Sugar Ray Leonard

Although it was a great accomplishment to win a gold medal, as soon as they put it on you, that’s it; your career is over.

Sugar Ray Leonard

Before the start of the ’76 Olympics, I’d had 160 amateur fights. I won 155 and lost five.

Sugar Ray Leonard

Boxing brings out my aggressive instinct, not necessarily a killer instinct.

Sugar Ray Leonard

Boxing is a sport, but it’s also entertainment. I wanted to transcend the sport and be considered just not as a fighter, or a champion, but someone very special.

Sugar Ray Leonard

Boxing is the ultimate challenge. There’s nothing that can compare to testing yourself the way you do every time you step in the ring. On the downside, you meet a lot of really bad people in boxing, at all stages of your career.

Sugar Ray Leonard

Boxing should focus on pitting champion versus champion – those are the fights that everyone wants to see. The sports also needs to work on developing new heroes and personalities. I’d like to see more vignettes on fighters, focusing on their lives, goals and stories.

Sugar Ray Leonard

Boxing was not something I truly enjoyed. Like a lot of things in life, when you put the gloves on, it’s better to give than to receive.

Sugar Ray Leonard

Boxing was the only career where I wouldn’t have to start out at the bottom. I had a good resume.

Sugar Ray Leonard

Boxing will always be in my life.

Sugar Ray Leonard

Boxing’s a poor man’s sport. We can’t afford to play golf or tennis. It is what it is. It’s kept so many kids off the street. It kept me off the street.

Sugar Ray Leonard