Sugar Ray Leonard: Belief, Influence, and Winning the Mental Fight

I didn't have the talent but I I worked so hard. When people tell you you can't do this, you can't do that. You have to believe in yourself. Words can't describe the feeling of the Olympic gold medal. He used to beat on me a lot. My brother, you know, Roger, he just me he hit me, I said, you know, I started crying. I cried all the time. The greatest US boxing team in Olympic history has not only Ray won the gold medal, but four teammates won the gold medal. If you can, I just wanna do this.

Just making sure it still works. Thank you very much. So we're gonna box the next five minutes, I think. We're gonna we're gonna see what happens. Um yes, I don't think it's gonna go well for me. Yeah. But we might wrestle. Do we wrestle? Are you okay with that shot? Um yes, I am good. I thank you for pulling the punch because I am clear that that not would not have felt good if it didn't no, of course I am. I did wrestle, yes. It was amazing. So

I c I the honor that this is, the privilege this is, um, is amazing. And but the truth is that um I can't imagine this is gonna be any better. than what happened last night, but I'll do my best because Sitting next to Sugar Ray Leonard at the Peppercorns restaurant, which was a half a mile away from where I started this crazy journey, quit my job, opened my first law firm. I used to go there twice a week to have lunch. I love it. We're in the back, you know, in a beautiful private area.

And the love, the empathy, the fun, the presence, the man flew in exhausted. I had no thought that he would even go to dinner last night. And there he is at dinner and I'm sitting next to him shoulder to shoulder. He's like bumping into me. He's fun, magical, heart-centered.

a master of masters. So um and I will not call you, I don't want to get punched again. So not I will not I will not call you Mr. Actually I do want to get punched again. I would love I would love to be punching like ten more times. That would be amazing because then I could like go home and be like, you know, I could take pictures and have a black eye and say sugar right learner gave.

So it's amazing. So Mr. Leonard, just how are you? Like how is life? Like what's going on? What are you up to, please? I know you told me last night, but what do you want to tell these people about where your life is now and then we'll go back to the feel so blessed from where I've been, from what I've done, from what I Create it. Um The thing about it, I I'm I'm shy non-confrontational, but so

But you know what, guys? Um I'm a blessed man. I mean, from what I've done, from where I've been, from what took place from day It's like when I won the gold medal in the Olympics. I mean, there was n nothing nothing could compare to that. I mean, winning the gold medal because we home my whole vision was to go to the University of Maryland, further my education, get a good job, take care of my my wife and my kids, my family. But you know what?

Because people tell you what they can't do. They say, you can't do this, you can't do that. But you know what? You have to believe in yourself because if you don't What's here for that? And and so so Ray, and this is what Esme would call him, I would call him Mr. Leonard, and he threatened to punch me again if I called him Mr. Leonard. Um, but Ray could have gone to the University of Maryland.

Academic scholarship. He's a brilliant man. And he did not want to box professionally after the Olympics. His goal was to represent our country and to win the Olympic gold medal. And after he did, to be complete, but then His dad and his mom, his family and the beautiful things he wanted to do. So when he went into professional bio Um but is there anything from your childhood, Ray, they'd want this group to know about

how that began to form and shape who you were and anything in your your childhood grown up in Maryland or do you wanna jump right into, you know, leading up to the Olympics and you know your boxing career? Well I tried that for

Uh I wasn't as um experienced, qualified, um, but I I went through it. Um The 76 Olympic, I mean it was meant to be I tell you it was meant to be because first of all, I mean uh I didn't have I worked so Again, uh I I hate to be redundant, but When people tell you you can't do this, you can't do that, you have to believe.

And right didn't you didn't if if I recall if I if I don't remember this right then just tell me. But didn't you have an older brother that used to and didn't he used to beat up on you a little bit growing up and then that changed?

