‘Sugar’ Ray Leonard And Floyd ‘Money’ Mayweather

This writer once did an article, “‘Sugar’ Ray Leonard Knocked out Floyd Mayweather!” The first line said it was Sr., 15-1, not Jr., in September of 1978. Ray was 13-0.

Looking at both ‘Sugar’ and ‘Money’ starting in the Olympics, Ray won Gold in 1976 in Montreal, defeating all six opponents. His amateur record was 145-5 with 75 stoppages. ‘Money’ lost a disputed decision in the semi-final for a Bronze medal, losing to Serafim Todorov, 94-14, of Bulgaria, by a 10-9 score in the Atlanta Olympics in 1996. His amateur record was 84-9.

Ray’s opponents stopped in 4 rounds Pete Ranzany, 45-3-1, for his first title in the NABF, and two fights later for the WBC World title, stopping champion Wilfred Benitez, 38-0-1, in the fifteenth and final round, was a first big name. Ray was 25-0.

In his second defense, he decided to fight Roberto ‘Hands of Stone’ Duran, 71-1, his fight went in slugging, not his usual boxing, with both better hand and foot speed, losing over 15 rounds with two judges giving Duran the win by one point, and third by two points.

Just five months later, in a rematch with Duran, Leonard gave him a ‘boxing lesson’ embarrassing by showboating in the final round as Duran sat on his stool after eight rounds, refusing to continue, Leonard up by two points on two judges’ scores and by one point on another.

After two defenses, Leonard won the WBA World Super Welter title, stopping Ayub Kalue, 36-0. After thirteen rounds, he then faced WBA Welter champ Thomas ‘Hit Man’ Hearns, 32-0, behind on all judge’s cards. He stopped Hearns in the fourteenth round for a unification win in September of 1981 for the Ring Magazine’s “Fight of the Year”!

In Leonard’s next fight, a title defense, he stopped Bruce Finch, 28-3-1, in three rounds in February of 1982. While preparing for his next defense against Roger Stafford on May 14, 1982, he learned he had a detached retina in his left eye. On May 9th, he had successful surgery. On November 8th, he announced his retirement. He was 32-1.

In May 1984, he returned to the ring against Kevin Howard, 20-4-1, coming off the canvas and winning by stoppage in nine rounds. It would be three years before he took on WBC World Middle champ ‘Marvelous’ Marvin Hagler, 62-2-2, winning a split decision in April 1987.

Some nineteen months later, he won the WBC World Super Welter and WBC Light Heavy title, stopping Donny Lalonde, 31-2, in nine rounds, coming off the canvas. Seven months later, in a rematch with Hearns, 46-3, then WBO champ, it ended in a split draw decision, coming off the canvas twice. Then, in a third fight with Duran, 85-7, he won a lopsided decision.

It would be fourteen months before returning to the ring against WBC World Super Welter champion “Terrible” Terry Norris, 26-3, losing by a lopsided decision, knocked down twice, in February of 1991.

He would return to the ring in March of 1997, some six years later, in what would be his final career fight, losing five rounds to IBC Middle champ Hector ‘Macho” Camacho, 62-3-1, in five rounds and finishing with a 36-3-1 record with 25 stoppages.

Looking at Mayweather’s pro record, he was 17-0 when he won the WBC World Super Feather title, stopping Genaro Hernandez, 36-1-1, in eight rounds.

He made nine winning defenses and one non-title win. He defeated such opponents as Carlos Ruiz, 44-2-1, Gregorio Vargas, 40-6-1, and Diego Corrales, 33-0.

Then he won the WBC World Lightweight title with a disputed decision over Jose Luis Castillo, 45-4-1, in April of 2002. Eight months later he a rematch he won the rematch without a doubt. After two more defenses, he took the WBC World Light Welterweight title, defeating DeMarcus Corley, 28-2-1, in May 2004.

In his third defense, he defeated Shamba Mitchell, 56-4, in a non-title fight. Then, he won the IBF World Welterweight title, defeating Zab Judah 34-3.

Then, in a WBC Super Welterweight title fight, he took on champion and former Olympic Gold Medalist Oscar “Golden Boy” De La Hoya, 38-4. After seven rounds, De La Hoya was ahead using an effective jab. Suddenly, he no longer used the jab, falling behind and losing a split decision to Mayweather.

In the ring, commentator Larry Merchant questioned De La Hoya’s stopping using the jab, and he commented, “It sure was working, wasn’t it, Larry?” At ringside, ring commentator top trainer Emmanuel Steward said, “That was not a good answer from Oscar!”

In his first defense, he stopped Ricky Hatton, 43-0. He then followed with wins over Juan Manuel Marquez, 50-4-1, and “Sugar” Shane Mosley, 46-5. Then, he moved up to take the WBA Super Welter title, defeating Miguel Cotto, 37-2.
Returning to defend his WBC Welter title, he defeated Roberto ‘The Ghost’ Guerrero, 31-1-1. Then, he defeated WBA champ Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez, 42-0-1, by majority decision. This writer felt he won every round in September 2013.

Next, he won a majority decision over Marcos Maidana, 35-3, which I felt was a draw. Close enough, it demanded a rematch, winning by more decisive scores.

In May 2015, he defended against Manny “Pac Man” Pacquiao, 57-5-2. After the fight, Pacquiao claimed to have injured his shoulder in training but never mentioned it due to the possible cancellation of the bout.

He easily defeated former champ Andre Berto, 30-3, who was 2-2 in his previous four fights. This improved his record to 49-0, equaling the record heavyweight champion Rocky Marciano held since 1955. Mayweather was 49-0 with 26 stoppages.

For some reason, it would be two years returning in a non-title fight, defeating MMA champ Connor McGregor, 0-0, by stopping him in ten rounds. It seemed to this writer he carried him, throwing a few punches well ahead after nine rounds before opening up in the tenth round. Why fight someone with no pro-fights to break Marciano’s record?

Leonard’s defeats of Hearns, Duran, and Hagler are opponents one wonders if Mayweather would have beaten. His biggest win was over Alvarez, 42-0-1, now 61-2-2, and Super Welter champion. He also defeated Pacquiao, 57-5-2, ending with a 62-8-2 record.