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

[elmersalsa]

Sugar Ray was supposed to defend his undisputed welterweight title for the second time against Roger Stafford somewhere around May 1982. Ironically, was this same title defense by Sugar Ray wasn't in the same bill of Hearns vs Hagler fight? Ironically, BOTH FIGHTS were postponed by respective injuries (Leonard's detached retina and Hearns' hand injury).

Stafford came into the scene when he outboxed and outpointed former welterweight champion Pipino Cuevas of Mexico. Pipino was fading, clearly not as his very best after The Hitman ahniliated him in 2 rounds two years earlier in Detroit.

The logic would have been at the time that this would have been an easy defense for the champion. Then, what was next for Sugar Ray? A fight with the winner of Aaron Pryor vs Alexis Arguello? Or a fight with Marvelous if given that he beat Hearns?

[Ambling Alp II]

It's possible that he would have fought Pryor in mid-1983. He wasn't going to say at welterweight for too much longer. There weren't any major fights at welter after Benitez, Hearns or Duran moved up. Eventually he would have gone up to jr middleweight, probably in late 1983 at the latest. He would have probably had fights with those three over the next couple of years.
Eventually he would have moved up to middleweight, probably around 1986.
Yes, we did miss out on some exciting fights. On the other hand, at least we did get to see several great performances.
Another thing to consider is that if Leoanrd had been out of the sport prematurely, there might not have been all fights such as Benitez-Duran, Duran-Hearns, Benitez-Hearns fights or Duran-Hagler, Hearns-Hagler. They may have avoided each other, waiting for Leonard.

[elmersalsa]

It's possible that he would have fought Pryor in mid-1983. He wasn't going to say at welterweight for too much longer. There weren't any major fights at welter after Benitez, Hearns or Duran moved up. Eventually he would have gone up to jr middleweight, probably in late 1983 at the latest. He would have probably had fights with those three over the next couple of years.
Eventually he would have moved up to middleweight, probably around 1986.
Yes, we did miss out on some exciting fights. On the other hand, at least we did get to see several great performances.
Another thing to consider is that if Leoanrd had been out of the sport prematurely, there might not have been all fights such as Benitez-Duran, Duran-Hearns, Benitez-Hearns fights or Duran-Hagler, Hearns-Hagler. They may have avoided each other, waiting for Leonard.

You probably right. Everybody wanted to fight THE MONEY MAN!

[elmersalsa]

Probably after defeating Roger Stafford, Sugar Ray would've fought The Cincinnati Hawk by late '82. I think the Alexis Arguello vs Aaron Pryor would have been an afterthought.

The great Salvador Sanchez had his eyes on The Explosive Thin Man by mid 1982. They probably would have fought in November of that year. That fight would've generated much more interest than Arguello vs Pryor.

Marvelous beats The Hitman, something that would not be unlikely or vice versa, and Sugar Ray would have met Marvelous or the Hitman rematch in mid-'83.

Hagler vs Leonard then would have generated much more buzz. Two complete boxers in their primes. Both undisputed world champions at their respective weight classes.

And after The Hands of Stone beats Davey Moore, he fights the winner of Hagler vs Leonard? A BIG POSSIBILITY would have been, folks!

[Kalan]

It's possible that he would have fought Pryor in mid-1983. He wasn't going to say at welterweight for too much longer. There weren't any major fights at welter after Benitez, Hearns or Duran moved up. Eventually he would have gone up to jr middleweight, probably in late 1983 at the latest. He would have probably had fights with those three over the next couple of years.
Eventually he would have moved up to middleweight, probably around 1986.
Yes, we did miss out on some exciting fights. On the other hand, at least we did get to see several great performances.
Another thing to consider is that if Leoanrd had been out of the sport prematurely, there might not have been all fights such as Benitez-Duran, Duran-Hearns, Benitez-Hearns fights or Duran-Hagler, Hearns-Hagler. They may have avoided each other, waiting for Leonard.

I don't agree.. Top boxers don't wait around to fight a cash cow when he shows no interest in fighting them... They generally fight the people who will fight.

