Thirty-Five Years Ago Today: Sugar Ray Leonard's Last Fight of His Prime

[elmersalsa]

On February 15th, 1982, the great Sugar Ray Leonard easily disposed challenger Bruce Finch in 3 easy rounds. It was Sugar Ray's first title defense of his unified world welterweight crown.

After a couple of hard fights with greats like Wilfred Benitez, Roberto Duran and Thomas Hearns, it was rewarding for him to take an hour easy payday. I Don't blame anyone for that.

Little we knew that it was the last great performance of his great prime. Already established as an all-time great after beating The Hitman by knockout in 14 unforgettable rounds some months earlier, still there were plenty of fights left for him at age 26. Intriguing fights to see like fighting the great WBA World Jr Welterweight Champion Aaron Pryor or maybe a super-mega match with the great Marvelous Marvin Hagler for the World Middleweight Title. Or maybe a great match against rising superstar, The Lone Star Cobra, Donald Curry. Those were possible mega fights in the horizon.

But, unfortunately, the fights didn't happened. Sugar Ray left a big void in the beginning of the decade, retiring because of a detached retina in his left eye. On November of 1982, he seemly looked that he left the boxing world for good. Boxing still survived with great fights after that retirement, but it was HE the biggest star of the time. It was he that was carrying the sport after great Muhammad Ali's doldrums. Now, no more Ali. And for the moment, no more Sugar Ray.

He left us intriguing also with possible rematches with Duran, Benitez and Hearns. Too bad it happened way too late. In the case with Benitez, the rematch never came at all.

What would have happened if no detached retina was on his way? What would have been the possible fights? What routes Sugar Ray would have taken? We probably would have much more and better thrills than when he came back five years later with only one fight in between that's for sure. We were robbed from his very best I think. His first 5 years in the ring were great, but, probably, we wanted much more.

Your thoughts.

[Tomasino]

I never want an injured fighter to keep going. I think he would have beaten Duran, Benitez again, 50-50 with Hearns. He would have wasted Pryor. I think Hagler was always physically capable of beating Ray just his mind that beat him in that fight, same as it almost done him vs Duran.

[elmersalsa]

I never want an injured fighter to keep going. I think he would have beaten Duran, Benitez again, 50-50 with Hearns. He would have wasted Pryor. I think Hagler was always physically capable of beating Ray just his mind that beat him in that fight, same as it almost done him vs Duran.

Are you saying that Marvelous would have been the victor in 1982 or '83? That was probably the most intriguing match up of two great boxers in their complete primes. I don't care who would have won, but, I imagine: Sugar Ray Leonard, the Undisputed Welterweight World Champion in his prime vs the Undisputed World Middleweight Champion Marvelous Marvin Hagler for Hagler's crown. Caesars Palace or MSG as the venue. Fifteen rounds!
Both would have train superb for that fight. I would have root for Ray, but, I believe Marvelous would have taken him about the 13th or 14th round.

[elmersalsa]

Just thinking about it, Hagler vs Leonard in '82 or '83. Either between 1982 to 1985 it would have been a great time frame for that fight. Probably, we would have compare this fight as the second most anticipated fight ever behind Ali vs Frazier I. If both had their records intact. No losses in between.

We also forgot that in May '82 The Hitman was challenging Marvelous. But, Hearns had an injury.

Now, let's say, Marvelous beats Hearns, then Sugar Ray beats Aaron Pryor after Pryor beats Alexis Arguello. The climax for lots of fight possibilities were around. Even an Arguello vs Leonard fight would've been lucrative and intriguing. Can you imagine? Arguello vs Leonard if he passed by Pryor? Arguello looking for his 5th world title? The winner fights Donald Curry. Oh man! What a set of world boxing championship events! The '80s would have been much better than it was if Leonard never retired. So many fights possibilities!

[Kalan]

I never want an injured fighter to keep going. I think he would have beaten Duran, Benitez again, 50-50 with Hearns. He would have wasted Pryor. I think Hagler was always physically capable of beating Ray just his mind that beat him in that fight, same as it almost done him vs Duran.

