(Photo . Judges Raymond Baldeyrou and Harry Gibbs scored the fight 146144 and 145144, respectively. Benitez was very slick. By 1958, he had become the first boxer to win a divisional world championship five times. Leonard decided to fight Camacho after commentating on Camacho's fight with the 45-year-old Roberto Durn the previous year, describing the disputed unanimous decision as "an early Christmas gift". Wherever he went, he brought a large entourage of trainers, women and family members. Thirty years ago to the day, Leonad snapped a three-year retirement due to a detached retina and, at age 30, moved up two weight classes (without a tune-up fight) to face legendary middleweight . Rounds nine and ten were good rounds for Leonard, but he ran into trouble in the eleventh round. "[43], The fight was named "Fight of the Year" by The Ring. Hagler was a heavy favorite. Leonard was guaranteed $11 million, and Hagler was guaranteed $12 million. Bonds rose but Leonard didn't let him off the hook. Robinson, who was unapologetic for his lavish spending, is estimated to have earned more than $4 million as a fighter, all of which he burned through, forcing him to continue boxing much longer than he should have. I was so ready, I wanted to get my title, my world championship belt back so bad! Hagler hurt Leonard with a left cross and pinned him in a corner. Bonds got up and continued to move, with Leonard in pursuit. He was also named "Athlete of the Year" by ABC's Wide World of Sports and "Sportsman of the Year" by Sports Illustrated. He had a career record of 79-6-3 and was a showman in the ring, chanting 'It . The scores were 120110, 119109, and 116111. "I'm watching John 'The Beast' Mugabi outbox Hagler. the fighter 2010 movie brother of micky ward did he knock down sugar ray leonard Richard"Dicky" Eklund (born January 1, 1958) is a former welterweight boxer from the mill city of Lowell,. The bout took place on June 20, 1980 at the Olympic Stadium in Montreal, Canada. Many felt that the ten-point must scoring system was not properly used and those rounds should have been scored 108. He said he started using medication after he retired in 1982, following surgery to repair a detached retina. I'm in the best shape possible. goes on to explain what went through his mind before he quit the fight - a bout in which he wasn't . "[71] The boxer continued his dominance until 1991 when he lost by decision to Terry Norris and retired again. [67], In August 1990, Leonard relinquished the WBC super middleweight title, saying that he was under the weight for the division. On March 28, 1981, Leonard defended his title against Larry Bonds, the WBC sixth-ranked contender, at the Carrier Dome in Syracuse, New York. Sugar Ray Leonard: The Final Fight. . 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. Robinson's birth certificate lists his place of birth as Ailey, Georgia, while the boxer stated in his autobiography that he was born in Detroit, Michigan. November 30, 1979: Leonard wins his first world titles by defeating Wilfred Bentez via 15th round TKO. After several comebacks, Leonard ended his professional career with 36 wins, three losses, and one draw. He stuck out his chin, inviting Durn to hit it. Leonard finally hurt him with a right to the head. Hagler backed off, and Leonard danced away with Hagler in pursuit. Scottish boxing journalist Hugh McIlvanney wrote that Leonard's plan was to "steal rounds with a few flashy and carefully timed flurrieshe was happy to exaggerate hand speed at the expense of power, and neither he nor two of the scorers seemed bothered by the fact that many of the punches landed on the champion's gloves and arms. The legendary boxer Sugar Ray Leonard had an impressive professional boxing career, with a total of 36 wins, 3 draws, and 1 loss. Frazier had a 73 reach. HBO believed it would be inappropriate for Leonard to continue with them if they couldn't bid on his fights. Doctors said they believed he would be able to resume his boxing career before the end of the year. The fight ended in a split draw, meaning both fighters retained their respective titles. . However, Camacho was also considered to be past his prime. Known for his punching power, he won world championships in four weight classes, though his reputation took a hit with his "no ms" loss to Sugar Ray Leonard in 1980. Also, Leonard and Janks Morton split because of personal differences. The odds started at 41, then settled at 31. 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. 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. [80], Leonard has also worked as an actor. My journey has ended, my dream is fulfilled. Leonard battled back again and again, but he had to work just to find room to breathe and swing, at times simply to survive. Over his 25-year career, Robinson won the world welterweight and middleweight crowns and was dubbed "pound for pound, the. Leonard suffered his last two losses as an amateur in 1974. During a 20-year period, Sugar Ray Leonard was considered one of the greatest boxers. The rules stated that a boxer had to be seventeen to box in international competition, so Leonard, only sixteen, lied about his age. 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. Always moving forward, he mauled and wrestled Leonard, scoring inside with hooks and rights. Roberto Duran takes on Sugar Ray Leonard at the Superdome in New Orleans in November 1980. . "Tonight was my last fight. His doctor suggested that he cancel the fight, but Leonard wanted to go through with it. Janks Morton and Dave Jacobs trained Leonard for the Lalonde fight. 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 responded with a furious flurry, landing few punches but whipping the upset-hoping crowd into a frenzy. He was given a scholarship to the University of Maryland, a gift from the citizens of Glenarden, Maryland. [69], On February 9, 1991, Leonard went down to 154lbs and fought WBC Light Middleweight Champion Terry Norris at Madison Square Garden. 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. "[91] In 2011, Leonard revealed in an NPR interview that he had been free of alcohol since July 2006. He was paid $40,044 for the fight. 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. 