On This Day: Sugar Ray Leonard Was Born

May 17^th, 1956

On this day in history, legendary Sugar Ray Leonard was born in Wilmington, North Carolina, United States. 

 He shaped a brilliant amateur record of 145-5, with 75 KO`s, and won the Olympic gold medal in the 1976 Montreal Olympics against Cuban KO artist Andres Aldama. 

He debuted as a professional in 1977 against Luis Vega.

 After winning his first 25 pro bouts, Ray earned the opportunity to contest and win the WBC welterweight title against Wilfred Benitez, stopping him in the fifteenth round after a battle royal!

One of the most memorable defenses of his crown was against Roberto Duran who had but one defeat in 72 fights and who had a completely opposite style to his.  Duran won the slugfest by unanimous decision on June 20, 1980.

The revenge was almost immediate and sweet.  On November 25, 1980 Leonard regained his crown with a masterful boxing performance.

Ray Leonard reigned in five different divisions and in all he shone enormously with class, talent, heart and natural ability. He was a great world champion at welterweight, super welterweight, middleweight, super middleweight and light heavyweight.

His fights against Tommy Hearns, Marvelous Hagler, Roberto Duran and Donny Lalonde have passed into boxing folklore.

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