Sugar ray leonard autobiography of miss

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A frustrated Leonard again showed ultimate respect for his opponent’s skills when he stated,

“No one, I mean no one, can make me miss punches like that.”

Ultimately whilst unaware for sure he was ahead on the scorecards (137–130, 137–133 and 136–134) going into the final round, Leonard still went ‘toe-to-toe’ with Benitez, again dropping him late in the round with a left.

So I’ll just summarise some of his most important and you can check his record for the rest! 

In addition to what has already been stated before:

  • Sugar Ray Leonard was the first boxer to earn more than $100 million in purses. 
  • Was named “Boxer of the Decade” in the 1980s. 
  • Saw ‘The Ring’ magazine name him Fighter of the Year in 1979 and 1981. 
  • Saw the Boxing Writers Association of America (BWAA) name him Fighter of the Year in 1976, 1979, and 1981.
  • ‘Box Rec’ vote him as ‘pound for pound’ the 23rd greatest boxer of all time.
  • ‘The Ring’ in 2002 vote him as the ninth greatest fighter of the last 80 years.
  • ‘The Ring’ in 2016 also voting Leonard the greatest living fighter.

Arguably the greatest showman of all time to grace the boxing ring, “Sugar” Ray Leonard was inducted into the International Boxing Home of Fame in 1997, the same year he retired!

The Big Fight: My Autobiography

Sugar Ray Leonard is quite simply one of the greatest fighters of the last fifty years.

An aging Leonard in September 1991 would take a quite a beating in his only appearance at the Mecca of boxing – Madison Square Garden, from a young and hungry ‘Terrible’ Terry Norris (26-3-0). His celebrity status reached new heights at the Olympic Games Montreal 1976. He took control, attacking and driving Leonard against the ropes, bulling him back, hitting him with lefts and rights to the body as he maneuvered the champion against the ropes from corner to corner.

With honesty, humor and hard-won perspective, Leonard comes to terms with both triumph and struggle-and presents a gripping portrait of remarkable strength, courage and resilience, both in and out of the ring.

Through his online community www.sugarrayleonard.com Leonard connects with fans through the sport of boxing, general fitness and philanthropy.

The other fighters, legends in their own right were: Roberto ‘The Hands of Stone’ Duran, Thomas ‘The Hitman’ Hearns and ‘Marvellous’ Marvin Hagler. I never had to go to school once because of him.”

Sugar Ray Leonard: Boxing Background

Amateur Career

In 1969, Ray Leonard started boxing at the Palmer Park Recreation Center.

In this unflinching and inspiring autobiography, the boxing legend faces his single greatest competitor: himself. Sadly, a glittering career was now truly at an end with two final defeats on his record that could have been avoided. In round 13 despite a badly swollen eye, Leonard put Hearns through the ropes and though it was not declared a knockdown, Leonard did officially ‘drop’ him when he got up.

For three rounds Durán drove at Sugar Ray with a fury, and there were moments when it seemed the fight could not last five. “But then he adjusted to my style. This is terrible. The Olympic hero, six-time champion and beloved athlete waged his own personal battle with depression, rage, addiction and greed.

Sugar Ray Leonard

Hall Of Fame Bio 


Ray Charles “Sugar Ray” Leonard is an American boxingicon, Olympic gold medalist and world title holder in five weight divisions.

With the boxing World split to this day as to whether Leonard deserved the decision.

You really need to watch the whole fight to decide but some electric highlights are provided here:

All this writer will say is that the blistering combinations Leonard put together when he appeared to be in severe trouble were enough to convince he was the rightful victor.

Leonard would find himself on the floor for the first time ever in his rearranged fight with Howard before rallying to win by stoppage in the 9th round and surprising everyone at the post-fight press conference in announcing his retirement yet again stating, ‘he just didn’t have it anymore’.

Ray Leonard vs Hagler and more comebacks!

Whilst ringside in 1986 for Hagler vs John ‘the beast’ Mugabi, Leonard decided he could beat Hagler!

Leonard’s fans arguing, that the only time a prime time Leonard really lost therefore was in his first fight with Duran.

sugar ray leonard autobiography of miss

His most memorable victories include wins over Roberto Duran and Thomas Hearns, as well as an upset against Marvin Hagler for the middleweight crown in 1987.

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Date of Birth:May 17, 1956
Place of Birth:Wilmington, North Carolina
Gym: Palmer Park Recreation Centre & Sugar Ray Leonard Boxing Gym
Location: Palmer Park, Maryland
Boxing Career: Amateur, Professional, Analyst
Nickname: Sugar Ray
Height:5 Foot 10 inches.

From early domestic violence and experience of sexual abuse, he began a determined rise to Olympic champion and national icon, before losing control of his life at the height of his career in the blur of fame, sex, greed, drink and drug addiction that cost him so much. Now and then he got loose and countered—left-right-left to Durán’s bobbing head—but he missed punches and could not work inside, could not jab, could not mount an offense to keep Durán at bay.”

Durán correctly won the fight by unanimous decision.

Round 14 saw Leonard similarly pin the ‘Hitman’ against the ropes, whereby, he unleashed another furious combination of punches which prompted referee, Davey Pearl, to stop the contest and award Sugar Ray the Unified World Welterweight Championship. 

*Note, Hearns was actually leading on the judge’s scorecards at the time 124–122, 125–122, and 125–121.

Sugar Ray had pulled off a miraculous comeback.

The Big Fight is a remarkable portrait of the rise, fall and final redemption of a true fighter in every sense.