Boxing Legend Sugar Ray Leonard on Sergio Mora

ByBoxing Press


© Joe Miranda / Showtime Boxing

Legendary fighter Sugar Ray Leonard recently shared his thoughts about Sergio Mora and the challenger’s upcoming bout against Vernon Forrest Saturday on Showime.

Mora will face his biggest test when he takes on Forrest (40-2, 29 KOs) for his WBC super welterweight title Saturday, June 7, on Showtime Championship Boxing (9 p.m. ET/PT delayed on the west coast).

Mora (20-0-1, five KOs), of Los Angeles, won “The Contender” television series on Oct. 15, 2005, with an entertaining and hard-fought split decision over Peter Manfredo, Jr. The fight with Forrest is exactly what Mora has been aiming for and should prove to be his toughest challenge to date.

As part of a world championship doubleheader on Showtime, the evening will kick off when Carlos Quintana (25-1, 19 KOs) looks to defend his newly acquired WBO welterweight belt against the boxer he dethroned, the previously unbeaten Paul Williams (33-1, 24 KOs). The Quintana-Williams bout is a rematch of a WBO welterweight title fight that Quintana won in a shocking upset on Feb. 9, 2008.

The fights, which will take place at the Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, Conn., will be promoted by Gary Shaw Productions, LLC, and Fight Nite, LLC, in association with Tournament of Contenders, LLC, DiBella Entertainment, Goossen Tutor Promotions and Northeast Promotions.

Sugar Ray Leonard:

“For Sergio, it’s do or die. It’s a fight to determine his last hurrah.”

“Mora has so much natural talent, speed and power in his punches. He just needs to put it all together.”

“Mora is getting in the ring with a guy who has tons of experience and can certainly punch.”

“This is a great chance for Mora and excellent exposure. He needs to capitalize on it.”

“Stylistically, this will be a good fight. Sergio can box and Vernon can punch. I think it will be an action-filled fight.”

“Whoever loses goes to the back of the line. And at their age, it could be over.”