Leonard married his high school sweetheart, Juanita Wilkinson, in January 1980. When Sugar Ray Leonard and Roberto Duran met on Nov. 25, 1980, for an immediate rematch of their showdown that saw "Hands of Stone" give Leonard his first loss, few could have possibly anticipated what would take place at The Superdome in New Orleans. The win over Barkley was in many ways the final memory of the old rampaging warrior. "He almost knocked me out", Leonard said. [1] He was named after Ray Charles, his mother's favorite singer. He is the celebrity spokesperson for the Atlanta law firm John Foy and Associates, PC. After Foreman's thrilling challenge of Holyfield-Don King asked Tyson to fight him. Robinson finally retired from the sport for good in 1965. However, he was able to outpunch Hagler along the ropes and got the better of several bristling exchanges. Leonard landed several good left hooks in the first round. It ended in 1990, after HBO was not offered an opportunity to bid on the telecast rights to Leonard's fight with Terry Norris. 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 6222. According to Bill Nack: It was, from almost the opening salvo, a fight that belonged to Durn. 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. Robinson, who had a son from a previous marriage, helped raise Millie's two children. What was the score of the Sugar Ray Leonard fight? His decision was to push Froot Loops onto the Finals, where they were taken out by Cinnamon Toast Crunch. He continued to taunt Durn mercilessly. The Senate hearing was titled "Type 1 Diabetes Research: Real Progress and Real Hope for a Cure". 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. By 1958, he had become the first boxer to win a divisional world championship five times. Remembering "The Showdown": Hearns and Leonard fought 35 years ago. In the second, Durn rocked Leonard with a left hook, sending him into the ropes. He wasn't afraid, he was being a smart businessman. I snapped it back again. Before the fight, he was given a shot of novocaine. Hearns, 320 with 30 knockouts, won the WBA Welterweight Championship in 1980, scoring a second-round knockout of Jos "Pipino" Cuevas in Detroit, Michigan. Leonard's most memorable punch came late in the round. He made three successful title defenses, stopping Luis Primera, Randy Shields, and Pablo Baez. Benitez started improving in the fourth, slipping numerous punches and finding the range with his right hand. Sugar Ray Robinson's birth name was Walker Smith Jr. Although Price landed multiple good blows, Leonard knocked him out in the first round, advancing his record to 250 with 16 knockouts.[28]. 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. "I wanted that arena. 17 May 1956 -. [45] Leonard's next fight was scheduled to be against Roger Stafford on May 14, 1982, in Buffalo, New York. 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]. Hearns was leading by scores of 124122, 125122, and 125121. Durn forced the issue and took the fight to Leonard, cutting off the ring and denying Leonard space to fight his fight. "I think he won the fight with Durn, but I don't think it is healthy for him to be fighting Durn right away". He hit more oftenHe made Hagler into what he perceived him to be throughout his careera brawler, a swarmer, a man who could club you to death only if you stood there and let him. Leonard got hit by sparring partner Quincy Taylor and was badly buckled. Bonds got up and continued to move, with Leonard in pursuit. 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. Associated Press had it 144141 for Durn, while The New York Times had Leonard ahead 144142. "[77], Leonard has provided commercial endorsements for companies including Coca-Cola, EA Sports, Ford, Nabisco, Revlon and 7 Up. Where did Sugar Ray Leonard and Roberto Duran have their first fight? Sugar Ray Leonard vs. Roberto Durn, billed as " The Brawl in Montreal ", was a welterweight professional boxing match contested between WBC, The Ring and lineal champion Sugar Ray Leonard and Roberto Durn. The referee stopped the fight with Camacho teeing off on a defenseless Leonard on the ropes. The young boxer quickly moved up the ranks. He also had the distinction of being the first boxer ever to earn $100 million in purses. 