Sugar Ray Leonard

Sugar Ray Leonard throws a left hook against Marvin Hagler during their WBC middleweight title fight on April 6, 1987, in Las Vegas. It was THE RING Fight of the Year. Photo by The Ring Magazine/Getty Images

Boxing’s biggest crossover star and financial success story in the 1980s was Sugar Ray Leonard, but the ultra-talented 1976 Olympic gold medalist earned his first title shot at the WBC welterweight belt by beating many formidable 147-pound contenders, and he earned his nickname and his celebrity status by taking on the fellow modern greats of his era, such Wilfred Benitez, Roberto Duran, Thomas Hearns and Marvin Hagler.

Won welterweight title: On Nov. 30, 1979, stopping Benitez in Round 15.

Fought for middleweight title: On April 6, 1987, outpointing Hagler via split-decision.

Hall of fame induction: 1997