Are you saying that Marvelous would have been the victor in 1982 or '83? That was probably the most intriguing match up of two great boxers in their complete primes. I don't care who would have won, but, I imagine: Sugar Ray Leonard, the Undisputed Welterweight World Champion in his prime vs the Undisputed World Middleweight Champion Marvelous Marvin Hagler for Hagler's crown. Caesars Palace or MSG as the venue. Fifteen rounds!
Both would have train superb for that fight. I would have root for Ray, but, I believe Marvelous would have taken him about the 13th or 14th round.

I think Leonard always outboxes Hagler.. Hag was a swinger, so he'd have a lot of gloves in his face anytime he faced a real smart boxer.. And I think Michael Nunn always boxes the sh!t out of Leonard. That's why Ray simply refused to fight Nunn. When Leonard was still and active boxer and they were trying to match him with Nunn in March of 1989 -- Leonard did the expert commentary for the Nunn-Kalambay fight.. Nunn was told Leonard was doing the commentary.. "Cool. Then I'll give him something to talk about -- but he won't fight me." ... When Nunn scored the "KO of he Year" in the 1st round (the only time Kalambay was ever stopped in his life) Leonard said, "Nunn showed he can handle any Middleweight" ... presumably including Leonard.

[elmersalsa]

I never want an injured fighter to keep going. I think he would have beaten Duran, Benitez again, 50-50 with Hearns. He would have wasted Pryor. I think Hagler was always physically capable of beating Ray just his mind that beat him in that fight, same as it almost done him vs Duran.

Are you saying that Marvelous would have been the victor in 1982 or '83? That was probably the most intriguing match up of two great boxers in their complete primes. I don't care who would have won, but, I imagine: Sugar Ray Leonard, the Undisputed Welterweight World Champion in his prime vs the Undisputed World Middleweight Champion Marvelous Marvin Hagler for Hagler's crown. Caesars Palace or MSG as the venue. Fifteen rounds!
Both would have train superb for that fight. I would have root for Ray, but, I believe Marvelous would have taken him about the 13th or 14th round.

I think Leonard always outboxes Hagler.. Hag was a swinger, so he'd have a lot of gloves in his face anytime he faced a real smart boxer.. And I think Michael Nunn always boxes the sh!t out of Leonard. That's why Ray simply refused to fight Nunn. When Leonard was still and active boxer and they were trying to match him with Nunn in March of 1989 -- Leonard did the expert commentary for the Nunn-Kalambay fight.. Nunn was told Leonard was doing the commentary.. "Cool. Then I'll give him something to talk about -- but he won't fight me." ... When Nunn scored the "KO of he Year" in the 1st round (the only time Kalambay was ever stopped in his life) Leonard said, "Nunn showed he can handle any Middleweight" ... presumably including Leonard.

I don't think at that stage of his career, Sugar Ray beats a fresh and exceptional fighter like Michael Nunn, Kalan. That was the late '80s. I am talking about early '80s. Sugar Ray's retina retirement and the great Salvador Sanchez' death in '82 left us with a big lost in boxing.

[Kalan]

Are you saying that Marvelous would have been the victor in 1982 or '83? That was probably the most intriguing match up of two great boxers in their complete primes. I don't care who would have won, but, I imagine: Sugar Ray Leonard, the Undisputed Welterweight World Champion in his prime vs the Undisputed World Middleweight Champion Marvelous Marvin Hagler for Hagler's crown. Caesars Palace or MSG as the venue. Fifteen rounds!
Both would have train superb for that fight. I would have root for Ray, but, I believe Marvelous would have taken him about the 13th or 14th round.

I think Leonard always outboxes Hagler.. Hag was a swinger, so he'd have a lot of gloves in his face anytime he faced a real smart boxer.. And I think Michael Nunn always boxes the sh!t out of Leonard. That's why Ray simply refused to fight Nunn. When Leonard was still and active boxer and they were trying to match him with Nunn in March of 1989 -- Leonard did the expert commentary for the Nunn-Kalambay fight.. Nunn was told Leonard was doing the commentary.. "Cool. Then I'll give him something to talk about -- but he won't fight me." ... When Nunn scored the "KO of he Year" in the 1st round (the only time Kalambay was ever stopped in his life) Leonard said, "Nunn showed he can handle any Middleweight" ... presumably including Leonard.

