From ‘Sugar’ Ray Robinson to ‘Sugar’ Ray Leonard!

Most boxing followers contemplate ‘Sugar’ Ray Robinson the best pound-for-pound boxer. One other ‘Sugar’ Ray, Leonard, adopted in his footsteps.

The numerous distinction is that Robinson received his first 40 fights earlier than shedding to Jake LaMotta, 30-5-2, whereas Leonard solely had 40 fights, primarily attributable to a indifferent retina upon coming back from going 4-2-1. He had received his first 27 fights earlier than shedding to Roberto ‘Fingers of Stone’ Duran, 71-1, whom he defeated of their rematch and once more later.

After shedding to LaMotta, Robinson received his subsequent 91 fights, going 5-1 in opposition to LaMotta. LaMotta mentioned, “I fought Sugar Ray so typically, I virtually bought diabetes.”

As an novice, Robinson, born Walker Smith, Jr., was 85-5 with 69 stoppages, 40 within the first spherical, successful New York AAU and Golden Gloves titles.

Leonard achieved a file of 145-5 with 75 stoppages. He received a Gold Medal within the 1975 Pan American Video games and the 1976 Montreal Olympics, defeating six opponents, all 5-0, from Sweden, the Soviet Union, Nice Britain, East Germany, Poland, and Cuba.

In December 1946, Robinson (73-1-1) received the NBA world welterweight title by defeating Tommy Bell (39-10-3) at Madison Sq. Backyard. In February 1951, Robinson (121-1-2) claimed the world middleweight title by stopping Jake LaMotta (78-14-3) at Chicago Stadium.

Leonard recaptured the title within the rematch by embarrassing Duran on the Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana. He stopped Duran in eight rounds. Leonard then went on to win in opposition to Larry Bonds, who had a file of 29-3, and the WBA Tremendous Welterweight champion Ayub Kalule, who had a 36-0 file on the Houston Astrodome in Texas. He stopped Kalule in 9 rounds.

In Las Vegas, Nevada, Leonard returned to defend his WBC Welterweight title in opposition to WBA champion Thomas “Hitman” Hearns. Leonard was behind within the first 13 rounds however made a comeback and stopped Hearns within the fourteenth spherical.

The scores have been 124-122, 125-121, and 125-122 in favor of Hearns, and Leonard wanted a knockout to win. This combat was named Ring Journal’s Combat of the 12 months. Later, Leonard defeated Bruce Finch, who had a file of 28-3-1, in three rounds in Reno, Nevada.

In Could of 1982, Leonard was scheduled to defend in opposition to Roger Stafford after which Aaron “Hawk” Pryor within the fall. Nonetheless, whereas coaching, Leonard found that he had a indifferent retina in his left eye. Because of this, he introduced his retirement in November.

Leonard returned to the ring in Could 1984, coming off the canvas to cease Kevin Howard, 20-4-1, in 9 rounds on the DCU Heart in Worcester, Massachusetts, once more retiring.

Virtually three years later, shifting as much as middleweight in April of 1987, difficult WBC champion “Marvelous” Marvin Hagler, 62-2, in Las Vegas, Nevada, scoring a serious upset by break up choice retiring Hagler from boxing.

Leonard wouldn’t combat once more till November of 1988, shifting as much as problem WBC Gentle Heavyweight champion Donny “Golden Boy” Lalonde, 31-2, coming off the canvas within the fourth spherical to cease Lalonde within the ninth spherical forward by break up choice after eight rounds additionally taking the WBC Tremendous Middleweight title.

In June of 1989, Leonard, in a rematch with WBO champion Hearns, 46-3, in a WBC Tremendous Middleweight protection, battled to a break up choice attract Las Vegas, Nevada. Leonard was down within the fourth and eleventh rounds.

In December, Leonard received a lopsided choice in his third combat with Duran, 85-7, in Las Vegas, Nevada.

In February 1991, at Madison Sq. Backyard in New York, Leonard fought in opposition to WBC junior middleweight champion “Horrible” Terry Norris, 26-3. Leonard was knocked down twice and overwhelmed by a twelve-round unanimous choice.

In Leonard’s closing combat for the IBC Middleweight title, he was defeated by Hector “Macho” Camacho, who had a file of 62-3-1, in 5 rounds in Atlantic Metropolis, New Jersey. His closing file was 36-3-1.

Getting again to Robinson in his first protection, he misplaced to Randy Turpin, 40-2-1, in London, UK, in July of 1951. Within the rematch, Robinson re-won the title two months later, defeating Turpin on the Polo Grounds in New York.

In March of 1952 Robinson defeated Carl “Bobo” Olson, 48-5, in San Francisco, California, and a month later knocked out Rocky Graziano, 67-8-6, as Chicago Stadium.

Two months later, Robinson tried to win the world gentle heavyweight title in June forward of champion Joey Maxim, 78-18-4, #173, after twelve rounds at Yankee Stadium. The warmth was 104 levels (forcing a referee alternative), and Robinson #157 ½, forward 10-3, 9-3-1, and 7-3-1, was not in a position to proceed attributable to warmth prostration.

Robinson was by no means fairly the identical, returning to the ring in January of 1955, some two and a half years later, scoring a knockout however two weeks later shedding to Ralph “Tiger” Jones, 32-12-3.

After 4 wins, Robinson re-won the middleweight title, knocking out Carl “Bobo” Olson, 71-7, at Chicago Stadium in December 1955. He would lose his title to Gene Fullmer and win the rematch, and the identical with Carmen Basilio.

In January of 1960, you knew Robinson was completed shedding back-to-back break up selections fights to Paul Pender, 35-5-2, on the Bosten Backyard. A draw with the NBA champion and a loss to Gene Fullmer, 52-4-1, and the remaining is historical past, ending his profession with a loss to Joey Archer, 44-1, by choice on the Pittsburgh Civic Area in November of 1975 ending with a 174-19-6 file with 109 stoppages on the age of 44.

Each have been inducted into the Worldwide Boxing Corridor of Fame.