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; as well as undisputed welterweight title.
Leonard was part of “The Fabulous Four”, a group of boxers who all
fought each other throughout the 1980s, consisting of himself, Roberto
Duran, 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, Duran, Hagler, and Wilfred Benitez. Leonard was also the first
boxer to earn more than $100 million in purses, and was named “Boxer
of the Decade” in the 1980s. 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, 1981.
Professional
career
Early professional career
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.
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. After the
fight, Leonard paid back his $21,000 loan to the investors.
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. Leonard won by a tenth round
knockout. A month later, Leonard defeated his old amateur nemesis
Randy Shields by a ten round unanimous decision.
On August 12,
1979, Leonard knocked out Pete Ranzany in four rounds to win the NABF
Welterweight Championship. 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.
First world title
Leonard
vs Benitez
Leonard fought Wilfred Benitez 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.
