Editing Sugar Ray Leonard (section)

==Professional career==

===Early professional career===
{{main|Pete Ranzany vs. Sugar Ray Leonard}}
When Leonard decided to turn professional, Janks Morton introduced him to Mike Trainer, a friend of his who was an attorney. Trainer talked 24 of his friends and clients into underwriting Leonard's career with an investment of $21,000 to be repaid within four years at 8% interest. Trainer then made Leonard the sole stockholder in Sugar Ray Leonard, Inc. [[Angelo Dundee]], [[Muhammad Ali]]'s trainer, was brought in to be Leonard's trainer and manager. Many of the people being considered wanted absolute control and a cut somewhere near the manager's traditional 33%. Dundee had a different proposition. Although he would prescribe the training procedures, he would leave the day-to-day work to Dave Jacobs and Janks Morton. He would also choose Leonard's opponents. For his services, Dundee would get 15% of Leonard's purse.<ref name= noble />{{rp|65–68}}

Leonard made his professional debut on February 5, 1977, before a crowd of 10,270 at the Civic Center in [[Baltimore]]. He was paid $40,044 for the fight. His opponent was Luis "The Bull" Vega, whom he defeated by a six-round unanimous decision.<ref>{{cite magazine |first=Pat |last=Putnam |url=https://vault.si.com/vault/1977/02/14/the-day-the-gold-turned-green |title=The Day The Gold Turned Green |magazine=Sports Illustrated |date=February 14, 1977 |access-date=December 7, 2021}}</ref> After the fight, Leonard paid back his $21,000 loan to the investors.<ref name= noble />{{rp|75}}

In his fourteenth professional fight, Leonard fought his first world-ranked opponent, [[Floyd Mayweather Sr.|Floyd Mayweather]], who was ranked seventeenth. The fight took place on September 11, 1978.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bond |first=Nick |title=On This Day: Sugar Ray Leonard knocked out Floyd Mayweather - Boxing News |url=https://www.boxingnewsonline.net/on-this-day-sugar-ray-leonard-knocked-out-floyd-mayweather/ |access-date=May 2, 2022 |website=www.boxingnewsonline.net |date=September 9, 2019 |language=en-GB}}</ref> Leonard won by a tenth-round knockout.<ref name= noble />{{rp|93}} A month later, Leonard defeated his old amateur nemesis Randy Shields by a ten-round unanimous decision.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=_4EpAAAAIBAJ&pg=1558,971183|title=Lewiston Evening Journal, October 7, 1978 |via=ews.google.com |access-date=November 4, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=950&dat=19780911&id=RkZQAAAAIBAJ&pg=6756,2430288 |title=Sugar Ray Soured Floyd |work=The Evening Independent}}</ref>

On August 12, 1979, Leonard knocked out [[Pete Ranzany]] in four rounds to win the [[North American Boxing Federation|NABF]] [[Welterweight]] Championship.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=hMYRAAAAIBAJ&pg=2969,7439654 |title=The Spokesman-Review, August 13, 1979 |via=news.google.com |date=August 13, 1979 |access-date=November 4, 2011 }}{{Dead link|date=July 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> 
The following month, he made his first title defense against Andy Price.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t2O0IoWb2cM|title = - YouTube|website = YouTube}}</ref> Price, an up-and-coming contender who was sponsored by [[Marvin Gaye]], had a reputation for prolonged bouts in earlier fights and was believed by sports reporters to defeat or give a long fight to Leonard. Although Price landed multiple good blows, Leonard knocked him out in the first round, advancing his record to 25–0 with 16 knockouts.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=w8csAAAAIBAJ&pg=3607,6629526 |title=Star-News, September 29, 1979 |via=news.google.com |date=September 29, 1979 |access-date=November 4, 2011 }}{{Dead link|date=July 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

===First world title===

==== Leonard vs. Benitez ====
{{main|Wilfred Benítez vs. Sugar Ray Leonard}}
Leonard fought [[Wilfred Benítez]] for the [[World Boxing Council|WBC]] [[Welterweight]] Championship on November 30, 1979, at [[Caesar's Palace]] in [[Las Vegas Valley|Las Vegas]], Nevada. There was a capacity crowd of about 4,600. Leonard received $1 million and Benitez, a two-division champion with a record of 38–0–1, received $1.2 million.

It was a highly competitive and tactical battle. In the first round, Leonard rocked Benitez with a left hook that came off a jab and right cross. Late in the third, Leonard dropped Benitez on the seat of his pants with a stiff left jab. More embarrassed than hurt, Benitez got up quickly. Benitez started improving in the fourth, slipping numerous punches and finding the range with his right hand. "I wasn't aware I was in a championship early because I hit him so easy", Leonard said. "But then he adjusted to my style. It was like looking in a mirror".

In the sixth, there was an accidental clash of heads, which opened a cut on the forehead of Benitez. Blood flowed down his forehead and the bridge of his nose but stayed out of his eyes.

Leonard landed the harder punches and had Benitez hurt several times late in the fight, but Leonard couldn't put him away. Benitez was very slick. "No one, I mean no one, can make me miss punches like that", Leonard said.

Going into the final round, Leonard led by scores of 137–130, 137–133, and 136–134. The two went toe-to-toe in the fifteenth. Late in the round, Leonard dropped Benitez with a left. He got up, but after a few more punches, the referee stopped the fight. The time was 2:54 of round fifteen.<ref>{{cite magazine |first=William |last=Nack |url=https://www.si.com/vault/1979/12/10/824238/on-top-of-the-world-sugar-ray-leonard-seized-the-welterweight-title-from-wilfred-benitez-with-a-tko--and-thus-opened-new-vistas |title=On Top of the World |magazine=Sports Illustrated |date=December 10, 1979 |access-date=April 2, 2018}}</ref>

[[Edward J. Neil Trophy|The Boxing Writers Association of America]] and ''[[The Ring (magazine)|The Ring]]'' named Leonard "[[Ring Magazine fighters of the year|Fighter of the Year]]" for 1979.

