By Jeff Zimmerman
Fightnews.com® went one-on-one with the legendary Sugar Ray Leonard as he launched his amazing new line of gloves – Sugar Ray Leonard Collection with Title Boxing. The line takes Sugar Ray down memory lane with his most memorable fights against Tommy Hearns, Roberto Duran and Marvelous Marvin Hagler as well as his gold medal win at the 1976 Olympics. Sugar Ray talked about the fight game today versus his era and his love for Muhammad Ali and so much more in this exclusive interview. Photo: Title Boxng.
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Sugar Ray Leonard is still one of the best fighter I’ve ever seen..
Incredibly talented with both hands, great skill, footwork, speed, defense, and ring smarts. And he had that dog in him to make it a street fight when all else failed like he needed to against Hearns long reach and jab in their first fight.
I will say that i thought Hagler beat him because SRL ran and only threw in spurts but I understand why he fought that way as hagler was tough as nails and naturally bigger.
But still, how many guys would even dare to come out of retirement and face the baddest man in the next division up and do it in his very first comeback fight?!
He fought some of the best fighters the world ever produced in hagler, hearns, Duran. It is hard to think of anyone since that battled a gauntlet like that. Actually it would have to be holyfield going against riddick bowe, tyson, and lennox.
SRL was just an amazing talent tho.
I’d take a prime SRL at welterweight against Pacquiao, DLH, Floyd, Mosley, Vernon Forrest and anyone else i can think of.
SRL made me a life long fan of the sweet science.
I was fortunate enough to watch a couple Ali fights on TV but unfortunately he was already well past his prime. I remember as a kid feeling so sad for him tho.
I’m 50 and someone asked me today who is the best fighter I’ve ever seen. I’ve been around this game for basically my whole life and without hesitation I said Ray Leonard. He truly had it all. Speed, power, smarts, determination, showmanship. There will never be another. The promoters won’t allow it.
SRL was the type to hit you with a shot and have his hands raised before you hit the ground. You would think he knocked somebody out everyday of the week to have that level of showmanship.
SteveG, agree at welter the names you list would be big fights, but Leonard would be too sharp for them. If Roy Jones and Leonard in their prime faced each other at Jnr. middle, it would be the biggest fight one could think of.
I think RJJ at 168 was the most physically gifted fighter ever, perhaps even more so than Sugar Ray Robinson.
Saw a few Robinson fights and although he was past his prime might have still been better than RJJ.
SRL had tremendous skills, hands speed, footwork, and ring generalship, if he did not retired/unretired many times his greatness would have been higher than what it is if that is possible
Great interview. Ray Leonard a tremendous and inspirational fighter, one of the greats. I met Ray once in Las Vegas prior to the Curtis Parker vs Dwight Davison fight at Caesars Palace in Vegas. Ray was at ringside to do commentary. The date was August 8, 1980, which ironically would turn out to be my future wife’s birthday, a beautiful woman I had not met yet. I was getting autographs because this was a national telecast and Ali and Holmes were going to be there to promote their upcoming fight. I had just gotten lightweight champion Hilmer Kenty’s autograph earlier. Ray was separated from the public in a section reserved for VIPs, so he had to walk over to give me his autograph. I called out to Ray with my pen and paper visible for him to see. He looked over at me and I asked him if I could get his autograph. He stood there and hesitated, as if he was trying to decide whether or not to give it to me. He had the mannerisms of a majestic person, a man of quiet dignity and poise, and I could tell that he was exceptional at reading people. After this hesitation, he did walk over, signed my piece of paper, which I still have, and shook my hand. That really meant a lot to me. Always great to see him now and glad he’s doing fine. Just a magnificent fighter and person, and I still watch replays of his fights.