In the beginning, people appreciated Ray Leonard’s talent but it’s fair to say his heart was questioned.
Borrowing the name Sugar Ray from Sugar Ray Robinson also seemed a bit presumptuous. After all, Robinson was considered one of the finest boxers in history and Leonard, when he first got started, wasn’t seen that way at all.
That would change eventually as Leonard defined his greatness with stunning fights against Thomas Hearns, Marvelous Marvin Hagler and, perhaps most of all, Roberto Duran.
Leonard had two welterweight belts by the time they fought and one excellent fight against Wilfred Benitez.