Holmes took the Shavers and Norton fights when Ali wouldn't fight him... Those were well received fights - though not as much money as Ali would have brought him... Winky Wright couldn't get Oscar De La Hoya, but eventually he got 2 Shane Mosley fights.. Michael Nunn fought Sumbu Kalambay and James Toney when he couldn't get Ray Leonard to budge... Golovkin has been chasing Lineal Middleweight Champions: Martinez, Cotto, and Canelo for 7 years.. He's been fighting the guys who will fight him.. Thurman, Porter, Brook, and Garcia wanted Floyd and Pacquiao for the last 2 or 3 years.. Fat chance of those fights ever happening so they're fighting each other.

[BoxBuzz]

Is it really as simple as who will fight who? Sometimes the additional nuance is "under what terms".

Risk deserves compensation.....and if two parties can't see eye to eye on the value of that...it CAN be honorable to avoid the fight.

And just as you alllude....often times it's just a way to avoid a defeat.

[Kalan]

It's real smart to avoid guys who can kick your tail in -- and fight the guys you feel comfortable you can beat... And just name a figure nobody in their right mind would ever meet or agree to, as your asking price for the fight... That is when you can pretty much name your opponents like Canelo.

But it's not good for Boxing... It's only good for the guys who can avoid getting their ass kicked in.

If Boxing had a mechanism to force boxers who reach a certain status to fight their most logical opponents -- such as in Tennis, where you don't get to choose who you want to play.. In the finals you have to play the guy who beat all the other seeded players who you didn't beat.. It works and you see a lot of tough match-ups in the finals.. In Boxing you see about one fight a year that everyone has been talking about for years -- where you could see 10 or more if the best fought the best.

[BoxBuzz]

So reaching the top of the ratings and becoming a "required defense" has pretty much shyt the bed these days correct?

No one seems to require the champion/s to defend against those who have earned their day in the ring.

[Ambling Alp II]

It's possible that he would have fought Pryor in mid-1983. He wasn't going to say at welterweight for too much longer. There weren't any major fights at welter after Benitez, Hearns or Duran moved up. Eventually he would have gone up to jr middleweight, probably in late 1983 at the latest. He would have probably had fights with those three over the next couple of years.
Eventually he would have moved up to middleweight, probably around 1986.
Yes, we did miss out on some exciting fights. On the other hand, at least we did get to see several great performances.
Another thing to consider is that if Leoanrd had been out of the sport prematurely, there might not have been all fights such as Benitez-Duran, Duran-Hearns, Benitez-Hearns fights or Duran-Hagler, Hearns-Hagler. They may have avoided each other, waiting for Leonard.

I don't agree.. Top boxers don't wait around to fight a cash cow when he shows no interest in fighting them... They generally fight the people who will fight.

Holmes took the Shavers and Norton fights when Ali wouldn't fight him... Those were well received fights - though not as much money as Ali would have brought him... Winky Wright couldn't get Oscar De La Hoya, but eventually he got 2 Shane Mosley fights.. Michael Nunn fought Sumbu Kalambay and James Toney when he couldn't get Ray Leonard to budge... Golovkin has been chasing Lineal Middleweight Champions: Martinez, Cotto, and Canelo for 7 years.. He's been fighting the guys who will fight him.. Thurman, Porter, Brook, and Garcia wanted Floyd and Pacquiao for the last 2 or 3 years.. Fat chance of those fights ever happening so they're fighting each other.

Yes but if Leonard was actually active he would have been fighting Benitez, Duran, Hearns at Jr middleweight around 1983-1984. Would they have fought each other (and in duran and Hearns' case they foguht Hagler) knowing they would be getting a chance at Leonard at 154? It's doubtful all those fights would have taken place.

[Kalan]

I think they would have taken place and more... Hagler fought once a year in 1985, '86, and '87... He was inactive because there was a bunch of really tough Middleweights coming up... Leonard, Hearns, Mugabi, and Duran were big money ... and more beatable than Graham. McCallum, and Nunn.

[Nile4000]

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.

