Leonard vs Hearns: 43 Years Later

[elmersalsa]

The best fight that I have ever seen was on September 16, 1981. A Wednesday night. Two extraordinary champions in their primes went at it to unify the World Welterweight Crown.

Sugar Ray Leonard, the WBC World Welterweight Champion and boxing biggest star faces the fearsome and undefeated Thomas "The Hitman" Hearns, the WBA World Welterweight King.

It was a fight that the puncher turned boxer and the boxer turned puncher. Both fighters showed grit, heart, skills and determination, leaving a legacy of how the other fights below the heavyweight division are measured.

Sugar Ray, with his one eye almost shut because of Hearns' lightning jabs, heard the voice of his trainer Angelo Dundee "You blowing it, Son! You're blowing it!". Tired but not unbowed, Leonard went for the kill. Hearns' legs BETRAYED HIM.

The referee, Davey Pearl, stopped the contest in the 14th round when a defenseless but game Hitman was absorbing everything that Leonard was dishing out.
Some argued that it was a wrong stoppage. Others argued that Hearns was going to get killed if the referee didn't intervene. It doesn't matter. Leonard won.

The winner and new Undisputed Welterweight Champion of the World! Sugar Ray Leonard. At 25, it was the greatest win of his spectacular career.

[Tony1244]

OMG Amazing and sad that was 43 years ago. I saw it @ Atlanta Futon County Stadium with my college girlfriend. We were rooting for Leonard. I think most people were.

[goose 5]

I won big that night-I never bet against SRL.

[elmersalsa]

The fight was The Ring Magazine Fight of the Year for 1981.

Sugar Ray Leonard and Salvador Sanchez were co-winners of The Ring Magazine Fighter of the Year of that same year. It was the second time that two fighters were co-winners of that award since 1972 when Muhammad Ali and Carlos Monzon were the co-winners.