My brother, you know, Roger, he just hit me. I started crying. I cried all the time. But I go to my mom and I said, deal hit me. I'll punch him back. I'll punch him back. And he took me to the boxing gym, and I was introduced to boxing. I don't want to do this anymore. But then again, you know, it was God given. I mean, I I believe I pray every day. E even before a fight, I pray before a fight. And I don't pray the way I pray Except for

Which he did write in the book. That is it a lie in the book is like I never want anybody to get hurt. I always prayed that nobody would get hurt except Roberto Durant. And it was like this great cliffhanger and then came back later. No Lessa, I hate Lessa. So and so Ray, do you rem uh like is there was there a time do you remember when what it was like when you when Roger couldn't beat up on you anymore?

And now you were able to beat up on Roger. Like is that did that is that something that you recall or it's not really something that was meant something to you? Oh no, no. Come up again, my brother he was I love my brother but smack me upside the head just because I was sitting there. Uh you ever experienced that guys? Huh? Yeah, yeah. And I mean I'm I'm I cried and I always go to my mom, I always go to my mom. and then one day, one year, one month.

He said, I wanna be a good boxer, a great boxer. And I I love I love Joe Fraser and I used to fight like Joe Frazier and then when I saw Joe Frazier fight Ali and I saw his him up after the fight. I can't sing. Trust me. Well in the c in the shower I can say. That sounds good. But no, I tell you, I I try to be as humorous as as I possibly can be because sometimes I take things too deep. Yeah. And so did when you and team do we have MJ uh Tank do we have a couple of clips ready or we do not?

Amazing. So is it okay if we if we step into a couple of different clips from your past? Is that okay? We show them on the screen. Uh yes. Yeah. So yes. Well we'll we'll do that. So uh maybe let's go with um either the Olympics. If we can start with the Olympics, great. If not maybe Walfredo Benitez. Do we have that team?

Thanks, Tink. Great job. Well let's start with the Olympics. Was that okay if we uh yeah show the Olympics? Now I'm blind, so to me you look the same. 16, 15, 14, Ray Leonard with the right leg and on the left. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. You know what?You know what? You was generally down, I walked the clue. Yeah? No, come no come on, come on, come on, come on. Holy shit. I didn't re I didn't realize he was that tall. Nobody ever does.

Thank you. Thank you. That is amazing. So uh yes, Lanch, you're okay, right? Um so do you remember that guy? That guy in the Olympics? Okay, yes. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. And how um how How did that feel? Words can't describe the feeling. So incredible. It was just special, very competitive and it just It it it made me who I am today. That's that that thought, those that way of thinking. Yeah. Because I whatever I do and get involved with, I'm I'm so Life is a fight. Life is a fight.

And and you and you were telling me that um the toughest person you've ever fought may not have been um some of the people we think. Like who who is the toughest person that you you ever have a fight with? My wife. Thank you. And and so um yes I'm I'm serious. I'm not huh? Yeah, yes we do. Yes we do. Yeah. So um I love you, Burr. So we um And and this was super fun. So um Ray's wife had set up um some martial arts training fighting with this amazing guy, Baxter.

And Baxter tells a great story about it that he came and said, hey, like, what do you want to work on today?

And um Ray, uh yeah, do you wanna share what you you told Baxter you wanna work'cause he was gonna you know, there's kicking, punching, there's all the things but I'm pretty good with my hands. Baxter, where are you, Baxter? That's that's my man Baxter. Let's hear for Baxter. Yeah, yeah. Yeah.

So um yeah so in in 1976 Olympics, much like we discussed for some of the people have, I I recently had the privilege of spending time with Mike Arzioni uh from the nineteen eighty Miracle and Ice Gold Medal hockey team.

And first of all, he said his toughest fight was his wife too. So that may be that may be a thing to like talk to like Saadi Akana about or something. I'm not sure. But um What also um was true is that Ray was fighting against a professional as an amateur because the Cubans, like when Michael Ruzioni played hockey against the Soviets, they were professional. So Ray was an amateur young man.

fighting against professionals and this is why nobody thought the nineteen eighty Miracle and Ice team was going to win the gold medal and they did and nobody thought the United States would ever have five gold medals. So he's a group of I think it to this day the greatest US boxing In Olympic history, as not only Ray won the gold medal, but four teammates won the gold medal. Like just completely unprecedented.

