Sugar Ray Leonard, one of boxing's all-time greats, has picked Roberto Duran as the hardest puncher he faced in his career. Leonard shared this insight in a YouTube interview that's recently come back into the spotlight.
Leonard's career spanned two decades and saw him grab world titles in five weight classes. He started off with a bang, winning Olympic gold in Montreal in 1976 before turning pro. In 1981, he became the undisputed welterweight champ after stopping Thomas Hearns in the 14th round at Caesars Palace, Las Vegas.
But it's his battles with Roberto Duran that Leonard remembers most vividly. Their first fight in 1980 ended in a loss for Leonard. He recalled the power of Duran's punches:
"He hit me so hard I said 'Who else is in here with me?', but I knew because fighters know when they lost, so when they was calling the decision I knew I lost."
Just five months later, they met again in what became known as the 'No Mas' fight. This time, Duran quit in the eighth round. The details of this infamous bout have been discussed for years. Their third and final meeting came in December 1989, with Leonard winning by unanimous decision to keep his WBC super-middleweight title.
Leonard was part of the 'Four Kings' of boxing, along with Thomas Hearns, Roberto Duran, and Marvelous Marvin Hagler. These legends all fought each other at least once during their careers, giving fans some of the most thrilling bouts in boxing history.
Duran, known as 'Hands of Stone' or 'Manos de Piedra' in his native Panama, left a lasting impression on Leonard. Despite facing other hard hitters like Hearns, it's Duran who Leonard singles out as the hardest puncher he ever faced.
This revelation from Leonard, captured in a resurfaced YouTube interview, gives fans a glimpse into the mind of one of boxing's greatest champions and the respect he holds for his toughest rival.
