BOXING NEWS 24

“Sugar” Ray Leonard’s Top 10 with #1 A Surprise

By Ken Hissner - 12/05/2025 - Comments

On YouTube, former 1976 Olympic Gold Medalist and two-division champion “Sugar” Ray Leonard named his top 10 boxers, with #1 a complete surprise!

No. 10 was former middleweight champion “Marvelous” Marvin Hagler, 62-4-2 (52), whom he called the hardest hitter he faced.

No. 9 was former four-division champion Roberto “Hands of Stone” Duran, 103-16 (70), who upset Ray, who fought Duran’s fight, not his own, in their first meeting.

No. 8 former five-division champion Thomas “Hitman” Hearns, 61-5-1 (48), who he said had the scariest right hand he went up against. Surviving his best shots gave him the confidence he could take a good punch.

No. 7 former four-division champion Pernell “Sweet Pea” Whitaker, 40-4-1 (17), whom he contacted after some of his showings, and called him, he had the best skills of the 90’s.

No. 6 former world featherweight champion Willie “Will o’ the Wisp” Pep, 229-11-1 (65) was impressed about his defensive skills and feints and footwork talking to him about his skills.

No. 5 former heavyweight champion Joe “The Brown Bomber” Louis, 66-3 (52), who he called, was how his technical skills impressed him, also, how a champion should carry himself outside of the ring.

No. 4 Henry “Homicide Hank” Armstrong, 149-21-10 (99), about his training routine and combinations, watching his films before his own fights.

No. 3 two-division champion “Sugar” Ray Robinson, 174-19-6 (109), whom he named himself after, making him the most surprised, whom he took plenty of heat for not saying he was #1.

No. 2 former three-time heavyweight champion Muhammad “The Greatest” Ali, 56-5 (37) for another he took plenty of heat for naming not #1.

No. 1 former champion Benny “The Ghetto Wizard” Leonard, 90-6-1 (71) whom he got plenty of heat even some asking him who he was. Ray said he was the perfect lightweight champion, which made him No. 1.

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About the author

Ken Hissner

Ken Hissner is a senior boxing journalist at Boxing News 24 with more than 20 years of experience covering the sport. Known for his ringside reporting, detailed results, and historical perspective, he delivers authoritative coverage of boxing across eras.


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