I don't think at that stage of his career, Sugar Ray beats a fresh and exceptional fighter like Michael Nunn, Kalan. That was the late '80s. I am talking about early '80s. Sugar Ray's retina retirement and the great Salvador Sanchez' death in '82 left us with a big lost in boxing.

Sanchez's death was a massive loss for Boxing, because he was still getting better... But Leonard was still fighting and still good after eye surgery.

His greatest win was Hagler -- but he refused to defend that title... You can't dismiss his draw with Hearns, his 2nd win over Duran, and beating a weight drained Lalonde... But I just wish he would have fought Nunn.. Wouldn't be the first time an older boxer fights a younger one -- so there can be a transition of sorts.

[elmersalsa]

I think Leonard always outboxes Hagler.. Hag was a swinger, so he'd have a lot of gloves in his face anytime he faced a real smart boxer.. And I think Michael Nunn always boxes the sh!t out of Leonard. That's why Ray simply refused to fight Nunn. When Leonard was still and active boxer and they were trying to match him with Nunn in March of 1989 -- Leonard did the expert commentary for the Nunn-Kalambay fight.. Nunn was told Leonard was doing the commentary.. "Cool. Then I'll give him something to talk about -- but he won't fight me." ... When Nunn scored the "KO of he Year" in the 1st round (the only time Kalambay was ever stopped in his life) Leonard said, "Nunn showed he can handle any Middleweight" ... presumably including Leonard.

I don't think at that stage of his career, Sugar Ray beats a fresh and exceptional fighter like Michael Nunn, Kalan. That was the late '80s. I am talking about early '80s. Sugar Ray's retina retirement and the great Salvador Sanchez' death in '82 left us with a big lost in boxing.

Sanchez's death was a massive loss for Boxing, because he was still getting better... But Leonard was still fighting and still good after eye surgery.

His greatest win was Hagler -- but he refused to defend that title... You can't dismiss his draw with Hearns, his 2nd win over Duran, and beating a weight drained Lalonde... But I just wish he would have fought Nunn.. Wouldn't be the first time an older boxer fights a younger one -- so there can be a transition of sorts.

Sugar Ray wasn't on top of his game by 1989, Kalan. It would not be a fair fight against Michael Nunn. He was 33 and he wasn't in his best weight class, either. Plus, he wasn't in his prime in 1989. His prime years was from 1978-82 period.


And his defining win wasn't against Marvelous. It was against The Hitman in '81.

[Kalan]

I don't think at that stage of his career, Sugar Ray beats a fresh and exceptional fighter like Michael Nunn, Kalan. That was the late '80s. I am talking about early '80s. Sugar Ray's retina retirement and the great Salvador Sanchez' death in '82 left us with a big lost in boxing.

Sanchez's death was a massive loss for Boxing, because he was still getting better... But Leonard was still fighting and still good after eye surgery.

His greatest win was Hagler -- but he refused to defend that title... You can't dismiss his draw with Hearns, his 2nd win over Duran, and beating a weight drained Lalonde... But I just wish he would have fought Nunn.. Wouldn't be the first time an older boxer fights a younger one -- so there can be a transition of sorts.

Sugar Ray wasn't on top of his game by 1989, Kalan. It would not be a fair fight against Michael Nunn. He was 33 and he wasn't in his best weight class, either. Plus, he wasn't in his prime in 1989. His prime years was from 1978-82 period.


And his defining win wasn't against Marvelous. It was against The Hitman in '81.

No it wasn't ... The so-called Hit Man was outboxing SRL's ass until Tommy ran out of gas -- because he came in super skinny and underweight. It was that super skinny, underweight, and weak kid's jabbing, right hand pounding, and battering of Leonard's left eye that caused SRL to have only 1 fight in 5 years prior to jumping up 2 weight divisions and outfoxing one of the men who stretched the chinless Hearns out cold in an early round.

