Sugar Ray Leonard was one of the greats at his absolute peak, but the boxer chose to remain in the ring beyond his best, which saw him lose to opponents who would have stood no chance at his peak. Barry McGuigan reflects on Leonard's career and the cost of not retiring earlier.
A Career of Unforgettable Fights
It is fair to say this was not Sugar Ray Leonard's favourite time of year. He suffered his first professional defeat in June 1980, losing his WBC welterweight crown to Roberto Duran in Montreal. Nine years later to this very week, he was fortunate to get the draw against Tommy Hearns at super middleweight. Reflecting on the 27th anniversary of that night in Vegas, Leonard said he should have retired there and then. Instead, he went again six months later, beating a fading Duran in their trilogy bout. That should definitely have been that, but no. He lost to Terry Norris and then, inexplicably after a six-year 'retirement', aged 40, he fell to Hector Camacho in Atlantic City. It was over in five, a calf injury combining with Father Time to gift victory to a fighter who would not have stood a chance against Leonard at his epic peak.
The Four Kings Era
When Leonard and Hearns first met in 1981 they produced one of the all-time great contests. Hearns was arguably the most dangerous puncher of all time at welter. Leonard was the darling of America, and then some. He always found a way. That was his greatness. Behind on all three cards, Leonard turned it around in the 14th, forcing the ref to intervene. I had just turned pro that year and even now consider it the privilege of my career to have fought in the same era as the Four Kings. Their second meeting came at the end of the decade and at 168 pounds. Hearns, a tall man, huge reach, big upper body, was more suited to the weight than Leonard. I feared for Leonard that night. Hearns went on too long as well but, unlike Leonard, he did not retire mid-career. Leonard was lucky to get the nod against Hagler two years prior in 1987 after his first retirement in 1984.
The Cost of Staying On
Against Hearns he was down twice and close to being stopped. Once again he showed remarkable powers of endurance to hang on for the draw. I remember saying out loud why is he doing this? I was done at 29. No regrets despite the pressure I was under to continue. Of course I recognise how hard it is for some to walk away. Hearns, who was three years younger than Leonard, continued until 2006, by which time he was a shadow of his former self. I prefer to remember the Four Kings at their formidable best, a period like no other in boxing and one we are unlikely to see again.
