| Main article: wikipedia:Sugar Ray Leonard |
Ray Charles Leonard, best known as "Sugar" Ray Leonard (シュガー・レイ・レナード, Shugā Rei Renādo), is an American former professional boxer, motivational speaker, and occasional actor. Often regarded as one of the greatest boxers of all time, he competed from 1977 to 1997, winning world titles in five weight divisions; the lineal championship in three weight divisions; as well as the undisputed welterweight title. Leonard was part of "The Fabulous Four", a group of boxers who all fought each other throughout the 1980s, consisting of himself, Roberto Durán, Thomas Hearns and Marvin Hagler.
References in Hajime no Ippo[]
In Round 2 - Sugar Ray Leonard vs. Thomas Hearns.
- In Round 2, Haruhiko Yagi and Genji Kamogawa were watching the Sugar Ray Leonard vs. Thomas Hearns match.
- In the anime, they are watching two unknown boxers fighting instead.
- In Round 23, after Ippo Makunouchi's debut match win against Oda Yūsuke, Kamogawa Boxing Gym members went to Sugar Ray to celebrate.
- In Round 123, during Ippo vs Okita Keigo match, Okita has a flashback with Date Eiji, where Date mentioned to Okita that there were plenty of other boxers to model after than him like Sugar Ray Leonard or Marvin Hagler.
- In Round 56, during Fujii Minoru interview with Hayami Ryūichi, Hayami was looking down on Ippo. Fuji thought Hayami was like Muhammad Ali, who liked to bad mouth his opponents in order to appease the media. But Fuji added that Ali was popular because he can back his mouth. Fujii thought if Hayami talked too much, he might end up embarrassing himself. Hayami somewhat agreed, but he didn't believe Ali was just a showman type, and his words were simply done for the media. He thought Ali forced it upon himself to pressure himself into a situation where he absolutely could not lose.
- Hayami believed that Japan should become like America, where the boxers should receive a lot more media attends and awards to go along with their efforts. He felt if there was charismatic boxers like Muhammad Ali or Sugar Ray Leonard for the fans to get behind, which was his goal.
- In Round 64, after Ippo defeated Hayami in the East Japan Rookie King Tournament Semi-Finals, Hayami told his coach they didn't need to push themselves on the loss since Muhammad Ali and Sugar Ray Leonard lost sometimes too. Their legend of invincibility began after they lost. Hayami added that they need to believe in his road back, where the next time he steps into the ring will be the start of his legend.
- In Round 123, during Makunouchi Ippo vs Okita Keigo match, Okita had a flashback moment with Date Eiji, where Date complimented Okita on becoming strong. Okita thought it was just because he learned to copy Date some. However, Date believed there were plenty of other boxers to model after like Sugar Ray Leonard or Hagler.
- In Round 233, Īmura Mari mentioned her favourite boxers are Thomas Hearns, Sugar Ray Leonard, and Roberto Durán.
- In Round 383, while watching Takamura Mamoru use his speed against Bryan Hawk, Sendō Takeshi noted that Sugar Ray Leonard and Thomas Hearns have incredible speed, but he thought Takamura was faster than their own featherweight class.
- In Round 715, during Itagaki Manabu and Hoshi Hiroyuki's match, Kimura Tatsuya compared Itagaki to Leonard while watching him dodge punches with the Bullet Time.
- In Round 1081, prior to Takamura Mamoru vs Richard Bison WBC & WBA unification middleweight title match, the ring announcer mentioned that a Japanese boxer has never attempted to unify the titles of two different organisation in the weight class of Sugar Ray Robinson, Carlos Monzón, Sugar Ray Leonard, Thomas Hearns have all fought in.
- In Round 1143, the Kamogawa gym members wondered who Kurita Baron's ideal was. They believed that it was Hagler, Leonard, or Ali since it seems like Baron had high standards.
Trivia[]
- Miyata Ichirō's fighting style is modelled after Leonard.[1][2]
- The Miyata vs. Mashiba Ryō match was modelled after Leonard vs. Thomas Hearns[3]
- Leonard is Miyata's favourite boxer.[4]