04 May 2023 07:39:01
{Ed's Note - Ed001 has posted a new article entitled, Boxing Legends Part 5: Sugar Ray Leonard

1.) 04 May 2023
04 May 2023 08:43:30
Excellent stuff Ed, one of my favourite all time fighters.
Fascinating to read up on the background that I didn't know anything about. Another top star driven by adversity.

{Ed001's Note - cheers mate.}

2.) 04 May 2023
04 May 2023 11:14:45
I watched his fights with Duran out of boredom browsing YouTube. That first fight…I don’t know if I’ve ever watched two people hit each other so much. What a fight.

3.) 04 May 2023
04 May 2023 12:01:10
There's no denying Sugar Ray's greatness. He was my favorite after the Olympics but I grew tired of the showboating. Those Duran fights were some of the best I've ever seen; same with his fights with Hearns. I still believe Hagler was robbed when he fought Leonard, but again, Sugar Ray was one of the best without question.

4.) 04 May 2023
04 May 2023 10:10:05
Great read. I loved Sugar Ray. Although I do think Duran didn't give himself enough time to get into shape before the rematch and I definitely think Hagler should have been given the decision in their fight. What a time that must have been. I was to young to appreciate it but I do remember my dad letting me stay up to watch some of Sugar Ray's fights.

{Ed001's Note - cheers mate.}

5.) 04 May 2023
04 May 2023 11:35:44
Great read Ed thanks. I really wish Leonard and Hagler fought a rematch.

{Ed001's Note - I think myself it is best there never was one. It has meant their first fight is something special, a one-off, which still splits fans to this day as to who actually should have got the decision. A second fight could have ruined that.}

6.) 04 May 2023
04 May 2023 12:28:26
Great article Ed. Steve Collins one next yeah? ?.

{Ed001's Note - I have actually got that earmarked as the next one oddly enough! I got sidetracked reading about him when I read how Collins said that Leonard had told him he avoided McCallum as there was no money in it and he though he might lose.}

7.) 04 May 2023
04 May 2023 13:32:17
Loved Collins. Your mention of him in here reminded me of him. Will be eagerly looking forward to that read. Whenever you get a chance to write it.

8.) 04 May 2023
04 May 2023 13:26:08
Ed01, did you see the Tommy Hearns-Marvin Hagler fight? Now that was special. They threw more punches in those first 3 rounds than certain boxing fights had in total. Absolute legends of the Sweet Science.

As for avoiding opponents he though he would lose to, Leonard avoided Aaron Pryor thru out his career as well. Why? Apparently cos Pryor used to lay waste to Leonard during Olympic sparring sessions.

{Ed001's Note - I did see that fight a few years ago when researching Hearns. Was a cracking fight.}

9.) 04 May 2023
04 May 2023 17:12:01
Fantastic read. The box wars of that era were eoic. sugar, hitman, marvelous, duran. I miss those days for sure.

10.) 04 May 2023
04 May 2023 18:52:29
Bang on, Petecolo. Those guys were in a league of their own cos they literally fought one another sometimes twice over during their glittering careers. I miss those days too.

11.) 04 May 2023
04 May 2023 20:15:07
That Hagler Hearns fight was ridiculously exciting. The tremendous condition both fighters were in to survive that brutal first round was one of the most amazing things I've seen in sports. Absolutely thrilling.

12.) 05 May 2023
04 May 2023 23:37:48
Olired, I don't blame Leonard for avoiding Pryor. Pryor could have dismantled Leonard the same way he completely dismantled Alexis Arguello.

Petecolo, no list from that era is complete without including Macho Camacho. ??.

13.) 05 May 2023
04 May 2023 23:40:49
Cheers for that Ed, my favourite fighter of all time.

I was lucky enough to grow up in the era of the four kings and jesus they were all true champions.

My dad used to let me stay up to watch the boxing and Dave boy Green was our favourite UK fighter (bit of a cross between Ricky Hatton and Stuart Pierce) , well in walked this flash Harry, Hollywood smile and god forbid tassels on his boots.

To just say Ray knocked him out in the 4th doesn't do him justice, for the first 2 rounds Ray just watched him and learnt his tells,3rd round me and my dad are getting worried, the 4th jesus please stop this now it's cruel.

His brothers story about his eyes when he boxed is something I've noticed but never seen mentioned anywhere, we're talking shark eyes, cold killer eyes.