American · Rocky Mount, North Carolina · Born 17 May 1956American professional boxer who won world titles in five different weight divisions and Olympic gold, known for his speed, technique and charisma.
Ray Charles Leonard was born in Rocky Mount, North Carolina in 1956. He won the Olympic light welterweight gold medal in Montreal 1976. He became the most commercially successful boxer of the 1980s — his fights against Roberto Durán, Thomas Hearns and Marvin Hagler were the most commercially significant boxing events of the decade. His comeback fight against Hagler in 1987 — regarded as one of the finest individual boxing performances — won a controversial split decision. He won world titles in five weight classes. He announced retirements multiple times. He has been open about drug use and depression during and after his career.
Speed, power, and charisma; epic rivalries with Hearns, Hagler, Duran
How They Played
Fast, powerful puncher with excellent footwork and ring IQ
Lasting Impact
One of boxing's greatest welterweights and pound-for-pound fighters
Career Honours
- World Welterweight Champion
- World Junior Middleweight
- World Middleweight
- World Super Middleweight
- World Light Heavyweight
- Olympic Gold 1976
American Athletes