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. "Sugar Walker Smith wouldn't have been the same.". [24][25], On August 12, 1979, Leonard knocked out Pete Ranzany in four rounds to win the NABF Welterweight Championship. "[58] A month after Hagler's formal retirement in June 1988, Leonard would announce another comeback. Sugar Ray Robinson died just about broke, he suffered 19 career defeats and he didn't beat as many world champions in consecutive fights (there were of course far less world champions back in . Judge Jerry Roth scored the fight 113112 for Hearns, Judge Tom Kazmarek scored it 113112 for Leonard, and Judge Dalby Shirley scored it 112112. Hearns (left) had not lost in his 32 fights before facing Leonard. The Senate hearing was titled "Type 1 Diabetes Research: Real Progress and Real Hope for a Cure". [50], Leonard and Howard fought on May 11, 1984, in Worcester, Massachusetts. Dickie's fight against Sugar Ray Leonard was on July 18, 1978 at the Hynes Memorial Auditorium in Boston, Massachusetts. As an amateur, he took an Olympic gold medal in the light-welterweight class at the 1976 Games in Montreal. Leonard and Duran fought the fiercest battle in welterweight history, fuelled by Duran's utter hatred for the pretty boy with lots of money and Ray's refusal to back down. With little money Robinson helped his mother save for an apartment by earning change dancing for strangers in Times Square the Smiths built their new life in a section of Harlem dominated by flophouses and gangsters. After Foreman's thrilling challenge of Holyfield-Don King asked Tyson to fight him. The induction ceremony was on June 15, 1997.[73]. [14]:78, In 1973, Leonard won the National Golden Gloves Lightweight Championship, but lost to Randy Shields in the lightweight final of the National AAU Tournament. 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 . [15], Sarge Johnson, assistant coach of the US Olympic Boxing Team, said to Dave Jacobs, "That kid you got is sweet as sugar". [18] He planned to study business administration and communications. Juanita Wilkinson, Leonard's high school girlfriend, told him she was pregnant in the summer of 1973. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Leonard landed several good left hooks in the first round. In the first round, Leonard rocked Benitez with a left hook that came off a jab and right cross. "My idea is that he should have a tuneup fight before he fights with Roberto again", Jacobs said. himself. Leonard learned of the suit several days after returning home from the Olympics. October 30, 1974 - Kinshasa, Zaire It was the way that Ali won which made it the defining moment of his career, shocking the world by defeating a supposedly unbeatable Foreman by spending a good. Having lost, Sugar Ray Leonard believed he could catch Duran out of shape due to celebrating his victory in the first match. "And Voom! Hagler's corner was much more reserved prompting Clancy to comment: "They're talking to him like it's an IBM meeting or somethingno emotion." Leonard won the National Golden Gloves and National AAU Light Welterweight Championships in 1974. It was the only time in Leonard's career that he was knocked out. 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. He was voted off in Week 4 of the show. When he did, he hit harder. 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". Hagler's undisputed status ended when the WBA stripped him of the title for choosing to fight Sugar Ray Leonard instead of mandatory challenger, Herol Graham. Durn's manager, Carlos Eleta, said, "Durn didn't quit because of stomach cramps. We strive for accuracy and fairness.If you see something that doesn't look right,contact us! Camacho, a light-hitting southpaw, was a three-time world champion with a record of 6231. The fight was postponed when Leonard had minor surgery on his right eye to fix a loose retina. [34], After the Montreal fight Durn went on a partying binge and ballooned in weight. WBA-WBC era (1963-1983) No . May 11 - Kevin Howard, Massachusetts, KO 9 1987 Leonard won the WBC middleweight title in a 12-round contest against Marvin Hagler in April. Benitez started improving in the fourth, slipping numerous punches and finding the range with his right hand. 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. [10] BoxRec ranks him as the 14th greatest boxer of all time, pound for pound. [38], "I made him quit", Leonard said. 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. No. In 2009, the foundation expanded to support programs that help people rebuild their communities in ten cities across the United States. . 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. I already had it in the back of my mind to dissolve the company. Floyd bounced back and won two in a row over Sanchez to secure his spot in Atlanta. Early in the seventh round, Hearns hurt Leonard but punched himself out going for the knockout. [54], Leonard threw 629 punches and landed 306, while Hagler threw 792 and landed 291. 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 and Tommy Hearns during their first fight, on September 16, 1981 in Las Vegas. "It was a crutch, something that enabled me to forget." 17 May 1956 -. [81], In 2001, Leonard launched Sugar Ray Leonard Boxing Inc., a boxing promotional company, and announced the company's strategic partnership with ESPN. The fight ended in a 12 . "[37] According to Randy Gordon, who witnessed Durn's antics beforehand and was in his dressing room immediately afterwards, Durn quit because of his huge eating binge prior to the fight. Hearns was the WBA champion while Leonard held the WBC title. 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. This latest eye problem further fueled the flames of those who opposed Leonard's comeback. Photograph: Bettmann/Corbis After that, Leonard decided to box Hagler. The win over Barkley was in many ways the final memory of the old rampaging warrior. 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. Many of the people being considered wanted absolute control and a cut somewhere near the manager's traditional 33%. 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. Sign In Shortly afterward, Leonard dropped him with a flurry of punches. [60][61], Lalonde's size and awkwardness troubled Leonard. The Classic bout between Sugar Ray Leonard V Thomas Hearns.Leonard Snatches Victory from the jaws of defeat with a dramatic late Stoppage! Leonard's 1987 fight with Hagler, which served as a comeback after a three-year retirement, is one of the greatest fights ever. Sugar Ray Robinson turned pro in 1940 and won his first 40 fights. Now and then he got loose and counteredleft-right-left to Durn's bobbing headbut he missed punches and could not work inside, could not jab, could not mount an offense to keep Durn at bay.[31]. 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