Sugar Ray Leonard vs. Donny Lalonde

**guru** · 07-06-2009, 04:03 PM

it was a farce so SRL could win two titles in two weight classes in one fight.... lalonde's 175lb title should not have been on the line, but they paid him $5 mil, which today is like $12 mil... so they pretty much bought his belt and he still almost won...

**Hitman932** · 07-06-2009, 04:08 PM

Originally posted by DWiens421

I've never seen two divisions' belts on the line in the same fight, and I find it even more insane that they are both from the WBC.

It acually makes sense that they were both WBC because you would need to cooperation of the sanctioning body to pull off such a deal.

The reality is that with both men at 167 they were under both the SMW and LHW limits and there is no reason a guy who is 167 can't fight for the LHW title.

Yeah a bit of a stretch, but LaLonda gave a great performance and I don't want to a call it a joke or a farce in light of his efforts.

**BattlingNelson** · 07-06-2009, 04:12 PM

The way I remember it the WBC decided to add the 168 division to their portfolio along with the other sanctioning bodies. Ray Leonard could then be the first 5 division champion and WBC would be part of that history. Leonard and Hearns had a race going as to who would be 5 division champ first and Leonard at the time got recognized as the first to acheive it even though Tommy a little earlier did the same thing but for a new sanctioning body (WBO I think).

Leonard used his leverage to force Lalonde down in weight for the mega payday and Lalonde complied although he was a natural LHW. WBC as I said above did sanction the fight for 2 titles to be part of history and for earning a fat fee.

This is out of my memory so I might be a bit off.

**guru** · 07-06-2009, 04:14 PM

the farce was that lalonde HAD to come in as a super middle(under 168) to defend his light hvy title... think what if cotto had to defend his WW(147lb) title against pac but couldnt wiegh more than 140lbs(a jr ww)....

in the end, he agreed to it, got $5 mil and put on a good fight, but it was still scam to get srl titles in two more weight classes...

**Hitman932** · 07-06-2009, 04:16 PM

I don't see it as a scam.

For instance, I would have no problem if Chad Dawson moved down to 168 to fight Carl Froch and both titles were put on the line despite Dawson weighing only 168 (probably not possible but just making a point)

**BattlingNelson** · 07-06-2009, 04:22 PM

Originally posted by Hitman932

I don't see it as a scam.

For instance, I would have no problem if Chad Dawson moved down to 168 to fight Carl Froch and both titles were put on the line despite Dawson weighing only 168 (probably not possible but just making a point)

Right. As I see it it was only to make Leonard 5-time champ. Otherwise he had no business fighting LHW's since he was really just a junior middleweight.

It is kinda like Mayweather-JMM today but only if Mayweather was JMM.

**Hitman932** · 07-06-2009, 04:23 PM

Originally posted by BattlingNelson

Right. As I see it it was only to make Leonard 5-time champ. Otherwise he had no business fighting LHW's since he was really just a junior middleweight.

Or Leonard coulda just waited for a terrible champion at 175 that he could easily pick off. LaLonda was a good fighter and it made for a great fight. Nothing to complain about in my opinion.

**Dynamite Glove** · 07-06-2009, 04:24 PM

yeah, lalonde dumped teddy before he got this huge payday. teddy felt he showed lalonde alot, especially with his left hand, and felt cheated. in teddy's book he says lalonde was a 'bottle blonde' lol. he still resents him.

I would too. Where ted ****ed up was the gun thing.

I wouldnt've written in a book that I almost whacked the guy, then turned around and went home though.

**Hagler★** · 07-06-2009, 04:27 PM

Originally posted by BattlingNelson

The way I remember it the WBC decided to add the 168 division to their portfolio along with the other sanctioning bodies. Ray Leonard could then be the first 5 division champion and WBC would be part of that history. Leonard and Hearns had a race going as to who would be 5 division champ first and Leonard at the time got recognized as the first to acheive it even though Tommy a little earlier did the same thing but for a new sanctioning body (WBO I think).

Leonard used his leverage to force Lalonde down in weight for the mega payday and Lalonde complied although he was a natural LHW. WBC as I said above did sanction the fight for 2 titles to be part of history and for earning a fat fee.

This is out of my memory so I might be a bit off.

This is spot on it was because it was the inaugral bout for the WBC SMW title, yet Hearns got one up on him by winning the WBO version just b4 Leonard won the WBC, thus becoming the first quintuple champ

Sugar Ray Leonard vs. Donny Lalonde