So I just want to make sure that that's clear. It's here for that, by the way. And thank you. Thank you for that. And then um would it be okay if we showed a clip from when you fought Wilfredo Benitez? I think we have that. Is that okay with you? I think so. Okay. I think so. Sure. I I I'm pretty sure because cause it's nineteen hold on one second, T. It's nineteen seventy nine.

And I'm um I'm gonna be a a a a wee bloke, a Cub Scout, and we have our blue and gold dinner and I fight and fight and fight and go from low to yes with my mom. that I could miss my blue and gold dinner and I could be there watching somebody who is become A hero of mine that I saw as a six-year-old win the gold medal and now I'm nine years old and he is fighting, um, I believe it was on W A B C Wide World of Sports.

He is fighting for the welterweight championship of the world, but he is fighting against a guy who I think was undefeated, Wilfredo Benitez, who who at 17 years old had become the youngest. the uh a world heavyweight champ sorry, a world championship in Boston And this is who Sugar Red Lantern is going to fight against. And so people are like, that's going to be a pretty tough fight. So how are you feeling about going in to fight Wilfredo Benitez? Um, how was that for you?

Very optimistic. But I I thought I thought I always think about it. You just have to believe in yourself. Because if you don't, no one else will. Amazing. All right. Yeah. Tink let's see what was going on in uh 1979.

You know and you know what happens, folks? You heard Howard Cosell say it. They called Sugar and Leonard height. Because when you own yourself. When you talk about who and what you are, people say it's hyped. But with this man, what was it? The truth. What was it? This man's the champ, and that's the truth. And he just beat a man that was a champion of champions and he dismantled him and became a champion. So it's here for Sugar Red Landwork. And and

So and Ray, you you and I I think you and Howard Cosell became friends. I mean is that right? How'd you how'd you yeah, you want to tell us anything about Howard Cosell? was a uh a dear friend of mine and um I mean respectfully I w I Yeah. And at some point late we'll we'll get to that in a little bit. But um Is it okay? Because I think it'll be, I think it'll help set up something else. Are you okay if we show a little bit from Montreal, or is that not okay?

Okay. So uh one then, you remember? Oh, but then was Montreal also Roberto Duran? Is that okay if we show anything from Duran won? You'd rather not do that. I say this. I'm sorry? You know s you know how some people you you you don't like? No he because he would I mean he would curse me, he would curse my wife. I mean I no yes he did and I So angry but he he used it. I fought his fight. I fought his kind of style. Because no I normally I move around the ring and I I well utilize Yeah.

A lot of folks again, like no matter what you do. People are gonna still say you're not real. So he's the champ, and now people are saying, Well, he can't beat Roberto Duran and you know Sugar Ray Leonard's not gonna be able to fight like Roberto Duran fights, like he's not a tough he's not tough, he's just a boxer. And then what Ray is saying is that he got um He got sort of

Not sort of got influenced by Duran to fighting Duran's fight and standing toe to toe. And he and Sugar Ray Leonard fought an unbelievable fight and lost a very, very close decision that could have gone. But let but we're gonna set up the punchline after this where they fought a second time. But let's just see the first one real quick. Team, do we have that? All right, Tank, go ahead, please. You sure you have it?

So close decision doesn't win and remember what Ray said, Roberto Duran like Cursed his wife, said the most vile, crazy things. Like this wasn't an act. I mean, this guy was a complete maniac saying terrible things and you know um and I certainly read the book. If you have not read um Sugar Ray Lennon's autobiography, it is absolutely amazing. And a must read. It is on Audible. I don't recommend books often. It is so powerful to go through the story, and it's read by.

Sugar and Leonard himself, so I highly recommend it. After right after the fight, you know, what was what was that like for you after the Durant fight? Words can't really describe what I felt. I felt I fought the wrong fight. But he got because boxing is not just about punching a guy, it's about hearing. He he he beat me more physically, I mean psychologically. I learned a big lesson from that. And then and then what happened took place like I asked for a remote.