Even though it was an easy fight, remember that Finch did hurt him with a shot, Leonard admitted it himself. If the detached retina didn't occur, what happens is that he defeats Stafford in 3, and Pryor in 5, to end 1982. There is no way in hell Ray takes on a prime Hagler, so that happens down the road. He stops McCrory, Curry, Young, and decisions Starling to end 1983. He gives the undisputed crown up in early '84 to move up to the 154 class. He decisons a stronger Hearns and Benitez in much closer fights, beats Duran decisively to end '84. Unifies the crown by mid-85, and makes a couple of defenses to end 85. Gives up that belt early '86, takes a couple of tuneup fights, then fights and beats Hagler in late '86. Retires in early '87 to become an actor and engage in the hollywood party drug scene.

[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.

Even though it was an easy fight, remember that Finch did hurt him with a shot, Leonard admitted it himself. If the detached retina didn't occur, what happens is that he defeats Stafford in 3, and Pryor in 5, to end 1982. There is no way in hell Ray takes on a prime Hagler, so that happens down the road. He stops McCrory, Curry, Young, and decisions Starling to end 1983. He gives the undisputed crown up in early '84 to move up to the 154 class. He decisons a stronger Hearns and Benitez in much closer fights, beats Duran decisively to end '84. Unifies the crown by mid-85, and makes a couple of defenses to end 85. Gives up that belt early '86, takes a couple of tuneup fights, then fights and beats Hagler in late '86. Retires in early '87 to become an actor and engage in the hollywood party drug scene.

Damn! Sugar Ray ain't losing a goddamn fight? He got to lose at some point. Too many hard fights!

If that is the case, then, why come back if he's winning all these fights?

He is boxrec.com greatest boxer of all time! Damn! He couldn't lose to nobody!

[Nile4000]

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.

Even though it was an easy fight, remember that Finch did hurt him with a shot, Leonard admitted it himself. If the detached retina didn't occur, what happens is that he defeats Stafford in 3, and Pryor in 5, to end 1982. There is no way in hell Ray takes on a prime Hagler, so that happens down the road. He stops McCrory, Curry, Young, and decisions Starling to end 1983. He gives the undisputed crown up in early '84 to move up to the 154 class. He decisons a stronger Hearns and Benitez in much closer fights, beats Duran decisively to end '84. Unifies the crown by mid-85, and makes a couple of defenses to end 85. Gives up that belt early '86, takes a couple of tuneup fights, then fights and beats Hagler in late '86. Retires in early '87 to become an actor and engage in the hollywood party drug scene.

Damn! Sugar Ray ain't losing a goddamn fight? He got to lose at some point. Too many hard fights!

If that is the case, then, why come back if he's winning all these fights?

He is boxrec.com greatest boxer of all time! Damn! He couldn't lose to nobody!

He's the Sugarman! In that timeframe, no, can't see him losing to anyone. Floyd didn't.

[elmersalsa]

To me, it's impossible to survive and win all the fights in a star studded era like the 80s. Sugar Ray? I like him a lot. But in this forum, he ain't losing a god damn match even if it's against King Kong. I smh!

[Ambling Alp II]

No, you don't like him a lot. You can't stand him. You rip him just about every time his name comes up. You once said that he was not a real fighter.

[Kalan]

Leonard was like Floyd Mayweather and Canelo.. He didn't have to fight the best.. He could make tons of money fighting the worst.

when Leonard became the Middleweight Champion of the World the Middleweight Division was the toughest weight-class in Boxing... There were challengers backed up to 99th street because Hagler fought only once a year in 1985, '86, and '87 and never got to the young talent.. Mike McCallum and Michael Nunn were in line and were salivating for Leonard..

Julian Jackson was also at 160 then and so were Sumbu Kalambay and Harol Graham.. Nunn said "I wanted to fight Leonard so bad. I wanted him so bad it hurt. He had a big smile and praise for me when I met him prior to blowing out Kalambay. He did the commentary so he was at ringside. I knew he wasn't going to fight me. I knew it before I landed that shot on Kalambay."

[Nile4000]

McCrory and Curry may have given him minor problems, but Ray takes them out in the mid rounds. Starling lasts the distance, but loses on a wide decision. He moves up and beat Moore by a wide decision in a tough fight.