Sugar Ray Leonard has named Sugar Ray Robinson as the greatest boxer in history. The former world champion and Olympic gold medalist shared his opinion in a past feature with ESPN.
Leonard, now 69, had an impressive career of his own. He won Olympic gold at lightweight in 1976 and turned pro the following year. In 1979, he became WBC Welterweight World Champion by stopping Wilfred Benitez in the 15th round in Las Vegas.
1980 was a big year for Leonard. He suffered his first career defeat to Roberto Duran but got revenge in the famous 'No Mas' fight. Leonard forced Duran to quit in round 8 at the Superdome in New Orleans.
Leonard's career continued to soar. He became the only boxer to hold wins over Roberto Duran, Thomas Hearns, and Marvelous Marvin Hagler. These four fighters, known as the 'Four Kings', defined an era of boxing.
Despite his own achievements, Leonard holds Sugar Ray Robinson in the highest regard. In the ESPN feature, Leonard said:
"Someone once said there was a comparison between Sugar Ray Leonard and Sugar Ray Robinson. Believe me, there's no comparison. Sugar Ray Robinson was the greatest."
Leonard's admiration for Robinson runs deep. After all, he was named after the boxing legend.
Robinson's career spanned 25 years. He held the world welterweight title from 1946 to 1951. At middleweight, he grabbed the 160lbs title five times in nine years.
Many fans and analysts agree with Leonard's assessment. They often rank Robinson as the best boxer ever to lace up the gloves.
Leonard's humble recognition of Robinson's superiority shows the lasting impact of the earlier Sugar Ray. It's a testament to Robinson's skill and legacy that even a champion of Leonard's caliber sees him as unmatched in boxing history.
