“I watched Ali, studied Ali, and I studied Sugar Ray Robinson. I watched them display showmanship. I watched them use pizzazz, personality, and charisma. I took things from them and borrowed things from them because boxing is entertainment.”

American former professional boxer

Sugar Ray Leonard is an American former professional boxer. Born in 1956, he competed from 1976 to 1997 and became one of the best-known fighters of his era. He also won a light welterweight gold medal at the 1976 Summer Olympics. Leonard captured world titles in five weight classes, the lineal championship in three, and the undisputed welterweight championship. He was also part of the 1980s group known as the Four Kings, alongside Roberto Durán, Thomas Hearns, and Marvin Hagler, and he was the only one to defeat the other three.