Sugar Ray Leonard Record & Stats

Boxing Record

Career Summary

Sugar Ray Leonard's professional boxing career spanned more than 20 years — from 1977 to 1997.

Leonard made his debut against Luis Vega at the age of 20 on February 5, 1977, defeating Vega via 6 round unanimous decision. He went on to win 26 more consecutive fights after the debut, which included 18 wins via stoppage.

Leonard had his first world title fight at the age of 23 on November 30, 1979 after 25 professional fights, against Wilfred Benítez for the welterweight WBC and The Ring titles. He defeated Benítez via 15th round TKO to become the welterweight champion of the world.

He was a one-time undisputed welterweight world champion, and has won 10 world titles at 4 weight classes. For all the details about Leonard's world title wins and defenses refer to "Sugar Ray Leonard World Titles".

Some of Leonard's best fights and notable victories include wins over Marvelous Marvin Hagler, Roberto Durán, Thomas Hearns, Ayub Kalule, Wilfred Benítez, and Dave Boy Green.

Sugar Ray Leonard had a total of three losses in his professional boxing career — two of them in title bouts and one in a non-title bout. He suffered his first loss against Roberto Durán via 15 round unanimous decision on June 20, 1980, which ended his 27-fight win streak. He has been stopped once and lost two times via decision. For more details about these defeats, refer to "All of Sugar Ray Leonard's losses".

His last professional fight was a non-title bout against Puerto Rican boxer Héctor Camacho on March 1, 1997. Leonard lost the fight via 5th round TKO. It's been 25 years, 11 months, and 3 days since this fight.

Leonard retired from professional boxing with a record of 36-3-1, which included 25 knockout wins and 1 loss via knockout, and 10 title wins. He was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame (IBHOF) in 1997.

Career Highlights

Sugar Ray Leonard fought a total of 40 times during his professional career. He was among the very best of his generation and put on some incredible performances. These seven fights are the highlight of his career.

• Sugar Ray Leonard vs. Wilfred Benítez

  November 30, 1979

  A 23-year old Sugar Ray Leonard (25-0, 16 KO) had his first world title fight against an undefeated Wilfred Benítez for Benítez' WBC and The Ring welterweight belts. Benítez was 21 years old with a record of 38-0-1. Benítez was on a 10-fight win streak with 25 KO wins. Leonard was the taller of the two by 1 cm and also had a 10 cm reach advantage.

  Leonard defeated Benítez via 15th round TKO to win the WBC and Ring Magazine welterweight titles. He handed Benítez the first loss of his career, and put an end to Benítez' 10-fight win streak.

• Sugar Ray Leonard vs. Dave Boy Green

  March 31, 1980

  A 23-year old Sugar Ray Leonard (26-0, 17 KO) faced Dave Boy Green, who was 26 years old with a record of 33-2 in a welterweight title defense fight. Green was on a two-fight win streak with 26 KO wins. Leonard was the taller of the two by 2 cms and also had a 11 cm reach advantage.

  Leonard defeated Green via 4th round KO to retain the WBC and Ring Magazine welterweight titles.

• Sugar Ray Leonard vs. Roberto Durán II

  November 25, 1980

  In an immediate rematch, a 24-year old Sugar Ray Leonard (27-1, 18 KO) faced Roberto Durán, who was now 29 years old with a record of 72-1. Leonard had lost to Durán in their last fight. Leonard was the taller of the two by 9 cms and also had a 20 cm reach advantage.

  Leonard defeated Durán via 8th round TKO to win the WBC and Ring Magazine welterweight titles.

• Sugar Ray Leonard vs. Ayub Kalule

  June 25, 1981

  A 25-year old Sugar Ray Leonard (29-1, 20 KO) faced an undefeated Ayub Kalule, who was 27 years old with a record of 36-0. Kalule was on a 36-fight win streak with 18 KO wins. Leonard was the taller of the two by 4 cms and also had a 3 cm reach advantage.

  Leonard defeated Kalule via 9th round TKO to win the WBA and Ring Magazine super-welterweight titles. He handed Kalule the first loss of his career, and put an end to Kalule's 36-fight win streak.

• Sugar Ray Leonard vs. Thomas Hearns

  September 16, 1981

  A 25-year old Sugar Ray Leonard (30-1, 21 KO) faced an undefeated Thomas Hearns, who was 22 years old with a record of 32-0 in a undisputed welterweight championship bout. Hearns was on a 32-fight win streak with 30 KO wins, and was the taller of the two by 6 cms and also had a 10 cm reach advantage over Leonard.

  Leonard defeated Hearns via 14th round TKO to win the WBA welterweight title and retain the WBC and Ring Magazine welterweight titles. He handed Hearns the first loss of his career, and put an end to Hearns' 32-fight win streak.

• Sugar Ray Leonard vs. Marvelous Marvin Hagler

  April 6, 1987

  A 30-year old Sugar Ray Leonard (33-1, 24 KO) faced Marvelous Marvin Hagler, who was 32 years old with a record of 62-2-2. Hagler was on a 16-fight win streak with 52 KO wins. Leonard was the taller of the two by 2 cms but Hagler had a 3 cm reach advantage over Leonard.

  Leonard defeated Hagler via 12 round split-decision to win the WBC and Ring Magazine middleweight titles.

• Sugar Ray Leonard vs. Roberto Durán III

  December 7, 1989

  In a rematch, a 33-year old Sugar Ray Leonard (35-1-1, 25 KO) faced Roberto Durán, who was now 38 years old with a record of 85-7 in a super-middleweight title defense fight. Durán was on a six-fight win streak with 61 KO wins. Leonard was the taller of the two by 9 cms and also had a 20 cm reach advantage.

  Leonard defeated Durán via 12 round unanimous decision to retain the WBC super-middleweight title.