Floyd Mayweather Jr has accused the legendary Sugar Ray Leonard of avoiding a showdown with one fighter in particular.
Leonard is often regarded as being one of the greatest fighters to have ever laced up the gloves, proving his credentials throughout the duration of his outstanding professional career which spanned for 20-years between 1977 and 1997 with some retirements and comebacks in between.
Perhaps the most famous victory of his tenure came against Roberto Duran back in 1980 when he sensationally forced the Panamanian icon to quit in the eighth round of their rematch. which is better known as the ‘No Mas’ fight.
Leonard would go on to pick up victories over Thomas Hearns and Marvin Hagler in the years that followed and, though he lost their rematch, he would lock horns with Duran for the third time in December 1989, outpointing ‘Hands of Stone’ to successfully retain his WBC super-middleweight title.
Speaking on Club Shay Shay, retired five-weight world champion Mayweather shockingly claimed that Leonard actually avoided facing the late-great Aaron ‘The Hawk’ Pryor.
“Aaron Pryor, that’s who, Sugar Ray Leonard knows, that’s who Sugar Ray Leonard was ducking … You better do your homework, see that’s what you don’t know, the behind the scenes stuff, and you know I love Sugar Ray Leonard.”
Similar to Leonard, Pryor rose to fame during the early stages of the 1980s.
‘The Hawk’ became a two-time super lightweight world champion during his career, which stretched between 1976 and 1990. He defeated Nicaraguan Alexis Arguello twice in the space of 10-months between 1982 and 1983, stopping the late-great three-division champion on both occasions.
As per promoter Bob Arum, there were discussions for Leonard and Pryor to face off, however a fight never materialised. Differences in weight, timelines and prime may have played a factor, and Leonard would certainly refute any claims he avoided it as Mayweather believes.
