Sugar Ray Leonard At 70 Still Stands Above Boxing’s 4 Kings

Much of Leonard’s early skilled profession was guided by legendary trainer Angelo Dundee, who immediately saw championship potential in him after joining the group that helped finance his move into the skilled ranks.

“I don’t know which title we’re going to win. He’s a teen, so he may turn out to be a junior welterweight champion, a welterweight champion, or a middleweight champion. As a matter of fact, he could turn out to be a heavyweight champion.” The Ring quoted Angelo Dundee as saying early in Sugar Ray Leonard’s skilled profession.

Leonard eventually became the central figure of boxing’s celebrated “4 Kings” era within the Nineteen Eighties, constructing victories over Roberto Durán, Thomas Hearns, Marvelous Marvin Hagler, and Wilfred Benítez. Unlike many fighters from earlier generations, Leonard fought far less often, with only 40 skilled bouts in comparison with Robinson’s 201, but his profession became one in all the game’s most rigorously managed and efficient runs on the elite level.

Leonard’s last 15 fights were spread across an 18-year period marked by retirements and returns that usually became the topic of criticism and jokes. Even after becoming financially secure, Leonard repeatedly returned to the ring, something The Ring described as a part of the mindset shared by elite fighters who struggle to walk away from competition completely.

One story followed Leonard throughout his profession. Early in his skilled run, Leonard approached Robinson and asked permission to make use of the “Sugar” nickname. Robinson agreed and told him to “take care of it.”

Few fighters were ever trusted with a nickname that carried more weight. Leonard spent the remainder of his profession proving why Robinson gave his approval.