Sugar Ray Leonard Now Admits He Regrets Taking One Historic Fight: “I Wasn’t Ready”

Sugar Ray Leonard, one of boxing’s most celebrated champions, built a career defined by skill, speed, and confidence.

Leonard turned professional in 1977 after winning Olympic Gold in 1976 and quickly rose through the ranks to capture the WBC welterweight title in November 1979 by defeating Wilfred Benitez by 15th round TKO.

As they did with the times, his first defence came just four months later – March 1980 – when he scored a fourth round stoppage over Dave Green.

Leonard has been candid about his next fight being the one he regrets taking: his first encounter with Duran in June of that year.

The champion entered the ring undefeated at 27-0 but admits he was not mentally prepared for Durán’s aggressive tactics. Reflecting on the fight years later in his autobiography, he expressed deep regret about his decision to take the fight at that time.

“I took the fight too soon after the Benitez fight. I wasn’t ready mentally … He got into my head, no question about it. I was mad at myself for letting that happen.”

Instead of sticking to his trademark footwork and speed, Leonard chose to engage Duran toe-to-toe — a style that played to the Panamanian’s strengths. The fight resulted in a close unanimous decision win for Duran, handing Leonard his first professional loss.

Just five months later, Leonard returned with a changed approach in the rematch. He used superior boxing skills, movement, and tactics to frustrate Duran, culminating in the Panamanian famously quitting in the eighth round — the iconic ‘No Mas’ fight.