By Ronnie Nathanielsz
Former multi-titled world boxing champion and Olympic gold medalist Sugar Ray Leonard says Filipino hero Manny Pacquiao is a boxing superstar “because of what he did to Oscar De La Hoya.”
Pacquiao pulverized “The Golden Boy” in a welterweight battle that forced De La Hoya to quit at the end of the eighth round last December 6.
Viva Sports special correspondent Romy Sajer reported from Chicago that Leonard made the statement in an interview on Chicago ’s popular sports radio “WSCR, the Score” on Thursday, Manila Time.
At the same time Leonard said Floyd Mayweather Jr and Filipino boxing icon Manny Pacquiao are two of his favorite boxers today.
Leonard said “both fighters have brought back excitement to the sport” in response to a question on whether mixed martial arts is a threat to boxing while gaining popularity and loyal fans.
Named “Fighter of the Decade” for the 1980s, Sajer said Leonard was promoting a pizza company and EA Sports. Despite the bad beating he suffered at the hands of Pacquiao, Leonard applauded De La Hoya for sustaining the popularity of boxing after he (Leonard) retired.
Leonard said he carried out the same role after Muhammad Ali and the other top heavyweights retired. “Now” he told the Chicago radio talkshow hosts, “Pacquiao and the rest of the other fighters are bringing excitement and popularity to the sport.”
Leonard dismissed the notion that “boxing is for old people and mixed martial arts is the choice of the younger generation.” He said that “both sports have a loyal following and can coexist.”
The classic boxer who had memorable fights against Roberto Duran, Tommy Hearns and Marvin Hagler said he looks forward to the day when major TV networks in the US again telecast boxing during weekend sports programs and not only on cable.
