Sugar Ray Leonard Boxing Record Overview
Sugar Ray Leonard compiled a professional boxing record of 36 wins, 3 losses, and 1 draw, with 25 wins by knockout, according to widely cited boxing databases and his official career summaries on major sports platforms. His record places him among the most celebrated champions in boxing history, with multiple titles across five weight classes and a long stretch of wins against elite opposition.
The record is often broken down by division and title reigns, showing Leonard winning the WBC welterweight title in 1979, the WBC light middleweight title in 1981, the WBC middleweight title in 1987, the WBC super middleweight title in 1988, and the WBC light heavyweight title in 1988. His 36 wins include 25 stoppages, 10 decisions, and 1 no contest, while his three losses came to Marvin Hagler, Thomas Hearns, and Hector Camacho, all in highly competitive bouts that are still studied by analysts and fans.
Key Wins, Title Fights, and Defenses
Leonard's most notable wins include victories over Roberto Durán, Thomas Hearns, Marvin Hagler, and Wilfred Benítez, fights that are consistently ranked among the greatest in boxing history. His 1980 win over Durán, known as the No Más fight, and his 1987 middleweight title victory over Hagler are central chapters in his record and are frequently cited by sports historians and major outlets.
Across his career, Leonard defended multiple world titles successfully, including his WBC welterweight and WBC light middleweight belts, and later added the WBC middleweight, super middleweight, and light heavyweight titles. His defenses often featured high-profile matchups against top contenders, and his ability to move up in weight and win belts in five divisions is a key part of his legacy and a major reason he is still referenced in discussions of the greatest pound-for-pound fighters.
Legacy, Rankings, and Career Highlights
Leonard is frequently ranked among the top pound-for-pound fighters of all time by organizations such as The Ring magazine and major boxing historians, and his career earnings, fight purses, and pay-per-view numbers helped shape the modern boxing business landscape. His bouts generated record-setting revenue and television audiences, and his crossover appeal made him one of the most recognizable athletes of his era.
His record and achievements are documented by boxing authorities and sports archives, with his title reigns, knockout wins, and high-profile rivalries still used as benchmarks for greatness in the sport. Leonard's influence extends beyond his wins and losses, as his fights helped popularize boxing in the 1980s and set standards for big-money championship bouts that are still referenced by promoters, analysts, and fans today.