Which is unprecedented because normally fights of that significance takes a couple years. Yeah. So so take tank we got do we have uh we have do we have Duran Leonard too? We got that tank? Let's go, let's hit it. Here we go. Establishing his movement in the early going, establishing his ability occasionally to work that jab. Leonard has four. them against the ropes every minute of every round the way Durant did first time around Again, Octavio Meiron of Mexico, the third man in the

People have underrated the physical strength of Sugar Ray Land. He is much stronger than his body appears. The pace has slackened in this round. It would have had to, I think. That time it was Leonard who was holding.

Yeah. He was so mad. It's here for sugar and letter. I cried. I was so grateful when this happened. And my dad. Who we rooted for all the same people and teams was rebu rooting for Roberto. Yeah. Well my father. Yeah. And yeah. And so so last night I'm telling Ray this last night, he's like, Let's call your dad. So we get my dad on FaceTime last night and he and Ray pulls his hat down over his head. He's like, hey Bobby. He's like, my dad's like, yeah. He's like, hey, Bobby.

He goes, I want to fight you. And he pulls up his he pulls it out my back. And it was unbelievable. Like, thank you so much for that. That is it. Imagine being able to do that for your dad. Like how crazy that is. So Ray, like thank you. Thank you for that, Ray. Like I'm really blown. And so um and so when the reason I I'll I'll I'll give my perspective, then I'll ask his since he was there.

Um, but my perspectives the reason that Roberto Duran quit, they call it the no moss fight. If you've heard of the no mass fight, say yes. So they call it the no moss fight no more. Because Ray, Roberta Duranch had no answer. So everything he was trying to do, Sugar Ray and Leonard was move- I just saw the movement like he just couldn't do what he wanted to do. And it was just he had Roberto Duran had no answer for Sugar Ray.

And Ray was in his head, he was taunting him, he was putting his chin out, he was like bowl punching, doing all these things, and Duran was getting angry and anger and more and more to the point he made this guy. This stark raving lunatic, somebody you call very significance driven, very in the language, I'll use the language that people used about him, machismo, like top level, he made him quit. in front of the world. Walk away and just quit. That's what this man did.

But with his the man that cursed his wife, yeah, let's here, let's get up with that. I'd say that for you and what you did with the five times. So And so and he made him quit though with his fists, he made him quit with his body, his feet, his movement, and he made him quit with his mind and his inner.

He was influencing him, influencing him, influencing him, by the way, with integrity. And the influence that Ray Leonard was bringing forward was you can't beat me, man. And I'm gonna humiliate you, I'm gonna embarrass you, and you're gonna have more of it and more of it and more of it and more of it to the point that he quit.

So he did. So at least that's my story. Uh you were there, you did it. Um so please, Ray, like what was that like for you and what what do you think actually what what do you want the audience to know about what happened? Well words can't describe what took place that And because Duran I used to hate that guy. I mean, really I used to hate him. And'cause all of a sudden and it just happened spontaneously. I mean I was moving around, that's the other thing.

People start laughing and I start doing this and doing this and hitting with that one. And he was just so he it was just so mad and so angry and I because I was making people laugh and I was shuffling everything and doing this and everything, sticking my chin out and everything. It worked. I mean I wouldn't always do that.

I wouldn't do that with Tommy against Tommy Hearns. But uh that's that's how it worked. Amazing. Strange. And now speaking of Tommy Hearns, do we have uh anything from that tank? Oh, wow. Amazing. I'm glad you brought the Tommy Herns up. Please. And by the way, Tommy Hearns, uh, we fought again a second time. Tommy It would be called it was called a draw. But Tommy deserved that the win. I've yet to tell Tommy that.

And you you can tell Tommy that don't tell me that and don't tell my dad that. Because I t'cause I fought my dad to this day about that. So um nobody tell my dad that sugar regulator said that. I'm sorry? You say what now? I I said that my dad Please don't tell my dad. that you think that Tommy Hearns won'cause I've fought against my dad to say that you won for my entire life. So I don't want my dad to win the argument. So please don't tell my dad.

