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Not so sweet for Sugar Ray outside USA
Steven LynchNovember 19, 2013
Is it right that the great Sugar Ray Leonard had only one fight outside America - and lost it? asked Lawrence Harris
That is true, yes: 39 of Sugar Ray Leonard's 40 professional fights were within the United States, and he won the first 35 of those before, late in his career, fighting a draw with Thomas Hearns in 1989, then losing what turned out to be his last two bouts, against Terry Norris in 1991 and an ill-advised comeback to Hector "Macho" Camacho in 1997.
But before all that, in June 1980 Leonard had ventured across the border to Montreal in Canada for his 28th pro fight, to put his WBC welterweight title on the line against another of boxing's all-time greats, Roberto Duran.
Leonard's decision to slug it out with Duran surprised many, and after a very close-fought bout Duran eventually came out on top. Leonard reclaimed his title five months later in New Orleans, in the famous fight in which Duran finally turned away and said "No mas"[no more]" to the referee.
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