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WBA congratulates former World Champion, Sugar Ray Leonard on his 56th birthday celebration.
Leonard was born in 1956 in Wilmington, North Carolina. He began boxing at the age of 14; in 1976 he was Gold medalist in the Montreal Olympic Games to become a professional in November of that same year. With Angelo Dundee in his corner and no contract, Leonard managed to earn US$ 40,000 for a fight, a record in that time.
His fights are widely remembered, however, the most popular were his unique battles with Roberto “Hands of Stone” Duran. In the first fight, Duran gave Leonard a boxing lesson, however in the second match, Leonard fought so bravely that Duran gave up, although he said later he had stomach problems. Sugar Ray gave Duran the so-desired rematch nine years later.
Leonard moved to light middleweight and defeated Ayube Kalule, WBA Champion.
On September 21, 1981, Leonard unified WBA and WBC welterweight titles with Thomas Hearns, the referee stopped the fight in the 10th round.
A retinal detachment kept him away from boxing from 1982 until May 1984 when he returned and defeated Kevin Howard, and announced his retirement.
However, in 1986, Leonard returned to the ring to fight Marvin Hagler, whom he defeated unanimously 115-113, 113-115 and 110-118.
Once again Leonard announced his retirement but, in 1988 came back again and defeated Don Lalonde; and in June, 1989 fought Thomas Hearns again and the fight ended as no-contest after 12 rounds.
The third episode of Leonard-Duran happened in December, 1989. Leonard defeated Duran unanimously.
In 1990, Leonard announced his retirement again after losing to Terry Norris; however, the now Hall of famer, on March 01, 1997, Leonard lost by KO with Hector “Macho” Camacho.
On retirement, Leonard’s record was 36-3-1, 25 KO’s.
