After announcing his retirement on November 9, 1982, Sugar Ray Leonard focused on his broadcasting career with both CBS and HBO as a commentator. As the year 1983 drew to a close, Ray announced “This isn’t a comeback. I’m back!” in a press conference held near his home in Maryland. He had a February 25, 1984 date set with junior middleweight contender Kevin Howard, but the fight was postponed because Ray had to have surgery to his right eye. After undergoing cryotherapy that healed his eye, he was given the okay by doctors to go back in the ring.
Since the airline I worked for at the time flew to Boston, Massachusetts, I made arrangements to fly to Boston, rent a car and drive to Clark University in Worcester to see Sugar Ray train. He was bigger at around 150 pounds, and was engaging with the crowd that had gathered to watch his public workout. He sparred 4 or 5 rounds, did bag work, and finished with a spirited jump rope routine. It was cool to see him back and healthy, and it brought life back to a sport that needed it.
The night of the bout, my cousin Paul taped the action for me, and I picked it up after working my second shift at my airline reservations job. When I got to his front door, he handed me the tape and said he started recording just as Ray made his way to the ring. I heartily thanked him, and flew home to watch the fight on my $650 VCR.
I was shocked when Ray hit the canvas in the fourth round from a Howard right hand. Leonard battled back however, fought off the rust and stopped Howard with a series of punches in the ninth round. Despite cries from Howard and his cornermen, I thought the referee had done a good job. Ray was a tremendous finisher, and would have knocked Howard out cold if he had to.
Surprisingly, Ray announced his retirement from the ring after the bout in the post-fight press conference. He said “The desire isn’t there anymore, and if it wasn’t here tonight, it never will be.” It was a huge disappointment to me to see my favorite fighter leave the game, and left a void in the sport I loved so much.
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