It was the closing of a show. It was the closing of an era. These fighters made the world come out and watch. The Kings IV: A Champion Never Quits
Hagler v Leonard: I thought Ray was on a suicide mission of some sort. I mean, who would you bet on? ibid. Larry Merchant
Experts offer little hope for Leonard. ibid. The Miami News 1 April 1987
Marvin sort of bought into the chess match Leonard created. ibid. Steve Marantz
Hagler: He didn’t knock me down. He didn’t hurt me at all. Come on. ibid.
He overthought it, Hagler. Because he was trying to capture something that was never given to him. Acceptance. What he thought he should have had. How great he was. So maybe in the end he was a co-conspirator in his own demise. ibid. Teddy Atlas
Leonard v Hearns: That rematch which came eight years after the first one was a tremendously exciting fight. Why? Because they’re both vulnerable. Tommy knocked Ray down of course. ibid. Steve Farhood
Tommy hit me and hurt me more times than the first fight. I felt I lost the fight. I really felt that. ibid.
And then the IRS comes along and fucks me. ibid.
Leonard v Duran III 7th December 1989: But also they’re addicted. Every one of them is addicted. To his love of attention and that’s why they fight. ibid. Charles Farrell
Those great fighters’ reputation last for eternity. ibid. Teddy Atlas
14) Floyd Mayweather senior TKO10: US Fight Commentary TV -
v Floyd Mayweather senior 9 September 1978 Rhode Island [r1] … Quick flicking left of Mayweather … [r2] … Sugar Ray goes to the body with a left … good combination … Mayweather putting up a good scrap … Now we’re seeing more of Leonard … good right: he hurt Mayweather … [r3] … [Leonard] got him with a good right … Mayweather in a little bit of trouble … absorbing punishment … in real trouble … [r4] … Mayweather trying to come back … [Mayweather] taking it again with the rope-a-dope … Good left staggered Mayweather … [r5] … Mayweather again with that left … [r6] … Sugar Ray on the move … Good stinging left finally by Leonard … [r7] … Leonard scores with a left and right … Quick flurring by Mayweather … Good left caught Mayweather flush … [r8] … Leonard’s been at his best in the final minute of each round … A left that stunned Mayweather … there’s the knockdown … [r9] … Leonard goes at him … Sugar Ray with the right … The same kind of punishment … [r10] … Now the flurry of combinations … He’s stopped the fight … US fight commentary
27) Dave Boy Green KO4: US Fight Commentary TV -
124,660. v Dave Boy Green 31 March 1980 WBC Welterweight Landover Maryland [r1] … He’s [Sugar Ray] staying in close … a left jab … doubling … a beautiful right hand lead … [r2] … Good left hook to the body [Leonard] … Good left hook [Green] … Another [Leonard] combination … A punch that hurt Green … [r3] … Look at the speed of those [Leonard] combinations … quick quick combinations … [r4] … [Leonard] Good left to the chin … ooh a right hand … Combinations and so long timber! … And it is over. Davy body Green is out. US fight commentary
28) Roberto Duran I ***** Lost Points 15: I Am Duran 2019 - US Fight Commentary TV - Sugar Ray Leonard - Roberto Duran - Bill Nack -
TV interviewer: Scared?
Leonard: Just a little. I Am Duran, 2019
I didn’t foresee any problem until he hit me. ibid. Leonard
It’s almost like he [Duran] moved to Sodom & Gomorrah. He just indulged. ibid.
I saw something in his eyes. I saw that he was not there.’ ibid.
v Roberto Duran I 20th June 1980 WBC Welterweight Montreal [r1] ... The moment is here. Roberto Duran challenging Sugar Ray Leonard ... Leonard is not backing off ... Duran goes for the body ... Leonard is throwing everything he’s got ... [r2] ... He’s got Duran backing up ... He hurt Leonard [inaudible ...] He hurt Leonard with a left hook ... He’s got him on the ropes again ... The right hand hurt Leonard again ... What a fight! ... [r3] ... Leonard in trouble again ... Duran getting under Leonard’s shots ... Leonard coming on with a combination but it doesn’t seem to hurt Roberto ... [r4] ... He got here by being a beautiful boxer with a great jab ... Roberto is standing right in front of him ... He hurt Leonard. A tremendous right hand by Duran drove Leonard back into the ropes. And now he is holding on ... I don’t think Duran’s given him much choice ... Leonard answers back! Uppercut by Leonard ... [r5] ... The champion has been fighting his heart out. Duran has been calling the shots ... A lot of in-fighting here ... He got Duran hurt! ... He’s trading punch for punch with Duran ... He’s got guts. What an incredible fight ... [r6] ... Beautiful shot by Leonard ... Beautiful body shot by Leonard ... That hand speed. Amazing hand speed by the champion Sugar Ray Leonard but Duran hangs in there ... Leonard varies his attack – body and head ... And now a hook by Leonard! What a fighter Sugar Ray Leonard is ... [r7] ... This time Duran puts in a hard right hand to the body ... Leonard fighting very well off the ropes now ... A beautiful hook by Duran ... [r8] ... Another right uppercut by Leonard ... A great shot from Duran ... A great right hand by Duran ... [r9] ... Duran charging with the jab ... What a fight! ... [r10] ... Good right hand by Duran ... He hurt Duran with the left hook! ... Duran chasing him back to the ropes ... [r11] ... Duran doesn’t look tired at all ... Now they both exchange furious volleys ... Leonard coming back with a flurry and Duran answers ... [r12] ... Duran getting his second wind ... [r13] ... Oh a left hook by Duran! ... One fighter lands one thing and the other lands exactly the same ... Duran is hurt ... [r14] ... Leonard has come out smoking ... What a hook by Duran ... [r15] ... Here they go again ... Leonard bombing away ... [146-144 Duran; 148-147 Duran declared in ring as 147-147; 145-144 Duran]. US fight commentary
