Boxers are often remembered for epic one-off fights or career-defining rivalries but few faced as many truly brilliant rivals as Sugar Ray Leonard or beat them with enough regularity to be considered peerless in a time of greats.
FILE PHOTO: Born on May 17, 1956: Actor Hugh Jackman and boxing legend Sugar Ray Leonard pose on the field before the NFL's Super Bowl XLV football game in Arlington, Texas, February 6, 2011. REUTERS/Jeff Haynes/File Photo
Leonard, Roberto Duran, Marvin Hagler and Thomas Hearns fought each other nine times between 1980 and 1989 in the welterweight or middleweight divisions. Hearns was “The Hitman”, known for his destructive right hand. Hagler styled himself as Marvelous Marvin Hagler. Duran, the unapologetic street brawler, went by the nickname “Manos de Piedra”, or Hands of Stone.
In the ring, though, Leonard did himself proud and he remembers each of his rivals in their own way. He called a 1981 win over Hearns “my defining moment as a fighter”. Leonard regained his title five months later in the rematch known as the ‘No Mas’ fight in which Duran simply waved Leonard away and gave up near the end of round eight.
After beating and drawing with Hearns and overcoming Hagler in a highly controversial split-decision, Leonard faced Duran again in 1989, beating the 38-year-old to retain the WBC super-middleweight belt.“As crazy as it may sound my first fight against Roberto Duran that I lost was one of my proudest moments,” Leonard said.
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