Ray wasn't as slick a boxer and mover as Hearns---as the 1st fight proved---but he was tactically a lot smarter. Like a chess player who gives up several pawns, a bishop and a knight to secure a checkmate, SRL gave up rounds to save his energy, because he sensed Hearns was weak and wasn't going to make 15 anyway in Hell. It was somewhat similar to Joey Maxim's victory over Sugar Ray Robinson -- where JM fought very conservatively in the heat -- and started turning it way up the 12th and 13th as he could feel Robinson weakening. Robinson stayed in his corner for the 14th and Hearns came out. But he was doomed.

The reasons Hagler was Leonard's best fight are many and varied: SRL had to jump up 2 weight divisions from his previous fight... SRL was out of action for 3 years with NO tune-up fights... Leonard had only ONE (1) poor showing in the previous 5 years... Hagler was the physically strongest and toughest man Leonard ever agreed to fight... Hagler scored easy wins over Duran and Hearns... Hagler didn't like Leonard and wanted to humiliate him ...

Hagler wanted to win so badly, that prior to the decision being announced his behavior was dotty... I felt the decision would easily go to Leonard because Hagler gave away the first 4 rounds fighting in an orthodox stance, trying to show Leonard up... Leonard finished many rounds with sustained flurries that were finding Hagler's face.. Hagler's nose looked a little punched in in fact.. Despite the fact that a win looked doubtful for Hagler, he strutted around the ring like a preening peacock - pretending he was super confident he was going to be awarded the decision. I think he knew it wasn't happening.

[elmersalsa]

Sanchez's death was a massive loss for Boxing, because he was still getting better... But Leonard was still fighting and still good after eye surgery.

His greatest win was Hagler -- but he refused to defend that title... You can't dismiss his draw with Hearns, his 2nd win over Duran, and beating a weight drained Lalonde... But I just wish he would have fought Nunn.. Wouldn't be the first time an older boxer fights a younger one -- so there can be a transition of sorts.

Sugar Ray wasn't on top of his game by 1989, Kalan. It would not be a fair fight against Michael Nunn. He was 33 and he wasn't in his best weight class, either. Plus, he wasn't in his prime in 1989. His prime years was from 1978-82 period.


And his defining win wasn't against Marvelous. It was against The Hitman in '81.

No it wasn't ... The so-called Hit Man was outboxing SRL's ass until Tommy ran out of gas -- because he came in super skinny and underweight. It was that super skinny, underweight, and weak kid's jabbing, right hand pounding, and battering of Leonard's left eye that caused SRL to have only 1 fight in 5 years prior to jumping up 2 weight divisions and outfoxing one of the men who stretched the chinless Hearns out cold in an early round.

Ray wasn't as slick a boxer and mover as Hearns---as the 1st fight proved---but he was tactically a lot smarter. Like a chess player who gives up several pawns, a bishop and a knight to secure a checkmate, SRL gave up rounds to save his energy, because he sensed Hearns was weak and wasn't going to make 15 anyway in Hell. It was somewhat similar to Joey Maxim's victory over Sugar Ray Robinson -- where JM fought very conservatively in the heat -- and started turning it way up the 12th and 13th as he could feel Robinson weakening. Robinson stayed in his corner for the 14th and Hearns came out. But he was doomed.

The reasons Hagler was Leonard's best fight are many and varied: SRL had to jump up 2 weight divisions from his previous fight... SRL was out of action for 3 years with NO tune-up fights... Leonard had only ONE (1) poor showing in the previous 5 years... Hagler was the physically strongest and toughest man Leonard ever agreed to fight... Hagler scored easy wins over Duran and Hearns... Hagler didn't like Leonard and wanted to humiliate him ...

Hagler wanted to win so badly, that prior to the decision being announced his behavior was dotty... I felt the decision would easily go to Leonard because Hagler gave away the first 4 rounds fighting in an orthodox stance, trying to show Leonard up... Leonard finished many rounds with sustained flurries that were finding Hagler's face.. Hagler's nose looked a little punched in in fact.. Despite the fact that a win looked doubtful for Hagler, he strutted around the ring like a preening peacock - pretending he was super confident he was going to be awarded the decision. I think he knew it wasn't happening.

A win over a prime Tommy Hearns in my view is way better than beating a fading Marvelous.