I did the best I could. I think I pretty much fought from the heart. Sugar Ray Leonard
He does have a heart. That’s why he’s living. Roberto Duran
It was, from almost the opening salvo, a fight that belonged to Duran. The Panamanian seized the evening and gave it what shape and momentum it had. He took control, attacking and driving Leonard against the ropes, bulling him back, hitting him with lefts and rights to the body as he manoeuvred the champion against the ropes from corner to corner. Always moving forward, he mauled and wrestled Leonard, scoring inside with hooks and rights. For three rounds Duran drove at Sugar Ray with a fury, and there were moments when it seemed the fight could not last five. Unable to get away, unable to counter and unable to slide away to open up the ring, Leonard seemed almost helpless under the assault. Now and then he got loose and countered – left-right-left to Duran's bobbing head – but he missed punches and could not work inside, could not jab, could not mount an offense to keep Duran at bay. Bill Nack, Sports Illustrated 30th June 1980
29) Roberto Duran II TKO8: US Fight Commentary TV -
v Roberto Duran II 25 November 1980 WBC Welterweight New Orleans: [r1] … Already he’s [Leonard] showing more movement … dancing … covering … [r2] … Duran got in a good quick right lead … Good right by Leonard … Duran in a fury … The Leonard right uppercut … [r3] … Good right lead by Leonard and away from the ropes …Duran got in a good right … Two brave athletes … Toe to toe … [r4] … A blow to the midsection by Leonard and that stunned Duran … Leonard with the uppercut … Good quick shot by Leonard … [r5] … Leonard shot a right … good left that hurt Duran … Duran got in a good shot hurt Leonard … [r6] … Quick left jab by Leonard … good left … good left … [r7] … Leonard is showing his confidence … He is taunting Duran … Leonard scored with a chopping right … caught him with the left … [r8] … What a fight … Good right [Leonard] … What! Roberto Duran has quit! Roberto Duran has quit! US fight commentary
32) Thomas Hearns I ***** TKO14: US Fight Commentary TV -
v Thomas Hearns 16th September 1981 WBA WBC Welterweight Nevada [r1] ... This is for the undisputed welterweight championship ... Sugar Ray Leonard as expected using all of that ring ... All three judges scored round one for Thomas Hearns ... [r2] ... Hearns stalking, throwing that left jab ... Good right hand for Hearns behind that left jab ... [r3] ... A big left hand from Hearns ... Leonard scoring a left and a right ... Leonard forcing him back to the ropes ... That right hand from Hearns got Leonard’s attention ... [r4] ... A combination from Leonard lands ... A right by Leonard and then two shots back from Thomas Hearns ... A strong finish in round four for Tommy Hearns ... [r5] ... Ray is going to have to get a little closer ... Hearns with a lot of confidence right now ... [r6] ... Tommy Hearns well ahead ... A left hand that wobbles Tommy Hearns and backs him up to the corner ... Leonard keeps the pressure on ... [r7] ... Willing to take a little punishment as Hearns scores a right hand ... Leonard bangs to the body ... Completely different fight. Toe to toe they are here in the seventh. Hearns still looking a little wobbly. Good combination landed by Leonard ... Hearns not countering as he was earlier ... A right hand by Leonard ... [r8] ... You’ve got to wonder about Tommy Hearns’ legs now ... Hearns bouncing around now like Leonard did earlier in the fight ... Leonard bangs a good left hook to the body ... [r9] ... Hearns scoring effectively here in the final minute now ... A strange round by Sugar Ray Leonard ... [r10] ... Tommy Hearns leading on all three cards ... Ray is doing the stalking but not enough punching ... [r11] ... Two quiet rounds in a row from Sugar Ray ... Leonard comes out with a right hand lead ... Renewed sense of purpose evident from Tommy Hearns ... And he just scored another good combination ... Good right hand lead by Hearns ... [r12] ... Leonard has got to make something happen ... Right hand behind the jab landed by Hearns ... [r13] ... Ray Leonard needs a knockout to win this championship ... Angry swelling under the right eye of Ray Leonard. He is swollen under both eyes now ... A right hand staggers Tommy Hearns. Hearns in trouble again. Leonard all over him. Leonard pounding away with combinations ... Hearns battered around the ring won’t go down ...