Sugar Ray Leonard was signed to fight Donny ‘The Golden Boy’ Lalonde on Monday, November 7th, 1988 at Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas. The fight would be at the super-middleweight limit of 168 lbs., and be for both the WBC super-middleweight and Lalonde’s 175 belt as well. This despite the fact the WBC said it was against the rules to fight for 2 belts on the same night. For Leonard however, they ignored the rules.
I had been a Sugar Ray fan for a long time, but his bragging and ego had turned me for this fight. Lalonde was forced to fight at an emaciated 168 lbs., while Leonard tipped the scales at 165 lbs. As much as I always rooted hard for him, in this fight I rooted hard to see him lose.
I went to a brand new facility to see this one on closed circuit tv, the Pavilion in Cherry Hill, New Jersey. It was an amphitheater that sat 2000 people, and was perfect place to watch a fight.
Donny fought well to start, and knocked Leonard down hard with a right hand in the fourth round. Ray battled back however, and by the seventh round had gained control. Ray started the hurt Lalonde in the 8th round, and coupled with the fact Donny was exhausted, knocked him out in the 9th.
I was not impressed however, and quickly left the arena. I looked forward to Thomas Hearns getting his revenge when they finally had their rematch.
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