Sugar Ray Leonard

Ray Charles Leonard (born 17 May 1956) is an American former professional boxer. He was one of the leading boxers in the world in the 1970s and 1980s.

Sugar Ray Leonard in 1998

Quotes

• I know exactly what it takes to beat this man, but people say, 'Well, Ray, two years of inactivity, you'll be rusty.' No, no. He will eliminate the rust because he is what I want and I am what he wants. And boxing needs that kind of fight.
  • On his come back fight against Marvin Hagler [[1]]

• Tommy Hearns seemed like an indestructible machine, so to beat him, I think that was my defining moment, the pinnacle.
  • Sugar Ray Leonard, Oct 6, 2006 interview [[2]]

• I tried the gloves on, and it just felt so natural. From that moment I became so embedded in boxing. I found a friend in boxing.
  • Sugar Ray Leonard on his first taste of boxing[[3]]

• I had a drug problem. I'd go to parties, take a leak, and there was cocaine right there. I was 25 when it started, rich, famous, and retired.
  • Sugar Ray Leonard talking about drugs[[4]]

• Duran quit in frustration. People were laughing and he couldn't deal with that.
  • Leonard referring to the epic no mas(no more, in spanish) fight against Roberto Duran.[[5]]

• Inactivity is the biggest sin in boxing.
  • Sugar Ray Leonard[[6]]

Sugar Ray Leonard on other boxers

• Tommy Hearns seemed like an indestructible machine, so to beat him, I think that was my defining moment, the pinnacle.
  • Sugar Ray Leonard, Oct 6, 2006 interview [[7]]
• The Ricky Hatton that beat Kostya Tszyu in 2005 can beat Floyd Mayweather, he was so focused and in such amazing physical shape that he would have given anybody at that level a tough time.
  • Sugar Ray Leonard predicting a Ricky Hatton win if he fought Floyd Mayweather .Tuesday, 6 February 2007.[[8]]
• That name, 'Manos de Piedra', is true, Hands of Stone. Every punch, and I'm not exaggerating, every punch that he hit me with, from the body to the head, felt like bricks, stone, rocks. He knocked my teeth back. My front, my first 3 or 4 teeth, he knocked them back because he was just so possessed. He was a demon.
  • Sugar Ray Leonard on his first fight with Roberto Duran [9]

• "Of all the fighters today, I have to say that Mayweather reminds me most of me," Leonard told Irish boxing writer Brian Doogan in describing the incident. "The kid has every gift and physical attribute, but if he continues to be the kind of person he is, he'll never be one of us. He'll never make it."
  • Sugar Ray Leonard on Floyd Mayweather, Jr. [10]