Right here’s the factor some individuals don’t get about Sugar Ray Leonard: the person was extra athlete than boxer, and, regardless of his “candy” nickname, he was extra bad-ass than candy-ass. Even a superb variety of in any other case educated combat followers have the unsuitable impression. They level to the Hagler combat in ’87, and the third bout with Duran in ’89 and say, “See? He was a runner! At all times shuckin’ and jivin’! Clinching and grabbing! Dancin’ and prancin’! And doing a little cherry pickin’ too!”
And whereas such expenses should not fully with out advantage, don’t allow them to obscure an necessary reality: in his prime, Sugar Ray Leonard was flat-out lethal. A hoop technician or boxing wizard? Not likely. As boxing historian Hank Kaplan as soon as remarked, Ray was, greater than the rest, “a pace demon.” In different phrases, it was his athletic items firstly that made him a rare pugilist. However along with his wonderful pace and pure energy, Leonard was ruthless, with killer intuition to spare; when he needed to be, he was a bona fide destroyer within the ring. And that was extra usually than you keep in mind.
Don’t imagine it? Nicely, think about the truth that, having turned professional in 1977, Leonard went on a tremendous run quickly after, charging by way of the welterweight ranks like a Bengal tiger on pace, ripping up every little thing in his path and notching decisive wins over such robust prospects as Armando Muniz, Johnny Gant, Randy Shields, Fernand Marcotte, Adolfo Viruet and Pete Ranzany. All, it needs to be famous, former world title challengers or NABF title holders.
After which, to cap off what needs to be considered one of the vital fast but absolutely authentic ascents in boxing historical past, Leonard was matched with Andy “The Hawk” Value because the co-main occasion of an enormous card at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas that was headlined by heavyweight champion Larry Holmes and broadcast on nationwide tv. All agreed, Value was a harmful opponent for the undefeated star-in-the-making, “The Hawk” having important professional expertise and boasting wins over Carlos Palomino and Pipino Cuevas, each world champions.
However Ray didn’t care; he marched out on the opening bell, backed Value to the ropes, and unleashed a tremendous, rapid-fire barrage of crisp energy photographs to render Value helpless and put him down for the depend. What was presupposed to be a wonderful match-up and a troublesome problem for Sugar Ray was over in lower than three minutes, the bout determined by Leonard’s pace, energy and sometimes neglected killer intuition.
The purpose right here is that those that see Ray as a safety-first ballerina who solely rumbled when he had no different various are overlooking an important side of what Leonard delivered to the ring, to not point out a significant purpose why he’s usually considered each a pound-for-pound nice and among the best welterweights in all of boxing historical past. The easy reality is the person might flat-out combat, might greater than maintain his personal in opposition to legit knockout artists and fearsome warriors comparable to Duran, Hearns and Hagler. And likewise, one Ayub Kalule.
As a result of the factor to recall when having a look at Leonard vs Kalule is that chances are high this might have been a reasonably routine outing for Sugar Ray if he had needed it to be. In spite of everything, regardless that this was a legit title match at a better weight, and an opportunity for Leonard to win a second world title, it was primarily a tune-up combat, meant to set the desk for an enormous cash showdown with WBA welterweight champion Thomas Hearns. Ray had the pace, talent and ring smarts to field Kalule — a lot the way in which he would field Hagler in ’87, or Duran in ’89 — and make it a comparatively straightforward combat, however for no matter purpose, Ray was seeking to rumble that evening. And a rumble is what Ray obtained.
Bear in mind: Kalule was no joke. Robust, robust, skilled and a southpaw in addition, the WBA junior middleweight champion was unbeaten in 36 outings and deserved to be considered the very best boxer to come back out of Africa since Dick Tiger, to not point out one of the vital formidable champions within the quick historical past of the 154 pound division. Earlier than the combat Leonard had dismissed him as an “superior beginner,” however he needed to have identified such a judgment was promoting Kalule quick.
If he didn’t, an aggressive, flat-footed Sugar Ray discovered in spherical one because the defending champion answered Leonard’s ways with a heavy jab and powerful counters to the physique. Leonard’s pace gave the challenger a determined edge, one which largely outlined the competition, however Kalule confirmed he had come to combat, absorbing Ray’s greatest photographs after which firing again.
