Q&A: Sugar Ray Leonard on Angelo Dundee and mega-fights

It wasn’t just the words — “You’re blowing it, son!” — that Sugar Ray Leonard heard as he peered into the wise, aged eyes of trainer Angelo Dundee more than 30 years ago.

Leonard also caught the sincerity of the message, and with that the motivation necessary to score a remarkable 14th-round knockout of Thomas Hearns that enhanced his standing as an icon of boxing. Leonard, a Southland resident, is now beginning work on a film version of his recent autobiography.

Dundee, who died Wednesday at 90, is best remembered for being the longtime trainer of Muhammad Ali and Leonard.

Leonard, 55, began training with Dundee after winning a gold medal at the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal. With Dundee in his corner, Leonard went through a decade-plus of legendary fights against Wilfred Benitez, Roberto Duran, Hearns and Marvin Hagler.

When did you last see Angelo?

“A couple months ago for his 90th birthday. We talked about life — his wife, Helen, had just passed —- and it was tough on him not having her around. We talked about the fight game and reminisced about the special moments. He was a great guy to hang around with. You didn’t have to press a button to get him started, or to pause. Losing him puts into perspective how precious life is. I never thought we’d lose him, even at the age of 90. He had so much zest, so much enthusiasm about life, his next project, next fight or fighter and who he was helping to either remain or become a champion.”

How did you guys hook up in the first place?

“I made the decision to turn pro and I remember what Ali said to me: ‘Get Angelo Dundee. He’s the right complexion with the right connection.’ He knew boxing. Our relationship was so genuine, so sincere. It was a major asset to my most major moments — in Hearns, Hagler, Duran.”

So much is made of Angelo’s “You’re blowing it, son” line. Do you recall other lessons from him?

“When the trainer talks to the fighter, there’s a connection. You don’t always have to say much. Five days before the Hagler fight, I got hit so hard I almost got knocked out by one of my sparring partners. That does a tremendously negative thing. But Angelo came to me with that sense of cool, and said, ‘Those things happen, let’s get up and move on, that’s boxing.’ He always believed, even if he didn’t believe. The ambience of calm was good. He spoke from the heart, the mind.”

So when he confronts you that the Hearns fight is slipping away . . .

“No one else in that corner could ever say those words to me. It was urgency without being desperate. I’m exhausted, totally whipped. My left eye’s shutting. Everything that was going wrong. But he said that and activated something in me. He activated that nerve, that thing inside you. . . . Ali spoke of that feeling, too, when he said beating Joe Frazier in their third fight was the closest thing to death he’d ever experienced. People can do more than they ever believe they can do. Physically, mentally, academically. You have to be pushed. It hurts. But it’s worth it, and it’s a great thing.”

I assume your experiences with Angelo helped regardless of who you fought?

“The first Duran fight [a unanimous-decision loss] exemplified that. I went 15 rounds with a monster. He hurt me bad a number of times, but I stayed up. Same with Benitez. I was exhausted, man, and it’s about who wants it just that little bit more. That’s who wins. That’s why tapping into the reservoir of Angelo was so great.”

Did you ever discuss with Ali the effect Angelo had on both of you?

“No, you don’t appreciate something until it’s gone. That’s the way life is. I showed appreciation to Angelo, I remember hugging Angelo. It tears me up a bit now thinking about that. But you live for the moment, then when it’s over you can’t believe it. The advice Muhammad gave me to turn to Angelo, though, was the best advice I received in my career.”

Regarding the other major boxing news of the past week, Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao failing again to strike a deal to fight . . . I know you had to deal with tough negotiations to make your super-fights back in the day. Why does this one continue to unravel?

“They both have to say they want the fight. The momentum I had for a Hagler fight had slowed down, there was a bit of trepidation from Hagler, but I kept hammering away. I went against my attorney and spoke to [reporter] James Brown, said I wanted to fight Hagler and got the thing rolling. I made it happen, to my attorney’s discomfort. They both have to really want the fight and feel it’s important to their legacy. It is an important fight to the fans, but I’m not sure it’s as important to them. But those guys fighting each other will add to who they are. Each says they are the pound-for-pound best — Floyd more than Manny. [So] fight each other to prove it. It’s that simple.”

lance.pugmire@latimes.com

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