After defeating Roberto Duran in December 1989, Ray Leonard needed to take some time off to let his injured eye heal from the plastic surgery it required from that fight. The WBC champion super-welterweight champ at the time was ‘Terrible’ Terry Norris, one of boxing’s shining young stars. Sugar Ray picked him as his next opponent in late 1990, and a February 9, 1991 date at Madison Square Garden in New York City was chosen as the venue. The pay-per-view card would be broadcast on Showtime, since Ray’s longtime employer as a boxing commentator HBO, didn’t make an offer to broadcast the Norris fight.
It marked the end of Ray’s broadcast career with HBO, but his choice to fight at 154 lbs. after nearly 10 years as a middleweight concerned me more. Leonard said “I want to see if I can be the fighter of the 90’s, so I’m picking Norris to find out.”
To see it, I went to my sister’s apartment to order Showtime for a month at $30, and in turn I’d get to see the bout. She could keep Showtime for the month and watch their movies, so it was a good deal for her. Since she was a bartender on Saturday nights, it didn’t matter to her anyway. On my way over that Saturday night in early February, I was more than a little nervous. Norris was quick and strong, and I had doubts whether Ray could handle him at 34 years old.
It wasn’t long into the fight that my worst fears were realized. Norris dropped Leonard late in the second round, and hit Ray again while he was still down. The all-time great got up and fought back hard, but was overwhelmed most of the night. He would never stop trying, but Norris’s speed was difficult for him to deal with. Ray went down again in the seventh., and I just prayed that he would survive the 12 rounds and go home safe.
Sugar Ray showed tremendous heart and courage by never giving up, but lost a lopsided decision when it was all over. He announced his retirement in ring center, and the drive home was sad after seeing one of my all-time favorites being done for good. The great memories over the years stuck in my mind more as I digested this tough night over the next few weeks, which helped me accept the loss and move on.
After enjoying retirement for nearly 6 years, Ray foolishly accepted a challenge from Hector Camacho, and signed to fight him on March 1, 1997 at middleweight. It would be Ray’s first fight in Atlantic City, and was a night I’d rather forget. To see him knocked out by a life long drug addict like Camacho made me physically ill, but at least this time Ray finally hung the gloves up for good.
Sugar Ray was deservedly inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in Canastota, New York in June of 1997, and to this day remains one of my all-time favorite boxers.
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