Sugar Ray Leonard is widely considered to be one of the greatest fighters to have ever laced up a pair of gloves.
Leonard entered the paid ranks in the late 1970s after he captured a light-welterweight gold medal at the 1976 Olympic Games In Montreal, Canada.
He would go on to become a five-weight world champion during his decorated professional career, including a reign as the undisputed welterweight champion which he held between 1981 and 1982.
Leonard became a member of ‘The Four Kings’ during the peak of his tenure alongside former rivals Roberto Duran, Marvin Hagler and Thomas Hearns, a legendary quarter of fighters that took the boxing world by storm during that golden era.
His 1980 victory over Duran, which is best known as the ‘No Mas fight’, is often regarded as being one of the most memorable moments in the sport’s history as Leonard sensationally forced the Panamanian great to quit in the 8th round of their rematch.
In a ‘Best I Faced’ feature with The Ring Magazine, Leonard didn’t hesitate to reveal fellow countryman Thomas Hearns as the best fighter that he ever shared the ring with after his two memorable encounters with ‘Hitman’.
“It was Tommy [Hearns]. I don’t think anything matches our first fight.”
They clashed for the first time back in September of 1981 as Leonard stopped Hearns in the penultimate round of their Las Vegas showdown to become the undisputed welterweight champion.
Their rematch took place four years later, once again at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. After a closely fought 12-round bout, the fight was declared a split decision draw with Leonard successfully retaining his WBC super-middleweight title in the process.