==== Leonard vs. Green ====
{{main|Sugar Ray Leonard vs. Dave Boy Green}}
Leonard made his first title defense in [[Landover, Maryland]], on March 31, 1980. His opponent was [[Dave Boy Green|Dave "Boy" Green]]. The British challenger had a record of 33–2. In the fourth round, Leonard knocked Green out with a devastating left hook. Leonard called it "the hardest single punch I ever threw."<ref>{{cite web |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=XZwcAAAAIBAJ&pg=2693,594525|title=Leonard Knocks Out Lalonde to Win Two Titles |work=Sarasota Herald Tribune |via=news.google.com |first=Phil |last=Berger |date=April 2, 1980 |access-date=April 2, 2018}}</ref>

===''The Brawl in Montreal''===
{{main|Sugar Ray Leonard vs. Roberto Durán}}
On June 20, 1980, Leonard returned to the [[Olympic Stadium (Montreal)|Olympic Stadium]] in Montreal to defend his title against [[Roberto Durán]] before a crowd of 46,317. Durán, the former Undisputed World [[Lightweight]] Champion for {{frac|6|1|2}} years, had a record of 71–1 and was the #1 [[welterweight]] contender and considered the best "Pound for Pound" fighter in the world. Durán received $1.5 million and Leonard, working for a percentage of the closed-circuit gate as well as a guarantee, received over $9 million.

Durán forced the issue and took the fight to Leonard, cutting off the ring and denying Leonard space to fight his fight. Durán attacked at almost every turn. Leonard battled back again and again, but he had to work just to find room to breathe and swing, at times simply to survive. In the second, Durán rocked Leonard with a left hook, sending him into the ropes. Leonard started to do better by the fifth round, finding some punching room and throwing numerous multi-punch combinations. The two fought with great intensity throughout the fight. According to Bill Nack:

{{blockquote|It was, from almost the opening salvo, a fight that belonged to Durán. The Panamanian seized the evening and gave it what shape and momentum it had. He took control, attacking and driving Leonard against the ropes, bulling him back, hitting him with lefts and rights to the body as he maneuvered the champion against the ropes from corner to corner. Always moving forward, he mauled and wrestled Leonard, scoring inside with hooks and rights. For three rounds Durán drove at Sugar Ray with a fury, and there were moments when it seemed the fight could not last five. Unable to get away, unable to counter and unable to slide away to open up the ring, Leonard seemed almost helpless under the assault. Now and then he got loose and countered—left-right-left to Durán's bobbing head—but he missed punches and could not work inside, could not jab, could not mount an offense to keep Durán at bay.<ref name="autogenerated1980">{{cite magazine |first=William |last=Nack |url=https://www.si.com/vault/1980/06/30/824772/right-on-for-roberto-implacable-and-totally-relentless-in-pursuit-of-sugar-ray-leonard-duran-bludgeoned-and-bruised-his-way-to-the-welterweight-title |title=Right on for Roberto |magazine=Sports Illustrated |date=1980-06-30 |access-date=2011-04-02}}</ref>}}

Durán was awarded a unanimous decision, although it was mistakenly read as a majority decision in the ring. The scorecard of judge Angelo Poletti was incorrectly added and announced as 147–147. He actually scored it 148–147. In rounds, he had it three for Durán, two for Leonard, and ten even. ''[[Sports Illustrated]]'' called his scorecard "a monument to indecision." Judges Raymond Baldeyrou and Harry Gibbs scored the fight 146–144 and 145–144, respectively. [[Associated Press]] had it 144–141 for Durán, while ''[[The New York Times]]'' had Leonard ahead 144–142.

"I did the best I could", Leonard said. "I think I pretty much fought from the heart." Asked if Leonard was the best he ever fought, Durán thought for a moment and then answered, "Si, si." Durán said. "He does have a heart. That's why he's living."<ref>{{cite web |title=Sugar Ray Leonard regains welterweight title |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=xXkjAAAAIBAJ&pg=1886,1882505 |work=Daytona Beach Morning Journal |via=Google News |date=June 21, 1980 |access-date=November 4, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=The 'Noblest Savage' won the fight |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=GgseAAAAIBAJ&pg=3075,9644208 |work=The Dispatch |via=Google News |date=June 21, 1980 |access-date=November 4, 2011}}</ref>

===''"No Más"'' in New Orleans===
The rematch billed as "Stone vs. Sugar.. Once Again", took place November 25, 1980, at the [[Louisiana Superdome]] in [[New Orleans]] in front of 25,038 fans. Leonard received $7 million and Durán received $8 million.

Dave Jacobs disagreed with the decision to have an immediate rematch with Durán and terminated his relationship with Leonard when the rematch was made. "My idea is that he should have a tune-up fight before he fights with Roberto again", Jacobs said. "I think he won the fight with Durán, but I don't think it is healthy for him to be fighting Durán right away".<ref>{{cite news |via=news.google.com |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=GVtOAAAAIBAJ&pg=5800,4215626|title=Duran: Rematch is Set |agency=Associated Press |location=Panama City |work=The Spokesman-Review |date=September 11, 1980 |access-date=April 2, 2018}}</ref>

After the Montreal fight Durán went on a partying binge and ballooned in weight. Leonard was aware of this, and in an interview for [[Beyond the Glory]] he said: "My intention was to fight Durán ASAP because I knew Durán's habits. I knew he would indulge himself; he'd gain 40–50 lbs and then sweat it off to make 147." Unlike the fight in Montreal, Leonard used his superior speed and movement to outbox and befuddle Durán. "The whole fight, I was moving, I was moving", Leonard said. "And ''Voom!'' I snapped his head back with a jab. ''Voom!'' I snapped it back again. He tried to get me against the ropes, I'd pivot, spin off and ''Pow!'' Come under with a punch."

In round seven, Leonard started to taunt Durán. Leonard's most memorable punch came late in the round. Winding up his right hand, as if to throw a [[bolo punch]], Leonard snapped out a left jab and caught Durán flush in the face. "It made his eyes water", Leonard said. He continued to taunt Durán mercilessly. He stuck out his chin, inviting Durán to hit it. Durán hesitated. Leonard kept it up, continuing to move, stop, and mug.