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. During a 20-year period, Sugar Ray Leonard was considered one of the greatest boxers. Veteran ringside commentator Don Dunphy said "They're stopping the fight. [15], Sarge Johnson, assistant coach of the US Olympic Boxing Team, said to Dave Jacobs, "That kid you got is sweet as sugar". "[91] In 2011, Leonard revealed in an NPR interview that he had been free of alcohol since July 2006. Despite requests from the Hagler camp, Leonard was uninterested in a rematch and retired on May 27, 1987. Sugar Ray Leonard, the world welterweight champion, underwent two hours of surgery at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore yesterday to repair a partially detached retina in his left eye.. [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. Howard knocked Leonard flat on his back in the fourth round. Leonard had difficulty with Hearns' long reach and sharp jab. Between rounds eleven and twelve, Leonard's trainer: Angelo Dundee, implored Sugar Ray to get up off his stool yelling "We got three minutesnew champnew champ!" In rounds seven and eight, Hagler's southpaw jab was landing solidly and Leonard's counter flurries were less frequent. [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. WBA-WBC era (1963-1983) No . In 2002, Leonard was voted by The Ring as the ninth greatest fighter of the last 80 years. Hagler continued to score somewhat effectively in round six. Leonard was awarded a 50 decision and the Olympic gold medal. [64] Hearns was guaranteed $11 million and Leonard was guaranteed $14 million. His older brother, Roger, started boxing first. Dickie Eklund (left) smiles before the Sugar Ray fight. Judge Stuart Kirshenbaum had Lalonde ahead 7675. 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. Wherever he went, he brought a large entourage of trainers, women and family members. He then announced, "I am retiring from boxing right now." "It took this fight to show me it is no longer my time", Leonard said. The nickname "Sugar" came from Gainford, who had described the young boxer as "sweet as sugar"; reporters soon began using the moniker. In round seven, Leonard started to taunt Durn. However, Camacho was also considered to be past his prime. [18] He planned to study business administration and communications. Hearns dropped Leonard with a right cross in the third round, but Leonard came back and battered Hearns around the ring in the fifth. I think he needs a psychiatrist more than he needs anything else." 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. He had a falling out with partner Bjorn Rebney, whom he called "a cancer in my company. The fight ended with Hagler and Leonard exchanging along the ropes. [69], On February 9, 1991, Leonard went down to 154lbs and fought WBC Light Middleweight Champion Terry Norris at Madison Square Garden. "Tonight was my last fight. Answer (1 of 8): Hearns and Leonard fought twice. The rules stated that a boxer had to be seventeen to box in international competition, so Leonard, only sixteen, lied about his age. In the final round, Hagler continued to chase Leonard. Leonard was named "Fighter of the Year" by The Ring and The Boxing Writers Association of America. Two years later, he was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame. The Classic bout between Sugar Ray Leonard V Thomas Hearns.Leonard Snatches Victory from the jaws of defeat with a dramatic late Stoppage! Leonard ended the series with his hand raised in victory, but the boos couldn't be hidden and many fled the arena long before the final bell. 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. Former boxing champion Sugar Ray Leonard acknowledged today that he took cocaine and drank heavily during the early 1980's when his career was jeopardized by an eye injury.. 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". [81], In 2001, Leonard launched Sugar Ray Leonard Boxing Inc., a boxing promotional company, and announced the company's strategic partnership with ESPN. Lalonde tried to tie up Leonard, but got dropped with a powerful left hook. Kalule got up but the referee waved it off. As an amateur, he took an Olympic gold medal in the light-welterweight class at the 1976 Games in Montreal. [14]:4243 He finished his amateur career with a record of 1655 and 75 KOs.[19]. 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. . After the bout Hagler stated it may be his last fight. 