![]() In this showdown against Hearns, with ‘The Hitman’ rallying after the 12th round and Leonard’s left eye badly swollen with his reputation at stake, Dundee fired Leonard up by famously saying: “You’re blowing it now son, you’re blowing it. If not for Dundee, the then-Clay will have been the one quitting and history will have been so different for the man known as ‘The Greatest.’ ![]() This was the fight that started the legend of Muhammad Ali and his path to greatness. RUN!Ĭlay’s vision later cleared and Liston quit on his stool at the end of the sixth round. Dundee refused, made Clay get up and gave him one simple instruction. As a cornerman, Dundee helped Ali to reach the pinnacle of boxing in the 70s, and did the same with Leonard in the 80s. Dundee was absolutely pivotal in the key moments of the fights which became the makings of both legendary fighters.Īfter the fourth round in huge underdog then-Cassius Clay’s showdown with the feared Sonny Liston, a burning sensation in his eyes had left Clay frustrated, squinting his eyes and telling Dundee to remove his gloves and stop the fight. In Leonard’s corner was legendary trainer Angelo Dundee. He became a five-weight division champion from welterweight to light-heavyweight. However, looking beyond the two combatants in the ring made this a special event and a perfect embodiment of boxing royalty. In the blue corner, there was the WBC welterweight champion, Leonard. Leonard combined elements of the skill and will of Sugar Ray Robinson, the greatest fighter of all time, inside the ring, and the charisma of Muhammad Ali outside the ring.īehind that dazzling smile laid a ferocious killer instinct and Leonard fought the best of his era, including Hearns, Roberto Duran, Marvin Hagler, and Wilfred Benitez, and beat every single one of them. Beating such high-profile Hall of Famer’s means Leonard possesses one of the finest resumes in the history of boxing. The ebb and flow made it a brilliant fight. An action-packed legacy-defining fight, and one surrounded by greatness. It was a phenomenal showdown between two young, pound-for-pound greats and two men amongst the best welterweights ever. The night Sugar Ray Leonard and Thomas ‘The Hitman’ Hearns squared off in the ring for the undisputed welterweight championship of the world at Caesars Palace, Las Vegas in 1981, that was a truly special event. However, there is one fight that is truly special for this writer. Captivatingly exciting fights like Micky Ward vs Arturo Gatti I and Jose Luis Castillo vs Diego Corrales I. There have been numerous great fights in history.Įxtraordinarily significant fights like Joe Louis vs Max Schmeling II and Muhammad Ali vs Joe Frazier I. Special Fight: Sugar Ray Leonard vs Thomas Hearns
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