In the closing seconds of the eighth round, Durán turned his back to Leonard and quit, saying to referee [[Octavio Meyran]], ''"No Más"'' (English: "No more"). Leonard was the winner by a technical knockout at 2:44 of round eight, regaining the WBC Welterweight Championship. Leonard led by scores of 68–66, 68–66 and 67–66.<ref name="Bellyache">{{cite magazine |first=William |last=Nack |url=https://vault.si.com/vault/1980/12/08/the-big-bellyache-in-a-stunning-fall-from-glory-roberto-duran-the-apostle-of-machismo-blamed-stomach-cramps-as-he-surrendered-his-welterweight-title-to-sugar-ray-leonard |title=The Big Bellyache |magazine=Sports Illustrated |date=December 8, 1980 |access-date=December 7, 2021}}</ref>

Durán said he quit because of stomach cramps, caused by overeating after the weigh-in. "At the end of the fifth round, I got cramps in my stomach, and it kept getting worse and worse", Duran later said. "I felt weaker and weaker in my body and arms." He then announced, "I am retiring from boxing right now." During the night Durán was admitted to a hospital with stomach pains and discharged the following day.

Everyone was surprised by Durán's actions, none more so than his veteran trainers, Freddie Brown and [[Ray Arcel]]. "I was shocked", Brown said. "There was no indication that he was in pain or getting weak."<ref>{{cite web |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=0pATAAAAIBAJ&pg=3414,5038011 |title=How Sweet It Is! |work=Ocala Star-Banner |via=Google News |date=November 26, 1980 |access-date=November 4, 2011 }}{{Dead link|date=July 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> Arcel was angry. "That's it", he said. "I've had it. This is terrible. I've handled thousands of fighters and never had anyone quit on me. I think he needs a psychiatrist more than he needs anything else." Durán's manager, Carlos Eleta, said, "Durán didn't quit because of stomach cramps. He quit because he was embarrassed. I ''know'' this."<ref>Roberto Duran Speaks: The Untold Story Is Finally Revealed!, Bill Brubaker, ''[[New York Daily News]]'', 1981</ref> According to [[Randy Gordon (boxing)|Randy Gordon]], who witnessed Durán's antics beforehand and was in his dressing room immediately afterwards, Durán quit because of his huge eating binge prior to the fight.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thesweetscience.com/boxing-article/310/mas-version/ |title=No Mas: My Version |publisher=The Sweet Science |access-date=November 4, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120312155356/http://www.thesweetscience.com/boxing-article/310/mas-version/ |archive-date=March 12, 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

"I ''made'' him quit", Leonard said. "To make a man quit, to make Roberto Durán quit, was better than knocking him out."<ref name="Bellyache"/>

===Second world title===

==== Leonard vs. Bonds ====
{{main|Sugar Ray Leonard vs. Larry Bonds}}
On March 28, 1981, Leonard defended his title against Larry Bonds, the WBC sixth-ranked contender, at the [[Carrier Dome]] in [[Syracuse, New York]]. Bonds was a [[Southpaw stance|southpaw]], which made him a good opponent for Leonard, given that his next opponent was scheduled to be the WBA [[Light Middleweight]] Champion [[Ayub Kalule]], a southpaw.

Leonard was the aggressor throughout, with Bonds circling the ring. He staggered Bonds with a right in the fourth round and dropped him with a follow-up combination. Bonds got up and continued to move, with Leonard in pursuit. Leonard dropped him again in the tenth. Bonds rose but Leonard didn't let him off the hook. The referee stopped the fight with Bonds taking punishment in a corner.<ref>{{cite magazine |first=Pat |last=Putnam |url=https://vault.si.com/vault/1981/04/06/in-sum-it-was-sweet-for-sugar-though-ray-leonard-took-some-lumps-from-a-challenging-garbage-man-he-retained-his-title-and-strengthened-his-future-bargaining-position |title=In Sum, It Was Sweet For Sugar |magazine=Sports Illustrated |date=April 6, 1981 |access-date=December 7, 2021}}</ref>

==== Leonard vs. Kalule ====
{{main|Ayub Kalule vs. Sugar Ray Leonard}}
Leonard moved up to the junior middleweight division and faced Kalule on June 25, 1981, at the [[Astrodome]] in [[Houston]], Texas. Kalule, who was 36–0, had been the WBA Light Middleweight Champion for two years.

Kalule and his handlers had expected Leonard to use lateral movement against him, but Leonard chose to fight inside instead.{{citation needed|date=January 2018}} After eight tough rounds, Leonard was ahead although Kalule appeared to be coming on strong in the eighth and ninth. Leonard finally hurt him with a right to the head. Shortly afterward, Leonard dropped him with a flurry of punches. Kalule got up but the referee waved it off. Leonard celebrated his victory with a full 360-degree, no-hands flip.<ref>{{cite magazine |first=Pat |last=Putnam |url=https://vault.si.com/vault/1981/07/06/clearing-the-way-for-the-big-payday-against-a-background-of-lurid-dealing-sugar-ray-leonard-and-thomas-hearns-won-their-houston-semis-and-advanced-to-the-welter-finals |title=Clearing The Way For The Big Payday |magazine=Sports Illustrated |date=July 6, 1981 |access-date=December 7, 2021}}</ref> Despite an official stoppage time of 2.59, the fight was actually stopped at 3.06 into the round, meaning Kalule should have been saved by the bell.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://boxrec.com/media/index.php/Ayub_Kalule_vs._Sugar_Ray_Leonard |title=Ayub Kalule vs. Sugar Ray Leonard |work=Boxrec.com |access-date=June 21, 2012}}</ref>

===The Showdown===
{{main|Sugar Ray Leonard vs. Thomas Hearns}}
Promoted as "[[Sugar Ray Leonard vs. Thomas Hearns|The Showdown]]", Leonard fought [[Thomas Hearns]] on September 16, 1981, at [[Caesars Palace]] in Las Vegas to unify the World Welterweight Championship in a scheduled fifteen-rounder. They fought before a live crowd of 23,618. Hearns was paid $5.1 million, and Leonard made over $11 million. The fight grossed over $35 million. The live gate was $5.9 million, and the revenue from pay-per-view was $7.5 million.

Hearns, 32–0 with 30 knockouts, won the [[World Boxing Association|WBA]] Welterweight Championship in 1980, scoring a second-round knockout of [[José Cuevas (boxer)|José "Pipino" Cuevas]] in Detroit, Michigan. He made three successful title defenses, stopping Luis Primera, Randy Shields, and Pablo Baez.

The fight began as expected Leonard boxing from a distance and Hearns's stalking. Leonard had difficulty with Hearns' long reach and sharp jab. By the end of round five, Leonard had a growing swelling under his left eye, and Hearns had built a considerable lead on the scorecards. Leonard, becoming more aggressive, hurt Hearns in the sixth with a left hook to the chin. Leonard battered Hearns in rounds six and seven, but Hearns regrouped. Hearns started to stick and move, and he started to pile up points again. The roles reversed: Leonard became the stalker and Hearns became the boxer. The fight billed as a classic showdown between a powerful knockout artist and the best boxer/puncher the welterweight division had seen in decades devolved into a slow, tactical fight.

