Sugar Ray Leonard’s controversial draw with Thomas Hearns is a fight everybody knows should have been scored differently, including the man himself.
The boxing Hall of Famer is among the all-time greats, with world titles in five weight classes throughout his incredible career.
Sugar Ray Leonard became a household name due to his battles with the “Four Kings”, having classics with Thomas Hearns, Roberto Duran, and Marvin Hagler during a golden age of boxing.
However, one of those fights ended in controversy, which fans are still upset about to this very day.
Sugar Ray Leonard fought to a controversial draw in his second fight with Thomas Hearns
Arguably, the most controversial fight of Leonard’s career was the 12-round draw against Hearns, nearly a decade after Leonard’s first victory over his opponent.
Leonard stopped Hearns in the 14th round of their 1981 clash, adding the WBA Welterweight title to his impressive collection of championships, which included the WBC and The Ring belts.
Their rematch nine years later was a much different affair, this time being contested for the WBC Super Middleweight title.
Leonard came into the fight with a 35-1 record, his only loss being the unanimous decision loss to Duran, before their rematch later that year in the “No Mas” fight.
However, one fight before the final installment of the Duran/Leonard trilogy, Thomas Hearns challenged the champion in an incredibly close fight.
While Leonard landed some fantastic combinations, the resiliency of Hearns to brush them off and continue his own assault turned this fight into a classic.
He managed to knock down Leonard twice in the close fight, leading many to score him the winner. However, the crowd booed as the judges’ scorecards were revealed.
They scored the fight 112-113, 113-112, 112-112, ruling the fight as a draw, much to the chagrin of Hearns and the crowd, certain that the challenger had won the fight and the title.
As it turns out, Leonard also shared that opinion.
Sugar Ray Leonard admits that Thomas Hearns deserved to win their fight
Leonard also knew that he’d lost the second fight to Hearns, something he freely admits in his later years.
The humble fighter told The Schmo that he knows that Hearns beat him, teasing a trilogy fight between the two rivals.
Leonard said: “I’m glad you said that, in reference to the draw. Thomas Hearns should’ve gotten that decision. I think he… well, I felt—I know he beat me. So, we may do another.”
It’s been nearly three decades since his last fight, so I would be shocked to see the 69-year-old back in the ring any time soon.