EDIT: Thank you guys for joining me on this AMA today! I had fun and it was great to answer your questions. That's all the time I have for today, but we'll do it again soon. Be sure to follow me on my Social Media Channels and I can always engage with you there! Thanks!
Q-Thanks for taking the time to do this ama!
Who hit you the hardest?
Would you have beaten hagler earlier on in his career?
srl-Internal Revenue.....LOL
But really, Tommy Hearns hit me the hardest.
As for Hagler, of course! I would have been younger as well! I didn't fight for at least 3 years before I fought him.
q-hey champ!
What did you think of the Pac/Mayweather fight?
srl-I was expecting more. But in regards to Mayweather, he fought his fight. But there was no memorable moments in the fight.
q-How does it feel to be referenced in an episode of Seinfeld??
srl-It was funny!
q-Is there a single match you look back on and think, "This was my greatest"? If so, which one was it?
srl-They all had significance to me; Hearns in 1981, Duran 'No Mas' in 1980, Hagler in 1987, etc. Yet, if I had to choose one, it would be Hearns in 1981 because it was for all the marbles; being the Undisputed Welterweight Champ!
q-Hello, Mr. Leonard! How's your day going? Also, what were the Olympic Village and winning the Olympics like, and what do you consider to be your career-defining moment(s)? Thank you!
srl-I'm doing fine, I hope you're doing well also!
The Olympic experience was priceless. The Olympic Village was a castle of the world's best athletes..in all sports! It was an amazing experience to be with them. Winning the Olympics was a dream come true for me. It took me 8 years to get there, because I also tried in the 1972 Olympics.
As for my career-defining moment, it would have to be beating Tommy Hearns in 1981 to be the Undisputed Welterweight Champ!
q-Everything I know about boxing comes from movies, which probably aren't the most accurate portrayals of the sport. What are some movies that get it right? And, what boxing movies are just plain wrong?
srl-The movies that gets it right is 'Raging Bull', 'Million Dollar Baby', 'Rocky', 'Real Steel', 'Hurricane', and I heard great things about the upcoming movie, 'Southpaw' with Jake Gyllenhaal.
q-Who are your greatest influences and idols?
srl-Ali, Sugar Ray Robinson, Bruce Lee, and Elvis Presley.
q-Do you ever feel bad about psyching out Roberto Duran to such a degree that he shamed himself in front of the entire world?
srl-No, because he gave me my first loss. But we truly are friends now.
q-Thank you for doing this AMA. I'm afraid I know very little about you, other than you are a world famous boxer. Could you tell us a fact about yourself that we probably do not know?
srl-I'm a father of four kids; 14, 18, 31, 41. Also have 6 grandkids! I have a foundation to raise funds and awareness for the cure of Diabetes. We aim to help kids live a healthier life through diet and exercise. And I wear Skechers
Here's a link to the Sugar Ray Leonard Foundation:
Sugar Ray Leonard Foundation
q-Hello! Who do you think is the best boxer right now (besides Mayweather and Pacquiao)?
srl-I think the best boxer right now would have to be GGG.
q-You're one of the all time bests Sugar Ray! All-time greatness.
How much of your hand speed was inherent natural ability versus practicing to be fast?
How much work did you put in to make your hand speed deliver more power?
I bet you can still move like slippery snake!!
Great to see you on reddit Champ! Fantastic.
srl-Thanks.
You can't make speed, speed is a gift in my opinion. Speed is power, but it is also leverage. Knowing how to properly execute the punches and that's why an extensive amateur career is so valuable.
q-Hey Sugar Ray I have a few questions. I once heard an interview where you said before each one of your losses you looked at yourself in the mirror and knew you were not going to win that night. Can you explain that mindset a little bit more? Also when did you first get into Bruce Lee and have you studied martial arts outside of boxing?
srl-I always looked in the mirror before a fight. It's an image and an attitude. And you have to have the right attitude to beat anybody. I always looked myself in the eyes, and if I saw Sugar Ray Leonard...I can beat anybody.
I've always watched Bruce Lee back in the 70's, and I started Tae Kwon Do before.
q-DO you think Mayweather is the greatest fighter of all time?
srl-Floyd Mayweather is definitely up there, in my opinion. But, Ali and Sugar Ray Robinson are on the top of the list!
q-What do you think about the similarities between Mayweather/Pacquiao fight and your fight with Hagler?
Pacquiao being the ineffective aggressor (Hagler) and Mayweather being defensive, do you agree with the judges scoring?
srl-The hype was very similar, but the Mayweather/Pacquiao definitely had more hype because of the social media and all the digital media channels. It was able to reach a lot more people.
I believe the judging was fine. There wasn't any controversy in that fight.
q-Hey Ray, was it hard back then to start your pro career and is it different nowadays?
srl-It was easier because of my TV exposure in the Olympics. Unless you've had some TV exposure nowadays, it's a little harder to become pro and get paid.
q-How did it feel announcing your retirement due to your detached retina after such an illustrious career? Was it hearns that knocked your retina out?
srl-Being so young, in my 20s and at the peak of my career, it was heartbreaking and scary. But it all worked out in the end!
I believe the injury started with Marcos Geraldo in 1979 in Baton Rouge, LA
q-Roberto Duran, "No mas." Thoughts on this? Feelings at the time?
srl-It was a bizarre moment, and very shocking to the world.
q-Why did you start boxing, enjoyment? Defence? Money? Etc.
srl-I started boxing for enjoyment. I was trying to please my big brother, Roger
q-Thanks for the AMA... How do you feel about the current boxers now a days? And does Danny Garcia have any chance at fighting Mayweather?
srl-There's definitely talent out there. They just need the TV exposure and they need more activity.
I like Danny, but who knows. We'll have to see!
q-One of the best punches I saw you throw was at Al Bundy. What was it like knocking him out?
srl-You're right, it was my best televised knockout!
q-What do you think of the quality of fights the PBC has been airing as of late? I like that the fighters are all pretty well know, but I can't say these fights have been real nail biters, usually they seem to be pretty lop-sided.
srl-They have all been exciting fights and been evenly contested. These fighters are all on a bigger platform than they could have ever imagined, being on NBC - free television. Sometimes the nerves get in the way of their talents
