Regardless of his exceptional achievements, Sugar Ray Leonard nonetheless harbours regrets about one struggle particularly the place the outcome might have fairly simply swung in favour of his opponent.
All through his embellished profession, Leonard suffered simply three defeats – towards Roberto Duran, Terry Norris and Héctor Camacho – in all of his 40 skilled outings.
The primary of which got here in 1980, again when the American uncared for his usually artful ways, and as a substitute determined to go toe-to-toe together with his extra rugged opponent.
Consequently, Duran emerged from their first encounter with a unanimous choice victory via 15 rounds, earlier than capitulating of their rapid rematch at 147lbs.
That point round, Leonard had carried out a extra calculated gameplan, and in doing so was capable of reclaim his WBC title with an emphatic eighth-round stoppage victory.
As for his defeats to Norris and Camacho, which each arrived on the finish of his profession, ‘Sugar’ was by no means capable of actual his revenge.
The one struggle that appears to have left a stone in his shoe, nevertheless, is his rematch with Thomas Hearns, which noticed Leonard come away with a extremely controversial attract 1989.
Leonard had stopped his rival within the 14th spherical of their thrilling encounter in 1981, however up at a catchweight of 164lbs and almost a decade later, he was merely not fairly so efficient.
Many thought that Hearns, the pure super-middleweight, had finished sufficient to assert a factors choice, and even Leonard himself has admitted to Harvard Enterprise Overview that he ought to have suffered a fourth skilled defeat.
“I remorse those I misplaced: Héctor Camacho, Terry Norris, the second struggle with Tommy Hearns (which I received on [one] scorecard, however which he actually received so far as I’m involved).
“Wanting again, I do have regrets, however I wouldn’t be the particular person I’m in the present day if I hadn’t gone via it.”
Many followers in attendance had been livid with the end result, with Leonard’s honesty a refreshing change for many boxers.