We're on the we'll we'll we're on the same page. Yes, thank you. So don't tell Tommy Hearns and don't tell my dad. Okay. Um so let's see it, Tink. I'm sorry. Burns must be way ahead on points. He certainly is on my card and mine. Nine minutes. You're blowing it now, son. You're blowing it. Let's pause it, Tink. Pause. So that's Angelo Dundee.

Who was trainer for Sugar Ray Leonard, but not the only one. He all often came in later in the process, but he was in the corner and he ran the corner. He was Muhammad Ali's trainer. Like just unbelievable to crazy. And in that moment you just heard him say, You're blown it, son, you're blown it, son,'cause Sugar Ray Leonard was behind on points. This is the first time he fights Tommy Hearns. Now this is the next super fight of his life and his career.

Right. And Tommy Hearns is now people are saying he's gonna that Sugar Ray Leonard can't beat Tommy Hearns and Tommy Hearns this massive, you know, puncher and they called him the hit man. And now they're fighting and Sugar Ray Leonard, who remember everybody's saying is a boxer, is a boxer. He's got to knock Tommy Hearns out. If he doesn't knock out Tommy Hearns, Tommy Hearns is going to win. So Tink. Coming on.

Everything 12 seconds to go. Tanz is in desperate trouble. The bell cannot save him if it goes down.

He's letting time run out. It's time right now. A big run. That could be. Yes, but Do we Tink, do we have the end or we do not? Mike, do we have the end? What butt? Okay. So then let's just get that and we'll come back to it. Do we have Marvin Hagler? That silence means no. So oh yeah. So okay, Michael, just be getting the end of the Tommy Hearns fight when Trigger Railner knocks him out, um coming up and then we'll go Marvin Hagler first. But real quick for everybody.

So what I think that represents for you is there's privilege windows that open up and you're influenced. And what Sugar Ray Leonard did is he caused the moment of a window to open. And when that window opened, you're going to see it when we show the rest of the ending of the fight in the next round, that he finishes. And if you think what you just saw right there was bad for Tommy Hearns, wait till you see what happens in the ending of what he does to Tommy Hearns.

Because the window opened and this man finished and you gotta finish. You gotta finish in the causing of yes and this man finished. Let's hear for that. So and and Michael, just real quick, Michael, how long do you think until we can show the clip of the ending of the the next round? The knockout. Cool. Okay. So um so how do you so when Angelo Dundee is saying you're blowing it, kid, you know, you're blowing it, kid.

What are you feeling and what do you think what uh are you even thinking in that moment? Are you just focused? Like what's it like to be in the thirteenth round, all these minutes, all these punches going back and forth? You know, what what's that like, you know, please? That's a that's the inner inner thing. When Angelo s he said the perfect Blowing it so I mean that was so simplified, but it was real, and I knew I had to really get up and and go.

It's an amazing thing or amazing feeling, especially in boxing. I mean, it just one of those moments Yeah. Who who is the toughest fight that you ever had beside your wife. Actually actually like in the in the ring. Who is the what I mean it's I'm not a joke I'm it's not a joke ma'am. I'll I so that's why I don't I don't I try to laugh

Yeah. But no, my wife is tough. But who who is the toughest in the ring opponent? Like which fight it you know I tell you, I mean, they they all had their thing, their talent Roberto, I mean like uh Marvelous Marvin Hagley. He was ambidextrous. He was fast, powerful, strong, could punch. Tommy Heron's tall, fat.

I just... I'm telling the truth. And then and then Sugar Re Leonard came back and beat Duran another time. So he won the no mas fight, then he came back and beat him again uh later. But while we're working on getting it, we're going to be able

the the clip for the end of the Tommy Hearns fight. We'll do Tommy Hearns first and Marvin Hagler. There's something that you shared at dinner last night with me and and I would never, you know, go to a place that anybody doesn't want to go to because I know I don't think it's relevant. Um, unless they do. And for Ray, it's very relevant because he had some other challenges during his life that he powered back.

