Sugar Ray Leonard was born on May 17, 1956. He was named Ray Charles Leonard, after his mother's favorite singer, Ray Charles. Leonard was the first boxer to earn more than $100 million in purses, won world titles in five weight divisions and defeated future fellow International Boxing Hall of Fame inductees Wilfred Benítez, Thomas Hearns, Roberto Durán and Marvin Hagler.

Leonard was named "Boxer of the Decade" for the 1980s.

He enjoyed a legendary rivalry with Roberto Duran. Duran won their first bout, the Brawl in Montreal, to take Leonard's WBC Welterweight Championship crown.

Sugar Ray gained revenge in New Orleans on November 25, 1980, forcing Duran to quit during the fight.

Leonard also enjoyed a famous showdown with Thomas Hearns in 1981, a fight that was named Fight of the Year by the Ring magazine.