Hearns won rounds nine through twelve on all three scorecards. Between rounds twelve and thirteen, Angelo Dundee told Leonard, "You're blowing it, son! You're blowing it!".

Leonard, with a badly swollen left eye, came out roaring for the thirteenth round. After hurting Hearns with a right, Leonard exploded with a combination of punches. Hearns' legs were clearly gone and after more pressure from Leonard he was bundled through the ropes, no knockdown was given as it wasn't a punch that sent him there. Hearns managed to rise but was dropped by a flurry of hard punches near the end of the round.

In round fourteen, after staggering Hearns with an overhand right, Leonard pinned Hearns against the ropes, where he unleashed another furious combination, prompting referee Davey Pearl to stop the contest and award Sugar Ray Leonard the Unified World Welterweight Championship. Hearns was leading by scores of 124–122, 125–122, and 125–121.

After the fight, there was controversy due to the scoring of rounds six and seven. Even though Leonard dominated, hurting Hearns and battering him, all three judges gave both rounds to Leonard by a 10–9 margin. Many felt that the [[10-point must system|ten-point must scoring system]] was not properly used and those rounds should have been scored 10–8.<ref>{{cite magazine |first=Pat |last=Putnam |url=https://vault.si.com/vault/1981/09/28/on-top-of-the-world-on-a-hot-summer-desert-night-sugar-ray-leonard-punched-thomas-hearnss-lights-out-and-became-the-undisputed-welterweight-champion |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210903224550/https://vault.si.com/vault/1981/09/28/on-top-of-the-world-on-a-hot-summer-desert-night-sugar-ray-leonard-punched-thomas-hearnss-lights-out-and-became-the-undisputed-welterweight-champion |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 3, 2021 |title=On Top of the World |magazine=Sports Illustrated |date=September 28, 1981 |access-date=December 7, 2021}}</ref> Some also considered the stoppage premature. Veteran ringside commentator [[Don Dunphy]] said "They're stopping the fight. I don't believe it. Hearns was ahead on points." However, [[Emanuel Steward]], Hearns' manager and trainer, said, "I felt that the referee was justified in stopping the fight ... Tommy did not have enough energy to make it through the fight."<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c4_LR7s-Ui4 |publisher=Showtime |title=The 12 Greatest Rounds of Boxing: The Untold Stories |date=August 14, 2010 |via=youtube.com}}</ref>

The fight was named "[[Ring Magazine fights of the year|Fight of the Year]]" by ''[[The Ring (magazine)|The Ring]]''. Leonard was named "[[Ring Magazine fighters of the year|Fighter of the Year]]" by ''The Ring'' and [[Edward J. Neil Trophy|The Boxing Writers Association of America]]. He was also named "Athlete of the Year" by [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]]'s ''[[Wide World of Sports (American TV series)|Wide World of Sports]]'' and "[[Sportsman of the Year]]" by ''[[Sports Illustrated]]''.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=I4QgAAAAIBAJ&pg=3984,2826385|title=ABC honors Leonard |work=Herald-Journal |date=January 16, 1982 |via=news.google.com |access-date=November 4, 2011}}</ref>

===Retirement and return===
{{main|Sugar Ray Leonard vs. Bruce Finch|Sugar Ray Leonard vs. Kevin Howard}}
On February 15, 1982, Leonard defended the unified title against Bruce Finch, the WBC fourth-ranked contender, in a bout at Reno, NV. Leonard knocked him out in the third round.<ref>{{cite magazine |first=Pat |last=Putnam |url=https://www.si.com/vault/1982/03/01/564785/finch-was-a-pigeon-for-sugar-ray |title=Finch Was A Pigeon For Sugar Ray |magazine=Sports Illustrated |date=March 1, 1982 |access-date=November 4, 2011}}</ref> Leonard's next fight was scheduled to be against Roger Stafford on May 14, 1982, in [[Buffalo, New York]]. While training, Leonard started to see [[floaters]]. He went to a doctor and discovered that he had a [[Retinal Detachment|detached retina]]. The fight was canceled, and Leonard had surgery to repair the retina on May 9, 1982.<ref>{{cite magazine |first=Pat |last=Putnam |url=https://www.si.com/vault/1982/05/24/627985/the-blister-that-can-blind |title=The Blister That Can Blind |magazine=Sports Illustrated |date=May 24, 1982 |access-date=April 2, 2018}}</ref>

On November 9, 1982, Leonard invited [[Marvin Hagler]] and other [[boxing]] dignitaries to a charity event in [[Baltimore]], Maryland to hear him announce whether he would continue his career. Standing in a boxing ring with [[Howard Cosell]], the master of ceremonies, Leonard announced his retirement, saying a bout with Hagler would unfortunately never happen. Leonard maintained his eye was fully healed, but that he just didn't want to box anymore.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=uNYfAAAAIBAJ&pg=4277,5056212|title=Leonard announces retirement |work=The Fort Scott Tribune |via=news.google.com |date=November 10, 1982 |access-date=April 2, 2018}}</ref>

Missing the limelight and the competition, Leonard announced in December 1983 that he was returning to the ring. Leonard boasted that he would have a couple of ten-round bouts and then take on [[Milton McCrory]], [[Donald Curry]], Durán, Hearns and finally Hagler. This decision was met with a torrent of criticism from fans and the media, who felt Leonard was taking unnecessary risks with his surgically repaired eye.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=MnobAAAAIBAJ&pg=6743,7041153|title=Leonard announces comeback; Holmes gives up title |work=The Times-News |via=news.google.com |date=December 12, 1983 |access-date=April 2, 2018}}</ref>

A bout with Philadelphia's Kevin Howard, who was 20–4–1, was scheduled for February 25, 1984. The fight was postponed when Leonard had minor surgery on his right eye to fix a loose retina. This latest eye problem further fueled the flames of those who opposed Leonard's comeback.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ZroeAAAAIBAJ&pg=2022,4806303|title=Doctor Advises Sugar Ray Not To Fight |work=Sarasota Herald-Tribune |date=February 15, 1984 |via=news.google.com |agency=Associated Press |location=Boston |access-date=April 2, 2018}}</ref>