So is there anything that you'd like to share about some other, you know, challenges that you came back from? Well, I I'm an alcoholic. I've been sober now for eighteen years. And you know, it's it's interesting that as much as I had achieved in the ring and then what have you, uh, I wasn't totally happy. I was, you know, I I I was happy that I And my siblings, uh my friends, just people Feel. I was not I was not totally happy and went to drinking and uh and I still and again.

Drank, I felt good. I was like, yeah, I can and I can dance too when I was drink. I I did. you know what? And uh because I heard my m my mother found out that I was doing drugs and alcohol. And I s just cold took, I just stopped doing cocaine. I just stopped all of a sudden. The alcohol was a different story.'Cause I was, you know, I I go into a bar or whatever, just take a couple of drinks, always take tequila. You like who likes tequila? Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. You don't drink too many?

No? Yes, just two a day? No, but I... Yeah. You know, from from the book it sounded like At least from the book and we talked about it at dinner last night. that maybe there was some people around you, you had some people around you that loved you very much and wanted to protect you and help you. But it also sounded like sometimes there were people around you

that wanted to use you and take from you and maybe that had something to do with some of this at least. You know, what is that true, not true? Like what what was how how'd you deal with the people around you? Period. And you know what? Y y you f sometimes you find out the hard way or the right way. But there It's within you, it's you. You you can make your life better. And I I tell ya, like in the boxing ring I I sh I went the distance Thank you.

And then Tank, do we have um or Michael, do we have um the 7 Up commercial or do you not? What let's see that. Yeah, let's see that for fun. Yeah. A long time ago. Yes? So this is Sugar Rain Leonard Transcends Boxing and please. Okay. Chris play around. And it sure feels right. Feeling like servers and price. Good luck. No, that's just my dad. Thank you for that. That is amazing. That is amazing.

And we had the blessing of having um Sugar Ray Leonard Jr. on the Heart of Influence about a couple of years ago and I shared that with Ray Leonard. I mean, like just make the sound of how that feels in your heart. Yeah. Yeah. And and that's what this man did, transcendent boxing. Like and and he also was a great analyst, as I explained, for boxing, and he was fun and funny and brilliant and witty, clear, precise.

And you know, what I think also was is a very true thing, just you know, so you guys know that most athletes um things don't end well for them. Financially. Um they're not appropriately taken care of and protected. But, you know, and I'll anything you want to say on it, Ray, or not, but a lot of the the names we've mentioned that Ray fought They they did not end up in a good place financially. They did not end up in a place where um they were living.

secure, positive environment. And Ray won that game too. He won that battle. He won that fight. He lives a beautiful life. And he has abundance and security and positive things. And so it's also here for that. And an anything you wanna say about that, Ray? How did you you know, a lot of guys, you know, ended up in really, really bad places and you ended up in a really, really beautiful place.

Anything that you attribute that to? Is there anybody who helped protect you or anything you want to share? Yeah. first year in Maryland'cause I had a scholarship and uh further my education, get a bet a good job and you know, help out to some degree my parents. And when Jenks Morton said, Ray, you know, you can make some good money. I I did that and I I laid it up, you know, I let him take care of everything, financially and everything. And he introduced me to a guy named Mike Trainer.

Because he's no longer with us, but he took care of me big time. Um, he made me an uh independent.

I just had good people around I s I s I had just good people around me. Yeah. And all I had to do was get And you said you said no to Don King, I think, is that right? Oh Don King, yeah. I mean don't need no white people. No, he did say he did say that. I'm like I don't I don't think about that. And um thank God I didn't go with them.

But you know again I I I I feel so blessed man. I really do. And I I again I get somewhat over emotional because And raise Ray's got a beautiful I he's been he's been married to near for thirty-two years now, uh a beautiful marriage. He loses the f he loses the fights, but he wins the game of life and marriage. So has that? Yeah. Yeah, yeah. But who know who I mean you guys not old enough to know? Singers, uh the platters, my wife. Yeah? Yeah, yeah. You're not old enough to know the platter.

