By Miguel Rivera
Hall of Famer Sugar Ray Leonard believes today's fighters are too fixated on their undefeated records instead of facing the very best opponents.
Leonard was ringside last Saturday night at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, and applauded welterweight champions Danny Garcia and Keith Thurman for staking their undefeated records in the ring.
Many fighters might be looking replicate the accomplishment of boxers like retired five division world champion, Floyd Mayweather Jr., who retired with a 49-0 record in 2015. Mayweather valued his undefeated record above everything else, but he's far from the only fighter with that mindset.
Leonard wishes that more of today's fighters would take more risks instead of being fixated on preserving their unbeaten records.
"At that time [when I was fighting] there were no fights with a clear favorite... you didn't know who would win. There was (Marvin) Hagler, (Roberto) Durán, (Wilfredo) Benitez.. it was a very talented time," said Leonard to ESPN Deportes.
"I wish it were different now, but everyone wants to be undefeated, everyone wants to win, everyone wants to be 20-0 because people keep thinking that not losing is something remarkable, but a defeat can make you a better fighter. It depends on philosophy, but to be the best you must fight with the best."
Leonard emphasized the greatness of fighters like Wilfredo Benítez, whom he described as being "an incredible champion. Benitez also became champion at the age of 17. Leonard also praised Durán, who the Olympic gold medal winner called "something special."
"They never gave him the credit for being a great boxer. He was a fighter who moved his head, very elusive, very intelligent, but he could also punch - that's why they called him 'Hands of Stone,'' Leonard said.
Sugar Ray, the 1976 Olympic champion in Montreal, was a former world world champion at welterweight, super welter, middleweight, super middleweight and even light heavyweight.
Leonard said he never regretted any of his ring returns, even when the best decision would have been to stay in retirement.
"Should I have regretted losing those fights with (Hector) Camacho and Terry Norris? I talked a lot about the second fight with Tommy Hearns in 1989, but I do not regret it because I was the kind of fighter who learned from his experiences. I do not regret [those fights] in any way," said Leonard.