Before the fight with Howard, Dave Jacobs rejoined Leonard's team in a limited role. Jacobs had quit in 1980, disagreeing with Leonard's decision to have an immediate rematch with Durán.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=QLslAAAAIBAJ&pg=1152,2512945 |title=[Unknown] |work=The Miami News |via=news.google.com |date=May 10, 1984 |access-date=November 4, 2011 }}{{Dead link|date=July 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

Leonard and Howard fought on May 11, 1984, in [[Worcester, Massachusetts]]. Howard knocked Leonard flat on his back in the fourth round. It was the first knockdown of Leonard's professional career. Leonard came back to stop Howard in the ninth round, but the stoppage was disputed, with some feeling that the referee stopped the fight prematurely. Leonard was ahead on all three scorecards at the time of the stoppage. At the post-fight press conference, Leonard surprised everyone by announcing his retirement again, saying he just didn't have it anymore.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=O_8KAAAAIBAJ&pg=7143,2519858 |title=Leonard knocked down, victories, then retires |work=The Courier |agency=UPI |via=news.google.com |date=May 13, 1984 |access-date=April 2, 2018 }}{{Dead link|date=July 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

===Leonard vs. Hagler===
{{main|Marvin Hagler vs. Sugar Ray Leonard}}
On March 10, 1986, [[Marvin Hagler]] knocked out [[John Mugabi]] in eleven rounds to retain the Undisputed World [[Middleweight]] Championship for the twelfth time and advance his record to 62–2–2. After the bout Hagler stated it may be his last fight.  "I was ringside", Leonard said. "I'm watching John 'The Beast' Mugabi outbox Hagler. Of all people, John 'The Beast' Mugabi." It was then that Leonard decided to come back and fight Hagler. He called Mike Trainer and said, "I can beat Hagler".

On May 1, 1986, Leonard announced on a Washington, D.C. talk show that he would return to the ring to fight Hagler. The announcement generated a lot of controversy because of Leonard's inactivity and eye injuries, yet it also excited many sports fans who had hoped to see them fight years earlier. Hagler took a few months to decide, then agreed to the match.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1987-04-05/news/8701220087_1_hagler-and-leonard-marvelous-marvin-hagler-fight |title=After A Year's Prefight, Bell Tolls For These |work=sun-sentinel.com |date=April 5, 1987 |access-date=November 4, 2011 |archive-date=July 29, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120729130228/http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1987-04-05/news/8701220087_1_hagler-and-leonard-marvelous-marvin-hagler-fight |url-status=dead }}</ref>

The fight, promoted as ''"The Super Fight"'' and ''"The King of the Ring"'', was scheduled for April 6, 1987, at [[Caesars Palace]] in Las Vegas. Leonard was guaranteed $11 million, and Hagler was guaranteed $12 million. Hagler was a heavy favorite. The odds started at 4–1, then settled at 3–1. A paying crowd of 12,379 generated a live gate of $6.2 million. According to Bob Arum, the fight grossed $78 million (which equates to around $179 million in 2020).

The original fight plan for Leonard was to go toe-to-toe with Hagler and try to cut him, but the plan changed about five days before the fight. Leonard got hit by sparring partner [[Quincy Taylor]] and was badly buckled. "He almost knocked me out", Leonard said. After that, Leonard decided to box Hagler.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.espn.com/sports/boxing/news/story?id=2694437 |title=Leonard's memories the stuff of legends |work=ESPN |date=March 6, 2007 |access-date=December 7, 2021}}</ref>

Many were surprised that Hagler, a natural southpaw, opened the fight boxing out of an orthodox stance. After the quick and slick Leonard won the first two rounds on all three scorecards, Hagler started the third round as a southpaw. Hagler did better, but Leonard's superior speed and boxing skill still allowed him to control the fight. Hagler looked stiff and mechanical and missed the speedy Leonard time and again prompting CBS ringside commentator [[Gil Clancy]] to remark "...and is he ever missing...Leonard isn't doing anything to make him miss, he's just missing!"

By the fifth, Leonard, who was moving a lot, began to tire and Hagler started to get closer. Hagler buckled Leonard's knees with a right uppercut near the end of the round, which finished with Leonard on the ropes. Hagler continued to score somewhat effectively in round six. Leonard, having slowed down, was obliged to fight more and move less. However, he was able to outpunch Hagler along the ropes and got the better of several bristling exchanges. Hagler never seized total control of the fight as he had against Thomas Hearns two years earlier, when he brutalized Hearns and scored a third-round knockout. Hagler's punches lacked snap and, although he was scoring solidly to the body, he looked nothing like the powerful fighter who had dominated the middleweight division for the previous five years. Leonard's observation that the Hagler who beat John Mugabi was older and slower proved to be spot on.  In rounds seven and eight, Hagler's southpaw jab was landing solidly, and Leonard's counter flurries were less frequent.

Round nine was the most exciting round of the fight. Hagler hurt Leonard with a left cross and pinned him in a corner. Leonard looked to be in trouble, but he furiously fought his way out of the corner. The action see-sawed back and forth for the rest of the round, with each man having his moments. However, Hagler's moments were more spectacular and one of Hagler's cornermen: Roger Perron (in an interview that took place on an episode of [[HBO]]'s ''Legendary Nights'' episode segments in 2003) later stated that: "the ninth round was probably Marvin (Hagler)'s, best round".

Round ten was tame by comparison, as the pace slowed after the furious action of the previous round but with Hagler having more spectacular moments. Despite Leonard's obvious fatigue, he boxed well in the eleventh. Every time Hagler scored, Leonard came back with something flashier and more eye-catching, if not as effective. But at that point in the fight, Hagler appeared to be slightly more ring-general and clearly more aggressive. Between rounds eleven and twelve, Leonard's trainer: [[Angelo Dundee]], implored Sugar Ray to get up off his stool yelling "We got three minutes...new champ...new champ!" Leonard yelled "Yeah!" and played to the screaming crowd. Hagler's corner was much more reserved prompting Clancy to comment: "They're talking to him like it's an IBM meeting or something...no emotion." In the final round, Hagler continued to chase Leonard. He hit Leonard with a big left hand and backed him into a corner. Leonard responded with a furious flurry, landing few punches but whipping the upset-hoping crowd into a frenzy. Hagler backed off, and Leonard danced away with Hagler in pursuit. The fight ended with Hagler and Leonard exchanging along the ropes. At the final bell, even uniformed ringside security rushed into the ring applauding and lauding Leonard's effort.<ref>{{cite news |title=Sugar Ray...Still In Style |first=Nigel |last=Collins |work=The Ring |date=August 1987}}</ref>