If Marvelous fights Leonard in '82 or '83 and Sugar Ray wins, it would have been a much more satisfying feat. Prime vs prime. Undisputed welterweight champion vs undisputed middleweight king. It couldn't get much better than that. Plus, the anticipation and climax for the fight would've been huge. 15 rounds for all the marbles! The winner would have been The Fighter of the Decade. At least, larger than life.

This is one fight that would've come close to Ali vs Frazier I in when it comes to anticipation. As a matter of fact, two fights would have been almost equal or better in anticipation like Ali vs Frazier I: Marvelous vs Sugar Ray in '82 or '83 and Tyson vs Holyfield in 1991. Unfortunately, it didn't happen at the very chance to happen.

[Kalan]

Hearns was weight drained and looked weak... Leonard looked way stronger but was getting outboxed by a ton.

In contrast Hagler was the world's top Middleweight when Leonard beat him... and he went up 2 weight divisions so it was a bigger and better win.

[Kalan]

After all...Hagler creamed Hearns -- and many fans anticipated him doing the same thing for Leonard.

[elmersalsa]

Hearns was weight drained and looked weak... Leonard looked way stronger but was getting outboxed by a ton.

In contrast Hagler was the world's top Middleweight when Leonard beat him... and he went up 2 weight divisions so it was a bigger and better win.

[Ambling Alp II]

You know Leonard, always taking the easy way out. Obviously he knew in 1982, that in 5 years Hagler would be fading. Fighting only once in those five years obviously would help his game; that is why so many other fighters have been off for that long moved up in weight and beat a great fighter.

[Kalan]

Leonard fought a very good fight with Hagler, but he didn't do that well against Hearns in either fight. He was a little off his boxing game.

In the Benitez fight he was at his best. Benitez's stance was a little wide and he leaned forward a bit and tried to slip everything and counter you. You could get really good straight punches on him. I told everyone Leonard was going to jab the crap out of Benitez, and also get him with straight rights. Ray put a little too much juice on the jab so he made it more difficult than I thought. But he did floor Benitez with a jab and really ripped him with jabs and combinations until he got him going. He never stopped going for the kill.

I also thought Hearns and Duran were going to stop Benitez. Hearns was a little lazy and didn't really try. Duran just wasn't psyched for it like he was for Leonard 1.. He had one of his really bad fights.. Duran was very consistent as a Lightweight, but above that weight he was hot and cold. He'd been doing it for so long with such great intensity that he burned out a little. I don't know if there's another Lightweight who won the Middleweight Title, but I think because Barkley knocked Hearns out, Duran put a little more into that fight. He was in the groove when he beat Barkley, like the Davey Moore fight. When Duran turned it up he was special.

[elmersalsa]

Leonard fought a very good fight with Hagler, but he didn't do that well against Hearns in either fight. He was a little off his boxing game.

In the Benitez fight he was at his best. Benitez's stance was a little wide and he leaned forward a bit and tried to slip everything and counter you. You could get really good straight punches on him. I told everyone Leonard was going to jab the crap out of Benitez, and also get him with straight rights. Ray put a little too much juice on the jab so he made it more difficult than I thought. But he did floor Benitez with a jab and really ripped him with jabs and combinations until he got him going. He never stopped going for the kill.

I also thought Hearns and Duran were going to stop Benitez. Hearns was a little lazy and didn't really try. Duran just wasn't psyched for it like he was for Leonard 1.. He had one of his really bad fights.. Duran was very consistent as a Lightweight, but above that weight he was hot and cold. He'd been doing it for so long with such great intensity that he burned out a little. I don't know if there's another Lightweight who won the Middleweight Title, but I think because Barkley knocked Hearns out, Duran put a little more into that fight. He was in the groove when he beat Barkley, like the Davey Moore fight. When Duran turned it up he was special.

Hearns broke his hand against Benitez by the 8th or 9th round.

[Ambling Alp II]

You might be on to something. He was probably terrified of Milt McCrory. So he bided his time, (somehow didn't lose a thing while not fighting for so long) and then waited until several other guys lost to Hagler before taking him on. Obviously he would have a huge advantage being out so long before taking on the senior citizen Hagler at Hagler's weight class. Makes total sense.