Okay, oh okay, okay, okay. Wait, Sugar Ray, d her her husband's parent parent is is are you gonna fight Sugar Ray soon? Like what's happening here? He was in Or Orlans, yeah, so he's gonna yeah, be fighting the people in the front. So do we have Michael do we have um do we have yet the Hearns ending? Let's hit it. Tommy. Tommy still calls me. believe that it was too admiral welcome Well actually actually he co op. No, no, that's a bad joke.

And is it true that Tommy Hurton still calls you and wants to fight you still? Yeah, he c Tommy calls me every few months. Great, that's you and I go for it. I said, Tommy, have you looking in the mirror? And he's not joking. Like that's like Oh he's not j oh he's not joking. So trust me. Yeah. So then, and and this will be uh our last piece of the the the boxing part as we begin to round the bend with Mr. Sugar Ray Leonard. Um so then um there's this guy Marvin Hack.

And he is in a um heavier weight class than Sugar Ray Leonard, for those that don't know that. And everybody's like, this guy's unbeatable. So whatever Roberto Duran was.

Everybody's like, no, no, no, no, including my dad. Yeah. Is like no no no no no Sugar A. Leonard is gonna get eaten alive by Marvin Hagler. This is gonna be the greatest beatdown in history. So what what was that like leading up to this fight where everybody and Sugar Red Leonard had not fought? Five years. Five years.

Like this big gap in his career is going on, right? There's like one thing, little fight in between, he crushes somebody. But so everybody's like, No, no, no, no, no, no way. So what what was that like for you leading up to? And of course we're gonna show what happens. Well I mean I again I've been out of the ring for five years, no up no fights. Um had a partial detached retina. Um I mean my my family cried every Well I train for

Even people closest to him. So he he was in the boxing team at HBO with a guy named Larry Merchant. And even Larry Merchant. was betting, was predicting that Sugar Ray Leonard was going to be um Mar uh that Marvin Hagel was gonna beat Sugar Ray Leonard, the odds were three and a half to one against him. And Larry Merchant, I think as you wrote in the book, came in the ring before the fight and said, Prove me wrong. And, you know, it was just this impossible. I pay thirty nine dollars.

I have all my friends from high school over They're all so sick and tired of me talking about how much I love Sugar Ray Leonard to be annoying. They're rooting for Marvin Hagler. In my house, I bought the fight. They didn't give me any money. Thirty nine dollars is like all the money I had in like, you know, my draw in my room. And I gotta give it to my parents.

And now we're set. We got popcorn, we got pizza, and I'm like, F you mother effer sugar red learner's gonna win. This is what's happening in 139 Vivian Avenue, Emerson, New Jersey, my parents' house. And we're getting ready to throw down and what is gonna be their thinking a beat down on Sugar Gray Leonard, but I know differently, Ray.

Yes. Yes. Do you have can I have the thirty nine dollars please? I I think you have it. Yes, yeah. So uh Darren I want my thirty-nine bucks. Yeah, okay. So are we ready? Are we ready team? Here we go. And if we don't have the decision at the end, let's get the decision too. He had early on they vanished. Hagler has let him into this fight. Or to put it in a more positive way, Ray Leonard has put himself into this fight. And now he's starting even to taunt Hagler.

Once again, once again. Smiling at him and just essentially saying, Come on, and getting angry. No question. I have a presentation and new midway. Thank you guys. Thank you. Well, thank you. And and F you, Chris Nikolich, Tom Fodico. Chris Thomicky Roy all of y'all. Uh because that was sugar and Leonard doing what people said was impossible, but was not impossible. And yeah, let's hear it one more time for that.

And and anything else, Red? Anything else anything else that you want these people to know before we say thank you? Anything else that you want them to know as we part? Thank you. Thank you. God bless the champ. Bless here, champ, the champ, the champ, the champ, the champ, the champ, the champ, the champ, the champ.