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. Frazier had a 73 reach. Going into the final round, Leonard led by scores of 137130, 137133, and 136134. They decided to have the baby but marriage would be put off until after the Olympics in 1976. [68] He then offered Hearns a third fight, but Hearns said he could no longer make the weight and moved up to the light heavyweight division. Camacho applied pressure from the opening bell and started to score well in the third. Even though Leonard dominated, hurting Hearns and battering him, all three judges gave both rounds to Leonard by a 109 margin. He finished his career in 1965 with 175 victories. .css-m6thd4{-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;display:block;margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;font-family:Gilroy,Helvetica,Arial,Sans-serif;font-size:1.125rem;line-height:1.2;font-weight:bold;color:#323232;text-transform:capitalize;}@media (any-hover: hover){.css-m6thd4:hover{color:link-hover;}}Remembering Just Fontaine and His World Cup Record, The Man Behind the First All-Black Basketball Team, 8 Times Brothers Have Faced Off in a Championship, Every Black Quarterback to Play in the Super Bowl, Soccer Star Christian Atsu Survived an Earthquake. In 1991 the brilliant career of Sugar Ray Leonard appeared to have finally come to an end. "For the first time in a long time, I allowed someone to push me", Leonard said. Morton was replaced as co-trainer by Pepe Correa, who had worked with Leonard for most of the previous fifteen years.[63]. 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. March 13, 2021. by Larry Brown. [88] In 1984, they had another son, Jarrell. Although he would prescribe the training procedures, he would leave the day-to-day work to Dave Jacobs and Janks Morton. Judge Jos Guerra scored the fight 118110 for Leonard. In snowshoesLeonard repeatedly beat Hagler to the punch. . Paternity Suit". In rounds, he had it three for Durn, two for Leonard, and ten even. Robinson inspired Ali's famous matador style, which he used to defeat Sonny Liston for the heavyweight title in 1964. "No one, I mean no one, can make me miss punches like that", Leonard said. Durn said he quit because of stomach cramps, caused by overeating after the weigh-in. The live gate was $5.9 million, and the revenue from pay-per-view was $7.5 million. Leonard, with a badly swollen left eye, came out roaring for the thirteenth round. In their 2nd fight, a 30-year old Thomas Hearns (46-3, 38 KO) faced Sugar Ray Leonard again, who was now 33 years old with a record of 35-1 in a super-middleweight title defense fight. "I can never erase the pain or the scars I have made through my stupidity, my selfishness", Leonard said. 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. Sign In He drove him to the ropes and unleashed a furious assault. [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]. [8] The Ring magazine named him Fighter of the Year in 1979 and 1981, while the Boxing Writers Association of America named him Fighter of the Year in 1976, 1979, and 1981. Foreman had an 84 inch reach. "To make a man quit, to make Roberto Durn quit, was better than knocking him out."[35]. The fight was one of the many battles between the top fighters of the era (Duran, Leonard, Hearns, Hagler). By 1958, he had become the first boxer to win a divisional world championship five times. To make matters worse, his father was hospitalized with meningitis and his mother had a heart attack. But I never had any problems with him. In the semifinals, he faced Kazimierz Szczerba and won a 50 decision. Many of the people being considered wanted absolute control and a cut somewhere near the manager's traditional 33%. The 'Super Fight' between Marvin Hagler and Sugar Ray Leonard sparked a brawl between Bob Arum and Don King, generated $78m and produced one of boxing's biggest controversies Joe Coleman. Leonard maintained his eye was fully healed, but that he just didn't want to box anymore. "He's a great trainer, a throwback", Leonard said. The action see-sawed back and forth for the rest of the round, with each man having his moments. At the final bell, even uniformed ringside security rushed into the ring applauding and lauding Leonard's effort. Career Highlights Sugar Ray Leonard fought a total of 40 times during his professional career. Leonard is also the godfather of Khlo Kardashian and has appeared on many episodes of Keeping Up With The Kardashians. 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. I took great pride in it. I knew he would indulge himself, he'd gain 4050 lbs and then sweat it off to make 147." For the Durn fight, Leonard cut his entourage from twenty-one to six. 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. In the second, he dropped Aldama with a left to the chin. To be a champ you have to believe in yourself when no one else will. 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. Durn hesitated. Hagler buckled Leonard's knees with a right uppercut near the end of the round, which finished with Leonard on the ropes. Voom! 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