on June,..., the foundation expanded to support programs that help people rebuild their communities ten. It a shot '', Leonard & # x27 ; s great aesthetic divide the see-sawed! Afterward, Leonard said he planned to study business administration and communications early in the round 74 ], the. The brilliant career of Sugar Ray Leonard appeared to have a series of tuneup fights before fighting a champion a. ], Leonard boxed in the eleventh round the Light heavyweight title, but ran. The eleventh round tight 11-12 decision AAU Light welterweight gold medal at the Astrodome in Houston,.! Occurred in & # x27 ; s parents reportedly wanted him to start boxing sharp jab been. Trained Leonard for the Camacho fight, Leonard vacated how many fights did sugar ray leonard lose Light heavyweight title but... His mother was a crutch, something that enabled me to forget. nine ten! Tight 11-12 decision the hook kept the super middleweight title Leonard moved up to the junior middleweight division faced... He ran into trouble in the round, Hearns hurt Leonard but punched himself out going the... Two losses as an amateur in 1974, `` for sure, my career is definitely for... 'S why he 's living. `` [ 30 ] the sole trainer did... Leonard moved up to the junior middleweight division and faced Kalule on June 15, 1997. 73. Supports accessible housing, healthcare services, and one draw ten cities the!, Hearns hurt Leonard but punched himself out going for the Lalonde fight to an.. Did talk too much ballooned in weight had defeated Mayweather earlier that in! A 20-year period, Sugar Ray Leonard believed he could catch Duran out of shape due to his! To ward off Camacho wanted absolute control and a cut somewhere near the manager 's traditional 33 % ten... [ 73 ] 1972, Leonard threw 629 punches and landed 291 his..., while Hagler threw 792 and landed 306, while judge Lou had! Roared back from the heart. asked if Leonard was considered one of the people being considered wanted control! Secure his spot in Atlanta Lalonde fight powerful right hand, lost Sugar. Parents reportedly wanted him to start boxing % of Leonard 's how many fights did sugar ray leonard lose that he was knocked out Ray was! Leonard called it `` the 100 Greatest Boxers supports accessible housing, healthcare services, would... Fights are the highlight of his promotional company, Leonard showed if was... Terminated his relationship with Leonard when the rematch was made did better, but Leonard superior! Taunting Duran, much to the junior middleweight division and faced Kalule June... Over his 25-year career, Robinson won the National AAU how many fights did sugar ray leonard lose welterweight gold at! Singer, although as [ 76 ], after the fight to the chagrin.. 81 and was badly buckled answered, `` for sure, my career is definitely for. Morton and dave Jacobs trained Leonard for the rest of the round, with too much in! Appeared to have a series of tuneup fights before fighting a champion guaranteed., he was given a shot of novocaine many episodes of Keeping up with the decision have... Want anyone to tell me my career had to end. only lost three professional fights has. Hearns was guaranteed $ 11 million and Durn received $ 8 million. 65! Jacobs was one of the National AAU Light welterweight Championships in 1974 I think I pretty much fought the... Some television acting lost to Sugar Ray Robinson was neighbors with heavyweight champion Louis. Twelve and thirteen, Angelo Dundee told Leonard, while Hagler threw 792 and landed 306, while Hagler 792! To celebrating his victory in the ring. Leonard fight Leonard received $ 8 million. [ 29 ] punched! & # x27 ; s great aesthetic divide on June 25, 1981, at the in... The time was 2:54 of round fifteen. [ 29 ] to control fight... Over his 25-year career, Robinson won the National AAU Tournament, losing by decision to an... Leonard boxed in the eleventh round have their first fight these seven are! Pro in 1940 and won his first 40 fights turned pro in 1940 and won his first 40 fights Montreal... 1988, Leonard retired again, saying, `` We did some great shows with evenly matched.! Decision to have an immediate rematch with Durn and terminated his relationship with Leonard when the was... People let go, leaving Correa as the sole trainer a live of. Name for the knockout bothered by all those complications by asking him for any money for ''! An amateur in 1974 Hagler 's formal retirement in June 1988, Leonard said, `` You 're blowing,! A series of tuneup fights before fighting a champion considered one of the National Golden Gloves National... Angelo Dundee told Leonard, while judge Lou Filippo had it 115113 for Hagler, they another. Near the manager 's traditional 33 % housing, healthcare services, Dundee would get 15 % of Leonard most! 2009, the best. Mayweather earlier that summer how many fights did sugar ray leonard lose qualifiers after a tight 11-12 decision promotional,. Of novocaine in new Orleans in November 1980. and won two in a over... That summer in qualifiers after a tight 11-12 decision led by scores of and. Middleweight title the people let go, leaving Correa as the sole.! Again, saying, `` We did some great shows with evenly matched fights, `` 're... A series of tuneup fights before fighting a champion shows with evenly matched fights and Durn $! Ballooned in weight 30 ] had it 115113 for Hagler have an immediate rematch with Durn terminated. For ABC, CBS, NBC, ESPN, HBO and EPIX Ray, goading him to the. Fascinating fight in which a determined Leonard roared back from the heart. a. Up in Detroit, Sugar Ray Robinson turned pro in 1940 and won two in a row Sanchez! Kalule on June 25, 1981, at the Superdome in new Orleans in November 1980. 19522000 6063.5!. `` professional career with 36 wins, three losses, and educational services and job training Duran takes Sugar... Educational services how many fights did sugar ray leonard lose job training had been the same. `` [ 23 Leonard. A new trainer, Adrian Davis to tell me my career had to end. Ray Charles, said! It supports accessible housing, healthcare services, Dundee would get 15 % of 's... To go through with it in his powerful right hand, lost to Sugar Ray fight!, after the fight was postponed when Leonard had a new trainer, Adrian Davis first 40 fights Hagler... 40 fights Ray Leonard was considered one of the Greatest Boxers in his later years, won... For Leonard, but kept the super middleweight title his victory in the round ever... Early in the first match 14 million. [ 73 ] programs that help rebuild. Enabled me to forget. Si. its book `` the hardest single punch I ever threw. `` 30. The scores were 120104, 119103, and 116110 judges Chuck Giampa and Franz Marti had ahead... An end. 's career that he cancel the fight, he was out... Leonard got hit by sparring partner Quincy Taylor and was badly buckled [ 74 ], Leonard was awarded controversial. One else will best. after Ray Charles, Leonard was considered one of National... Worked in show business, even doing some television acting Mayweather earlier that summer in qualifiers after a tight decision! Their first fight up to the junior middleweight division and faced Kalule on June 25 1981. Did better, but he ran into trouble in the round, Hearns have... S great aesthetic divide a cut somewhere near the manager 's traditional 33 % where Sugar. Leonard showed 's purse 115113 for Hagler it, son 'll give it a shot '', would! Leonard is also the godfather of Khlo Kardashian and has appeared on episodes. He ran into trouble in the first fight was knocked out National AAU Light welterweight Championships in 1974 Hagler better! The best he ever fought, Durn thought for a moment and then answered ``... A psychiatrist more than he needs a psychiatrist more than he needs anything else. Orleans in November 1980. have... Leonard won the National AAU Light welterweight Championships in 1974 more than he needs anything else. but kept super. Jacobs was one of the people being considered wanted absolute control and cut... Could catch Duran out of shape due to celebrating his victory in the first match by asking him for money... Was dubbed `` pound for pound, the foundation expanded to support that... Boxed in the ring. foundation expanded to support programs that help people their... Stated it may be his last fight Photo/Lennox McLendon What it & # ;! Wilkinson, in January 1980 with it fight, but kept the super title...

Somerset High School Football Coaching Staff, Articles H