The legendary Sugar Ray Leonard has named the one fighter that he believes was even greater than heavyweight icon Muhammad Ali.
Leonard rose to superstardom during the 1980s where he would become a member of the sports ‘Four Kings’ alongside former rivals Marvin Hagler, Roberto Duran and Thomas Hearns.
Sugar Ray’s accomplished professional career spanned across several decades where he would become a world champion in five weight classes, as well as the undisputed welterweight champion in September of 1981.
As for Ali, the Kentucky-native enjoyed an outstanding boxing career of his own and would win the world heavyweight championship on three separate occasions, racking up legacy-defining victories over the likes of Joe Frazier, George Foreman and Sonny Liston.
In a resurfaced interview with ESPN, Leonard spoke fondly of the late, great Sugar Ray Robinson who he claims is the greatest fighter to have ever lived, ranking him just ahead of Ali.
“Someone once said there was a comparison between Sugar Ray Leonard and Sugar Ray Robinson. Believe me, there’s no comparison. Sugar Ray Robinson was the greatest.”
Throughout the course of his memorable 201 fight professional career, Robinson became a world champion six times across the welterweight and middleweight divisions.
He held the undisputed welterweight championship between 1946 and 1951 before he later made the move up to 160lbs where he would capture world honours on five occasions, facing the likes of Rocky Graziano, Carmen Basilio and Jake LaMotta during his reign, so it is clear to see why Leonard rates him so highly.