Leonard threw 629 punches and landed 306, while Hagler threw 792 and landed 291.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1987/04/09/sports/sports-of-the-times-no-hoosegow-for-jojo-guerra.html |title=SPORTS OF THE TIMES; No Hoosegow for JoJo Guerra |first=Ira |last=Berkow |work=The New York Times |date=April 9, 1987 |access-date=December 7, 2021}}</ref>

Leonard was awarded a controversial split-decision. Judge Dave Moretti scored it 115–113 for Leonard, while judge Lou Filippo had it 115–113 for Hagler. Judge José Guerra scored the fight 118–110 for Leonard. Many felt that Hagler deserved the decision because he was the aggressor and landed the harder punches. Scottish boxing journalist [[Hugh McIlvanney]] wrote that Leonard's plan was to "steal rounds with a few flashy and carefully timed flurries...he was happy to exaggerate hand speed at the expense of power, and neither he nor two of the scorers seemed bothered by the fact that many of the punches landed on the champion's gloves and arms."<ref>{{cite magazine |first=Hugh |last=McIlvanney |url=https://www.si.com/vault/1987/04/20/115223/the-illusion-of-victory-another-view-of-the-leonard-hagler-decision |title=Sports Illustrated, April 20, 1987 |magazine=Sports Illustrated |date=April 20, 1987 |access-date=November 4, 2011}}</ref>

Many others felt that Leonard deservedly got the decision, arguing that Leonard landed more punches and showed better defense and ring generalship. [[Jim Murray (sportswriter)|Jim Murray]], long-time sports columnist for the ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'', wrote, "It wasn't even close...He didn't just outpoint Hagler, he exposed him. He made him look like a guy chasing a bus. In snowshoes...Leonard repeatedly beat Hagler to the punch. When he did, he hit harder. He hit more often...He made Hagler into what he perceived him to be throughout his career—a brawler, a swarmer, a man who could club you to death only if you stood there and let him. If you moved, he was lost."<ref>{{cite web |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=3cUlAAAAIBAJ&pg=3643,2396700 |title=Sugar Ray Exposed Him |first=Jim |last=Murray |work=Gettsburg Times |via=News.google.com |date=April 8, 1987 |access-date=April 2, 2018}}</ref>

The scorecards from the ringside press and broadcast media attest to the polarizing views and opinions of the fight.

{|
|-
|width=25% valign=top|
*
*ABC ([[Howard Cosell]]): 117–112 Leonard
*Associated Press: 117–112 Hagler
*Baltimore Sun: 7–5 Leonard (115–113 Leonard)
*Boston Globe (Ron Borges): 115–113 Hagler
*Boston Globe (Steve Marantz): 117–111 Leonard
*Boston Herald: 116–113 Leonard
*CBS ([[Gil Clancy]]): 115–113 Leonard
*CBS ([[Tim Ryan (sportscaster)|Tim Ryan]]): 115–114 Hagler
*Chicago Sun-Times: 115–114 Hagler
*Chicago Tribune (1 - Bob Verdi): 115–113 Hagler
*Chicago Tribune (2 - Bernie Lincicome): 115–113 Hagler
*Chicago Tribune (3 - Sam Smith): 115–113 Hagler
*ESPN (Al Bernstein): 115–113 Hagler 
*ESPN (Dave Bontempo): 114–114
*HBO ([[Harold Lederman]]): 115–113 Leonard
*HBO ([[Larry Merchant]]): 114–114
*Houston Chronicle: 115–114 Leonard
*Newark Star-Ledger ([[Jerry Izenberg]]): 115–113 Hagler 
*KO Magazine: 118–111 Leonard
*Miami Herald: 116–112 Hagler
*Miami News: 116–112 Hagler
|width=25% valign=top|
*Los Angeles Times: 117–111 Leonard
*Newsday: 115–114 Hagler
*New York Daily News (1): 117–111 Leonard
*New York Daily News (2 - Michael Katz): 117–112 Leonard
*New York Post (1): 114–114
*New York Post (2 - Jerry Lisker): 115–113 Hagler
*New York Times ([[Dave Anderson (sportswriter)|Dave Anderson]]): 114–114
*Oakland Tribune: 117–112 Leonard
*Philadelphia Daily News (1): 116–112 Leonard
*Philadelphia Daily News (2): 115–113 Hagler
*Ring Magazine (Nigel Collins): 115–113 Leonard
*Ring Magazine (Phill Marder): 114–114
*San Jose Mercury-News: 116–115 Hagler
*Seattle Times: 115–113 Hagler
*Sports Illustrated ([[Hugh McIlvanney]]): 116–112 Hagler
*Sports Illustrated (William Nack): 116–114 Leonard
*Sports Illustrated (Pat Putnam): 115–113 Hagler
*United Press International: 116–112 Leonard
*USA Today: 115–113 Leonard
*Washington Post: 114–114
|}

The fight was named "[[Ring Magazine fights of the year|Fight of the Year]]" and "[[Ring Magazine upsets of the year|Upset of the Year]]" by ''[[The Ring (magazine)|The Ring]]''.

Despite requests from the Hagler camp, Leonard was uninterested in a rematch and retired on May 27, 1987. "I'll try, I'll give it a shot", Leonard said of his latest retirement. "But you guys know me."<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1987/05/28/sports/sports-of-the-times-sugar-ray-retires-again.html |title=The New York Times, May 28, 1987 |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=May 28, 1987 |access-date=November 4, 2011 |first=Dave |last=Anderson}}</ref> A month after Hagler's formal retirement in June 1988, Leonard would announce another comeback.

