The year of 1980 began with Muhammad Ali talking comeback and with Sugar Ray Leonard the newly crowned WBC welterweight champion of the world. Ali had been the face of boxing for more than 15 years, and was probably the most famous person on the planet. His good looks and gift of gab made him the most popular fighter to ever live, even if there some who didn’t like him. I always enjoyed watching his fights on free tv since I was a young kid, even if I was just a casual boxing fan at best then. An Ali fight was an event, and he kept the sport alive for many years,
With Ali now 38 years old and a faded shell of himself, the good looking Leonard with a million dollar smile was ready to take over as the face of boxing. Ali had retired briefly in 1979, but missed the limelight and money and returned, only to be embarrassed badly by Larry Holmes in October. Ray lost his belt to Roberto Duran in June, and recaptured it in November, cementing his place as boxing’s new face, and I for one was glad to see it!
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