[Kalan]

Sometimes we read a little too much into things... Things just happen... I don't think Mayweather ever intended to fight Pacquiao. It just happened to be a great time to get him.. Doctors were telling Pacquiao for years he needed to get his right rotator cuff assembly repaired, but he would rest it between fights and it would feel a little better. He thought God would take care of it for him. He even said, "God promised me I would beat Mayweather." God could care less who wins a boxing match. Training for Mayweather he tore the rotator cuff really bad. Possibly God doesn't like to be at somebody's beck and call.

Likewise I believe Leonard retired for good after the Howard fight. "I don't have it anymore. I'm retired for good." ... But watching the Hagler-Mugabi fight, he saw Hagler was open for everything Mugabi threw. They beat the crap out of each other and Mugabi was a terrible boxer. Leonard told his friends watching the fight with him "I'm gonna beat Hagler. I know it 1000%" ... They were like "Oh come on Ray, put down the coke spoon."

It's like Buster Douglas watching the Tyson-Tucker fight when he started telling people he could beat Tyson... Sometimes you get a revelation and it changes your life... Schmeling knew he could beat Louis... Tunney knew he could beat Dempsey... Clay knew he could beat Liston... Duran knew he could beat Leonard... It's not that you don't have to put a massive amount of work in -- but sometimes an underdog sees something and he's inspired.

[BoxBuzz]

Kalan....you are showing improvement.

[Ezzard]

You know after that fight Duran went straight over to where Leonard was sitting (I believe he was commentating) and said to him that he would beat Hagler.

[Ezzard]

Lalonde was because he could make it for 2 word titles in one fight and beat Hearns' 4 titles at different weights record. It was a nonsense fight. Didn't they create super-middleweight just for that? Lalonde fought at a career low weight for that time in his career.

The Hearns rematch was an error of judgement. Duran was about the money.

At that stage Leonard had quite a bit still left but a naturally bigger guy with speed like Nunn would have been too much for him. I really was hoping he'd rematch Hagler or campaign at weight class like 154/160.

[elmersalsa]

When Sugar Ray retired ABC's announcer, Howard Cossell, said "No Mas"

[Kalan]

Kalan....you are showing improvement.

You're not... Same old dummy as always.

[Kalan]

You know after that fight Duran went straight over to where Leonard was sitting (I believe he was commentating) and said to him that he would beat Hagler.

Yes i do know, but super hero still waited another 4 years just to be sure that Hagler was really a shell of his former self. Then you have to ask why after the Hagler fight why did he cherry pick Lalonde, Hearns and an old Duran? Why not fight the younger guys that he mouthed off about in 83, or Nunn, or McCallum?

Right.. Leonard was a businessman first and last... He pulled a Canelo and shed the Middleweight Title rather than fight the top contenders.. Hagler was a good businessman too.. When Hagler couldn't get a Leonard rematch they offered him McCallum and Nunn as well.. He said "Do I look stupid?"

[Ambling Alp II]

You might be on to something. He was probably terrified of Milt McCrory. So he bided his time, (somehow didn't lose a thing while not fighting for so long) and then waited until several other guys lost to Hagler before taking him on. Obviously he would have a huge advantage being out so long before taking on the senior citizen Hagler at Hagler's weight class. Makes total sense.

There is nothing to be on to as you so pathetically call it when pointing out the unarguable FACTS. Leonard mouthed off about fighting young unbeaten guys in 83, and instead fought the worse than average Kevin Howard looked like shite in the match, then ran away again like a thief in the night,waiting to be first in line against a seriously faded Hagler. He didn't even have the guts to get in with Marvin after seeing how close Duran got to beating the guy in 83.

Beating that version of Hagler is about as about as legitimate as Jones having NEVER fought at Heavyweight taking on possibly the worst WBA champion ever, 220 + pounds or not.

Leonard beat 8 top 10 opponents before getting a title shot. He beat Benitez, Duran, and Hearns in a space of less than two years. Fought Hagler at Hagler's weight class after a tremendous layoff. Obviously he was a fighter who didn't have guts.