===Second comeback===

====Leonard vs. Lalonde====
{{main|Donny Lalonde vs. Sugar Ray Leonard}}
On November 7, 1988, Leonard made another comeback, facing [[Donny Lalonde]] at Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas. They fought for Lalonde's WBC [[Light Heavyweight]] Championship and the newly created WBC [[Super Middleweight]] Championship, which meant that Lalonde had to make 168&nbsp;lbs. Many were critical of the fact that Lalonde's light heavyweight title was on the line when the weight limit of the fight with Leonard was at 168 pounds, and critical of Leonard for stipulating that his opponent—a natural 175-pounder—should weigh less than his usual fighting weight, which could possibly weaken him. However, Lalonde later told [[HBO]]'s [[Larry Merchant]] that he didn't have any trouble making weight.<ref>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c4_LR7s-Ui4 HBO "Sugar Ray Leonard vs. Donny Lalonde"</ref>

Lalonde, 31–2 with 26 knockouts, was guaranteed at least $6 million and Leonard was guaranteed over $10 million.

This would be Leonard's first professional fight without [[Angelo Dundee]]. For Leonard's fight with Hagler, Dundee worked without a contract and received $175,000, which was less than 2% of Leonard's purse. Dundee was unhappy with that amount. He requested a contract for the Lalonde fight and Leonard refused. "I don't have contracts. My word is my bond", Leonard said. Janks Morton and Dave Jacobs trained Leonard for the Lalonde fight.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=mQAQAAAAIBAJ&pg=6857,1391955 |title=Parting of the Ways: Leonard and Dundee Split Over Money |work=New Sunday Times |via=news.google.com |date=October 21, 1988 |access-date=April 2, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1988/11/06/sports/sports-of-the-times-leonard-s-missing-voice.html |title=Sports of The Times; Leonard's Missing Voice |first=Dave |last=Anderson |work=The New York Times |date=November 6, 1988 |access-date=April 2, 2018}}</ref>

Lalonde's size and awkwardness troubled Leonard. In the fourth round, a right hand to the top of Leonard's head dropped him for just the second time in his career. Early in the ninth, Lalonde hurt Leonard with a right to the chin. Leonard fired back and hurt Lalonde with a right. He drove him to the ropes and unleashed a furious assault. Lalonde tried to tie up Leonard but got dropped with a powerful left hook. He rose but was soon down again, and the fight was stopped. Judges Chuck Giampa and Franz Marti had Leonard ahead by scores of 77–74 and 77–75, respectively. Judge Stuart Kirshenbaum had Lalonde ahead 76–75.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1988/11/08/sports/leonard-knocks-out-lalonde-to-win-two-titles.html |title=Leonard Knocks Out Lalonde to Win Two Titles |work=The New York Times |date=November 8, 1988 |access-date=April 2, 2018 |first=Phil |last=Berger}}</ref>

After the fight, Leonard vacated the light heavyweight title, but kept the super middleweight title. Also, Leonard and Janks Morton split because of personal differences. Morton was replaced as co-trainer by Pepe Correa, who had worked with Leonard for most of the previous fifteen years.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=2ZMcAAAAIBAJ&pg=6893,5209299 |first=Mike |last=DeCourcy |title=Leonard is getting old, but it's hard to tell |work=The Pittsburgh Press |date=June 9, 1989 |via=news.google.com |access-date=November 4, 2011}}</ref>

====Leonard vs. Hearns====
{{main|Sugar Ray Leonard vs. Thomas Hearns II}}
On June 12, 1989, Leonard defended the WBC Super Middleweight Championship in a rematch with Thomas Hearns at Caesar's Palace. It was promoted as "The War".<ref name="thewar">{{cite news |title=Nobody Wins the War - Second fight is a draw |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1989/06/13/nobody-wins-the-war-second-fight-is-a-draw/442a365f-b6d4-404c-9ec3-9ea6a2d3ac55/?noredirect=on |newspaper=Washington Post |date=June 13, 1989}}</ref> Hearns was guaranteed $11 million, and Leonard was guaranteed $14 million.

Hearns dropped Leonard with a right cross in the third round, but Leonard came back and battered Hearns around the ring in the fifth. Early in the seventh round, Hearns hurt Leonard but punched himself out going for the knockout. With Hearns fatigued, Leonard came back and had a strong finish to the round. Rounds nine and ten were good rounds for Leonard, but he ran into trouble in the eleventh round. Three booming rights from Hearns sent Leonard down for the second time in the fight. Knowing he needed a big finish; Leonard fought furiously and had a big final round.

The judges scored the fight a draw and Leonard retained the title. Judge Jerry Roth scored the fight 113–112 for Hearns, Judge Tom Kazmarek scored it 113–112 for Leonard, and Judge Dalby Shirley scored it 112–112. Shirley was the only judge to give Leonard a 10–8 margin in the twelfth. If he had scored it 10–9, as his two colleagues did, Hearns would have won by a split decision. Eventually, Leonard admitted that Hearns deserved the decision{{citation needed|date=January 2019}}.

====Leonard vs. Durán III – Uno Más====
{{main|Sugar Ray Leonard vs. Roberto Durán III}}
On December 7, 1989, Leonard defended the title against Roberto Durán, who was the reigning WBC Middleweight Champion. Durán was guaranteed $7.6 million, and Leonard's arrangement guaranteed him over $13 million.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1989/07/27/sports/leonard-and-duran-in-rematch-in-november.html |title=Leonard and Duran in Rematch in November |work=The New York Times |date=July 27, 1989 |access-date=December 7, 2021 |first=Phil |last=Berger}}</ref>

For the Durán fight, Leonard cut his entourage from twenty-one to six. Dave Jacobs was one of the people let go, leaving Correa as the sole trainer. Correa was instructed not to spare the whip. "For the first time in a long time, I allowed someone to push me", Leonard said.

The fight took place at the new [[The Mirage|Mirage]] Hotel in Las Vegas. Leonard used constant lateral movement and won by a lopsided twelve-round unanimous decision over a listless Durán. The scores were 120–110, 119–109, and 116–111. In a fight that many considered to be very boring, both fighters were booed often by the fans, and many left the arena before the decision was announced. Pat Putnam of ''[[Sports Illustrated]]'' wrote, "Leonard gave them artistic perfection when they wanted heated battle, and they booed lustily. Most fight fans would not spend a dime to watch [[Van Gogh]] paint [[Sunflowers (series of paintings)|Sunflowers]], but they would fill Yankee Stadium to see him cut off his ear."<ref>{{cite magazine |first=Pat |last=Putnam |url=https://vault.si.com/vault/1989/12/18/one-for-the-ages-sugar-ray-leonard-33-beat-roberto-duran-38-in-a-fight-dedicated-to-posterity |title=One For the Ages |magazine=Sports Illustrated |date=December 18, 1989 |access-date=December 7, 2021}}</ref> Although Leonard dominated the fight, he suffered several cuts. His lower lip was cut from a headbutt in the fourth round, his left eye was cut in the eleventh round, and his right eye was cut in the twelfth round. The cuts required a total of 60 stitches.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=tKExAAAAIBAJ&pg=4916,1838498|title=Leonard pleased despite stitches |work=[[The Item]] |date=December 9, 1989 |access-date=April 2, 2018 |via=news.google.com}}</ref>

