Sugar Ray Leonard's Pro Debut: 40 Years Later

[elmersalsa]

Speaking of Sugar Ray's last fight in his absolute prime, a day like today, February 25th, 1977 was the debut of the Olympic Gold Boxing Champion on a national network televised bout. I don't remember if it was ABC or CBS that televised the fight.

His first opponent was a journeyman fighter from Puerto Rico, Luis Vega. It was a unprecedented debut for a fighter that made $40,000 dollars in a Four-Rounder. That was $10,000 per round's work. Not even a decent heavyweight top contender made that much in a fight let alone in his pro debut.

Vega was game, but not a match for the young lion, who at 20, dazzled the Baltimore Civic Center of 5,000 delirious fans. Leonard won by a comfortable easy decision in 20 minutes of work, including boxers' introductions.

I don't remember his pro debut, but, for his fans in the United States was something that they saw something special on this kid with unbelievable fast hands.

[Kalan]

It wasn't fast hands... Many boxers have very fast hands and aren't successful.. SRL had a boxing brain, great athleticism, and he was goal oriented.. He was a good businessman like Mayweather and picked his spots.. He was hittable so his career stalled a couple or 3 times.. But even with the defeats it all worked.. Like Ali he had a love for people and a knack for charming people.. He was a bit of an egoist and a showoff, but isn't everybody.

[bollocks]

A great fighter...and a major self centred arsehole

[SaadOffTheDeck]

I believe Howard davis made 100k for his debut. I don't remember Leonard being televised.

[Ambling Alp II]

I remember Leoanrd's debut well. The fight was actually on primetime.

[SaadOffTheDeck]

Odd, living in Baltimore. Perhaps I was grounded or in bed.

[Kalan]

I don't generally watch pro debuts... The boxers aren't fully skilled. The high profile ones---like Leonard---are matched to look good and get easy wins... I remember his fights with Rafael Rodriguez, Pete Ranzany, and his first Title Fight with Wilfredo Benitez -- which I felt for certain he'd win that one easier than he did, because I thought a good jabber would destroy Benitez.

[sweetviolenturge]

I remember Leonard's pro debut well. I was 14 years old at the time & up until that point, I only watched heavyweight boxing. But something about Leonard caught my attention & I made sure to tune in to see his bout vs Vega & never missed a single televised fight of his over the following 20 years.

[Nile4000]

I think the fight with Vega was six rounds.