As of October 2023, Sugar Ray Leonard’s net worth is roughly $120 Million.
Sugar Ray Leonard, hailing from North Carolina, is an ex-professional boxer, occasional actor, and motivational speaker of American origin.
He is widely recognized as one of the most exceptional boxers in the history of the sport.
Who is Ray Charles Leonard ?
Ray Charles Leonard, born May 17, 1956, is “Sugar” Ray Leonard, an American ex-pro boxer, motivational speaker, and occasional actor.
He fought professionally from 1977 to 1997, winning world titles in five weight classes and the undisputed welterweight championship.
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Leonard, along with Roberto Durán, Thomas Hearns, and Marvin Hagler, formed the “Four Kings,” a group of boxers who battled each other in the 1980s.
He also secured a light welterweight gold medal at the 1976 Summer Olympics.
The “Four Kings” boosted the popularity of lower weight classes, keeping boxing relevant post-Muhammad Ali.
Leonard defeated fellow International Boxing Hall of Fame inductees Hearns, Durán, Hagler, and Wilfred Benítez.
Leonard was the first boxer to earn over $100 million in purses and was the “Boxer of the Decade” in the 1980s.
The Ring magazine named him Fighter of the Year in 1976, 1979, and 1981, and the Boxing Writers Association of America also recognized him as Fighter of the Year in those years.
In 2002, The Ring ranked him as the ninth greatest fighter of the last 80 years, and in 2016, he was named the greatest living fighter by The Ring.
BoxRec ranks him as the 14th greatest pound-for-pound boxer of all time.
What is Sugar Ray Leonard’s Net Worth?
Sugar Ray Leonard, an American retired pro boxer and motivational speaker, boasts a net worth of $120 million.
He’s often compared to “Sugar Ray” Robinson and is among the greatest boxers.
Across 20 years, he clinched world titles in five weight divisions and held lineal championships in three, along with the undisputed welterweight title.
After Muhammad Ali’s era, Leonard, part of the “Fabulous Four” alongside Roberto Duran, Thomas Hearns, and Marvin Hagler, rejuvenated boxing’s appeal, particularly in lower weight classes.
He triumphed over these contemporaries and also defeated Wilfred Benitez.
Leonard stands out for his financial achievements, becoming the first boxer to earn over $100 million in purses.
He’s a multiple award winner, including Boxer of the Year, and consistently ranks among the top pound-for-pound boxers.
Major Paydays
In 1979, Leonard secured his first world title, beating Wilfred Benitez for the WBC Welterweight Championship and a $1 million prize.
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In 1980, he defended his title, knocking out Dave “Boy” Green.
Despite losing to Roberto Duran, Leonard earned over $9 million.
He later earned $7 million in a rematch, where he outboxed Duran, who quit in embarrassment.
Leonard defended his title, winning $11 million against Thomas Hearns in 1981.
In 1982, a detached retina led to his retirement, but he made a comeback in 1983 despite eye concerns.
After a few losses, he retired again. But in 1986, he fought Marvin Hagler, earning a minimum of $11 million and winning in a controversial split-decision.
Early life
In 1979, Leonard secured his first world title, beating Wilfred Benitez for the WBC Welterweight Championship and a $1 million prize.
In 1980, he defended his title, knocking out Dave “Boy” Green. Despite losing to Roberto Duran, Leonard earned over $9 million.
He later earned $7 million in a rematch, where he outboxed Duran, who quit in embarrassment.
Leonard defended his title, winning $11 million against Thomas Hearns in 1981.
In 1982, a detached retina led to his retirement, but he made a comeback in 1983 despite eye concerns.
After a few losses, he retired again. But in 1986, he fought Marvin Hagler, earning a minimum of $11 million and winning in a controversial split-decision.
Biography
Sugar Ray Leonard, a beloved fighter, was originally named Ray Charles Leonard, with a singing career in mind.
He achieved multiple titles in amateur boxing, including North American champion and Golden Gloves champion.
He secured a gold medal at the 1975 Pan American Games in Montreal.
Initially planning to attend the University of Maryland, he succumbed to the financial allure of pro boxing in 1977.
Quickly rising as a top welterweight, Leonard’s charisma and skill made him a media favorite.
In 1979, he won his first world title against Wilfred Benitez but lost it to Roberto Duran in 1980.
Leonard reclaimed the title in a 1980 rematch by TKO in the eighth round.
In 1981, he defeated Tommy Hearns to unify the title, earning an estimated $10 million.
He added the light middleweight title in 1981 by defeating Ayub Kalule.
His 1982 retirement was prompted by a detached retina but he returned to the ring in 1984.
In 1986, Leonard controversially defeated Marvelous Marvin Hagler for the WBC middleweight title.
He briefly returned in 1988 and fought until 1991, winning the WBC super-middleweight and light-heavyweight titles.
In 1997, he was decisively beaten by Hector “Macho” Camacho but still secured professional world titles in five weight classes.
Career
In his mid-teens, Leonard excelled in boxing, winning 145 of 150 bouts as an amateur.
He secured multiple championships.
After winning gold at the 1976 Olympics, he initially retired but returned as a professional on February 5, 1977.
In November 1979, he defeated Wilfred Benítez, the reigning WBC welterweight champion, but lost to Roberto Durán in June 1980.
Five months later, Leonard regained the title by defeating Durán.
He successfully defended it, winning the WBA title against Thomas Hearns in 1981 and the junior-middleweight title against Ayub Kalule that same year.
Leonard retired in 1982 and then again in 1984.
However, he was enticed to return in 1987 and faced Marvelous Marvin Hagler, winning the WBC middleweight title in a legendary match.
In 1991, after losing a WBC super welterweight title bout, Leonard retired.
He came back in 1997 but lost, ending with a record of 36 wins, 3 losses, and 1 draw.
In 1997, he was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame. After retiring, he became a boxing commentator and TV host.
His memoir, “The Big Fight: My Life In and Out of the Ring” (2011), discussed his battles with drugs, alcohol, and alleged sexual abuse by an “Olympic boxing coach.”
Relationships
In 1980, Sugar Ray Leonard married his childhood sweetheart, Juanita Wilkinson.
They’d been together for years and had a son.
In 1984, they had another child, but in 1990, they divorced.
During the proceedings, Juanita revealed that Ray used alcohol and cocaine and had physically abused her while. intoxicated.
Ray admitted to these claims, attributing his cocaine use to missing the competitive thrill.
However, he maintained it didn’t cause their breakup.
A year before the divorce, Ray met Bernadette Robi.
They married in 1993 in a lavish ceremony at his Pacific Palisades property transformed into a flower garden with flowers imported from Holland.