In August 1990, Leonard relinquished the WBC super-middleweight title, saying that he was under the weight for the division.<ref>{{cite news |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |date=August 28, 1990 |location=Molline, Illinois |title=Sugar Ray relinquishes WBC crown |url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/666047619/ |work=The Rock Island Argus |access-date=October 15, 2021 |via=Newspapers.com |url-access=subscription}}</ref> He then offered Hearns a third fight, but Hearns said he could no longer make the weight and moved up to the light heavyweight division.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1991/02/08/sports/boxing-leonard-has-norris-at-hand-but-hearns-on-the-mind.html |title=BOXING; Leonard Has Norris at Hand, but Hearns on the Mind |newspaper=The New York Times |date=February 8, 1991 |access-date=December 7, 2021 |first=Phil |last=Berger}}</ref>

====Leonard vs. Norris====
{{main|Terry Norris vs. Sugar Ray Leonard}}
On February 9, 1991, Leonard went down to 154&nbsp;lbs and fought WBC Light Middleweight Champion [[Terry Norris (boxer)|Terry Norris]] at [[Madison Square Garden]]. Leonard entered the bout as a 3-1 favorite, but Norris dominated the fight, giving Leonard a heavy beating. He knocked Leonard down with a left hook in the second round, and in the seventh, he dropped Leonard again with a short right. Leonard had no answer for the skillful, younger, faster man. Leonard went the distance but lost by a lopsided decision. The scores were 120–104, 119–103, and 116–110. After the verdict was announced, Leonard announced his retirement. "It took this fight to show me it is no longer my time", Leonard said. "Tonight, was my last fight. I know how Hagler felt now."<ref>{{cite magazine |first=Pat |last=Putnam |url=https://vault.si.com/.amp/vault/1991/02/18/so-long-sugar-after-taking-a-beating-from-terry-norris-11-years-his-junior-ray-leonard-says-he-is-retiring-for-good |title=So Long, Sugar |magazine=Sports Illustrated |date=February 18, 1991 |access-date=December 7, 2021}}</ref>

===Final comeback===
{{main|Sugar Ray Leonard vs. Héctor Camacho}}
In October 1996, the 40-year-old Leonard announced that he was coming out of retirement to fight 34-year-old [[Héctor Camacho]] for the lightly regarded International Boxing Council (IBC) Middleweight Championship. Camacho, a light-hitting southpaw, was a three-time world champion with a record of 62–3–1. However, Camacho was also considered to be past his prime. Leonard decided to fight Camacho after commentating on Camacho's fight with the 45-year-old [[Roberto Durán]] the previous year, describing the disputed unanimous decision as "an early Christmas gift".

Leonard blamed his poor performance against Norris on lack of motivation, a rib injury, moving down in weight, and divorce, which was being litigated while he was in training. "It was stupid for me to fight Norris at 154 lbs", Leonard said. "This is different. I'm in the best shape possible."<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1997/02/26/sports/leonard-s-corner-keeps-game-plan-draped-in-secrecy.html |title=Leonard's Corner Keeps Game Plan Draped in Secrecy |work=The New York Times |date=February 26, 1997 |access-date=December 7, 2021 |first=Clifton |last=Brown}}</ref>
For the Camacho fight, Leonard had a new trainer, Adrian Davis. "He's a great trainer, a throwback", Leonard said. "He has really helped me get ready."<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1997/02/27/sports/before-the-first-bell-rings-the-jabbing-begins.html |title=Before the First Bell Rings, the Jabbing Begins |work=The New York Times |date=February 27, 1997 |access-date=December 7, 2021 |first=Clifton |last=Brown}}</ref>

In January 1997, it was announced that Leonard had been voted into the [[International Boxing Hall Of Fame]] in [[Canastota, New York]]. The rules state that a boxer must be retired for five years before being eligible for induction. When the vote took place, Leonard had been retired for more than five years, therefore, he was eligible, even though he had a fight scheduled. The induction ceremony was on June 15, 1997.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=X24KAAAAIBAJ&pg=2208,2433810 |title=The Victoria Advocate, January 15, 1997 |via=news.google.com |date=January 15, 1997 |access-date=November 4, 2011}}</ref>

The fight with Camacho took place on March 1, 1997, in [[Atlantic City, New Jersey]]. Camacho applied pressure from the opening bell and started to score well in the third. He continued to score well in the fourth and opened a cut above Leonard's right eye. In the fifth, Camacho dropped Leonard with a right followed by two left uppercuts. Leonard got up but was unable to ward off Camacho. The referee stopped the fight with Camacho teeing off on a defenseless Leonard on the ropes. It was the only time in Leonard's career that he was knocked out.

Afterward, Leonard retired again, saying, "For sure, my career is definitely over for me in the ring." However, less than a week after the fight, Leonard said he planned to fight again. He blamed his loss on a torn right calf muscle. His doctor suggested that he cancel the fight, but Leonard wanted to go through with it. Before the fight, he was given a shot of [[Procaine|novocaine]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=-LwvAAAAIBAJ&pg=4310,9033500|title=The Southern Missourian, March 3, 1997 |via=news.google.com |date=March 3, 1997 |access-date=November 4, 2011}}</ref>

Leonard said he planned to have a series of tune-up fights before fighting a champion.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=4GYWAAAAIBAJ&pg=4776,653704 |title=New Straits Times, March 8, 1997 |via=news.google.com |date=March 8, 1997 |access-date=November 4, 2011 }}{{Dead link|date=July 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> He was scheduled to fight Tony Menefee on February 15, 1998, in Australia, but he pulled out of the fight, saying that he didn't have the motivation. The Camacho fight was Leonard's last. He finished his career with a record of 36–3–1 with 25 knockouts.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=FKspAAAAIBAJ&pg=2437,2540856 |title=The Idaho Spokesman-Review, January 12, 1998 |via=news.google.com |date=January 12, 1998 |access-date=November 4, 2011}}</ref>