In spherical two the champion’s braveness was evident as he continued to indicate persistence within the face of Leonard’s blitzkrieg. Whereas Leonard was head-hunting with energy photographs from both fist, the African saved his palms up and by no means stopped throwing a considerably sluggish however heavy proper jab together with highly effective blows to the midsection. A proper hand staggered Kalule on the finish of the second however he appeared unharmed and in spherical three he endured together with his physique assault, touchdown with each fists to Leonard’s ribs.
If the primary three rounds had been aggressive and entertaining, spherical 4 was a slugfest. Leonard doubled-down on his aggression, working to power Kalule to offer floor, however the champion hung robust with the best jab to the pinnacle and the facility left to the physique. Close to the tip of the spherical Sugar Ray opened up with a vicious assault however as an alternative of wilting below the strain, Kalule, to the delight of the gang, responded in form. The consequence was a ferocious alternate, each fighters touchdown heavy blows. On the bell Ray tapped Kalule as an indication of respect for an opponent who was clearly greater than an “superior beginner.”
Spherical 5 was extra of the identical as Leonard continued to slug it out in most rudimentary vogue, with little head motion, his palms usually low, seemingly inviting Kalule to make him pay for his overconfidence. And certainly each males landed huge proper palms within the fifth because the followers within the Houston Astrodome applauded the rousing motion. In spherical six Kalule continued to throw the one-two, fast proper jabs adopted by lefts to the physique, and on the bell Leonard, who had received each spherical to this point, however on the similar time was clearly getting a critical problem, gave his adversary a protracted look as if to say, “Why are you continue to right here?”
As if to reply, the champion had his greatest spherical of the match within the seventh, backing Ray up and mixing jabs, hooks and uppercuts with aplomb, catching Leonard cleanly with sharp blows. A shocked wanting Ray discovered himself backed to the ropes by the power of Kalule’s aggression and taking photographs, and when he tried to counter with one in every of his trademark flurries, the champion flurried again with blows that had been in truth sharper and tougher. It was positively Kalule’s spherical, albeit his first, and for a second it appeared he may, to everybody’s shock, be getting the higher hand.
However in truth, it was his “swan tune.” Whereas Kalule’s energy and talent had shocked each Sugar Ray and lots of at ringside, his effort in spherical seven took a discernible toll on his stamina. The tempo slowed within the eighth, after which it was Leonard who discovered his second wind and opened up with a barrage close to its finish to reassert command. And certainly, it was Ray who picked up the tempo in spherical 9 with huge left hooks and uppercuts.
Sensing Kalule was weak, Leonard confirmed once more his glorious hand pace and accuracy, to not point out his killer intuition, as he pursued his quarry with vicious intent. However simply when it appeared he was about to steamroll Ayub, the proud champion snapped Ray’s head again with a pointy proper hand. As soon as once more, the 2 warriors went toe-to-toe; no clinching or wrestling, simply continuous exchanging, as they took turns touchdown their heaviest photographs, Leonard connecting with proper leads and left hooks and the southpaw champion firing again with proper jabs and left uppercuts.
Then, with seconds left in an action-packed and grueling spherical, Ray pawed together with his left to arrange a thunderous proper that landed flush and buckled Ayub’s legs. The African tried to clinch however Leonard wouldn’t let him, placing with a proper, a left after which one other proper, and sending the iron-tough Kalule to the canvas for the primary time in his profession. The champion rose on the depend of six, however when requested if he wished to proceed his response didn’t fulfill the referee and the combat was stopped. Leonard somersaulted in celebration as Kalule held out his palms to embrace his conqueror.
Instantly afterwards Leonard was interviewed within the ring and he didn’t hesitate to pay respect to his formidable opponent, declaring that Kalule had “proved the boxing critics unsuitable. He was a really robust and sturdy champion,” and occurring to say that “I’d wish to eat my phrases after I known as him a complicated [amateur]. The man is really a worthy champion.”
“However you understand who’s subsequent,” mentioned Ray as he locked eyes with the digicam, “Tommy Hearns.”
And certainly, Leonard would want all of his killer intuition and warrior spirit to win that unforgettable conflict. However he did. As a result of the very fact stays, love him or hate him, Sugar Ray Leonard was a warrior. As he confirmed on that evening in Houston when he went toe-to-toe with Ayub Kalule and powered his method to a second world championship. — Neil Crane
