Sugar Ray Leonard defended his WBC world welterweight title against Dave Boy Green

Date: March 31, 1980

Venue: Capital Centre, Landover, Maryland

Leonard stance: orthodox

Green stance: orthodox

Sugar Ray Leonard was an outstanding amateur boxer, and was Olympic light welterweight champion at the 1976 games in Montreal. This was supposed to be his last fight, but Leonard had to abandon plans to attend college and raise money to support his newborn son. Leonard turned pro in 1977 and won the NABF welterweight title in his 24th bout, stopping former world title challenger Pete Ranzany in the fourth round in 1979. Two fights later, Leonard challenged unbeaten Wilfred Benitez for the WBC welterweight title and after a tactical duel, Leonard stopped Benitez with just six seconds remaining in the final round.

Dave Boy Green turned pro in 1974. He won the British light welterweight title in his 16th bout when Joey Singleton retired in the sixth round. Six fights later, Green won the vacant European light welterweight title when Jean-Baptiste Piedvache retired in the ninth round. In 1977, Green stopped former WBC welterweight champion John Stracey in the tenth round. That win earned Green a shot at Carlos Palomino's WBC crown, and Green was knocked out in the 11th round - his first loss. In 1979, Green won the European welterweight title when he stopped Henry Rhiney in the fifth round. Green lost the title in his first defence, when he was knocked out in the third round by Jørgen Hansen. Green won his next two bouts, most recently a points win over Dick Eklund.

For an in depth look at their respective records, visit:

Sugar Ray Leonard - https://boxrec.com/en/proboxer/269

Dave "Boy" Green - https://boxrec.com/en/box-pro/2200