THE LEGENDS OF THE RING FEATURING

ALL-TIME BOXING GREATS SUGAR RAY LEONARD, THOMAS HEARNS AND ROBERT DURAN

COMES TO PEABODY OPERA HOUSE SATURDAY, JUNE 22, 2013

 

TICKETS ON SALE APRIL 12^TH AT 10 AM

 

The Legends of the Ring, an evening of live, on-stage entertainment featuring all-time boxing greats Sugar Ray Leonard, Thomas Hearns and Robert Durán, will begin a three city tour starting June 21^st at the Midland Theater in Kansas City. The show, which will consist of a sit-down conversation between these pugilistic kings, will be produced by Tate Entertainment/Icon Concerts and moderated by Brian Kilmeade of Fox News.  The performance will also include archived video footage of some of their spectacular battles, short-form original content and questions from the audience. 

 

Show time on June 22, 2013 is 8 p.m.  Ticket Prices are $350, $95, $75 & $55 plus a facility fee.  Tickets available at the Ford Box Office at Scottrade Center, all Ticketmaster ticket centers, www.ticketmaster.com or by phone at 1-800-745-3000.

 

In 1979 Sugar Ray Leonard defeated Wilfredo Benitez to win the WBC Welterweight Championship and was declared “Fighter of the Year” by the Boxing Writers Association of America and Ring Magazine.

 

Vacating the Lightweight title in 1980 for an attempt at the Welterweight title, Roberto Durán earned a pair of wins against former WBC Welterweight Champion Carlos Palamino and Zeferino Gonzalez setting the stage for a title bout against then undefeated WBC Welterweight Champion, Sugar Ray Leonard. The venue chosen was the Olympic Stadium in Montreal, the same location where Leonard won an Olympic gold medal during the 1976 Summer Olympics. Durán resented that he was getting only one-fifth the money Leonard would make despite the fact that he was entering the bout with an incredible 71-1 record. On June 20, 1980, Durán captured the title by defeating Leonard via a 15-round unanimous decision. The fight became known as "The Brawl in Montreal."

 

In their infamous November rematch, Durán unexpectedly quit. Leonard has said that his strategy was to use speed and agility to taunt and frustrate Durán, believing it was his best chance of winning the fight. In the seventh round, Leonard started to taunt Durán. His most memorable punch came late in the round. Winding up with his right hand, as if to throw a bolo punch, Leonard hit Durán flush in the face with a left. In the eighth round, Durán, slightly behind on all three scorecards, shortly after a vicious right-uppercut from Leonard, turned around, walked to his corner and gave up, supposedly saying the now famous words, "No más" (no more). However, he claims to have actually said, "No quiero pelear con el payaso." (Meaning, "I do not want to fight with this clown.") Another version of events has him saying, in Spanish, "I can't continue." Referee Octavio Meyran, perhaps as incredulous as was the rest of the world at what he was seeing, asked Durán if he was sure, and Durán then said, "No más, no más" (no more, no more). In violation of what any professional fighter does on the day of a fight, Durán gorged himself after the weigh-in and claimed he quit because he was having stomach cramps. However, Durán's manager, Carlos Eleta, said, "Durán didn't quit because of stomach cramps. He quit because he was embarrassed. I know this."

Promoted as "The Showdown,” Sugar Ray Leonard fought WBA Welterweight Champion, Thomas Hearns on September 16, 1981 at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas to unify the World Welterweight Championship. In this legendary fight, Hearns suffered his first professional defeat when Leonard stopped him in the 14th round. In the 13th round, Leonard, behind on points on all 3 judge’s scorecards, needed a knockout to win. He came on strong and put Hearns through the ropes at the end of the round. Hearns was dazed, totally out of gas and received a count but was saved by the bell. Leonard, with his left eye shut and time running out, resumed his attack in the 14th. Hearns started the round boxing and moving, but after staggering him with an overhand right, Leonard pinned Hearns against the ropes. After another combination to the body and head, referee Davey Pearl stopped the fight. Hearns and Leonard banked a combined 17 million dollars for the fight, making it the largest purse in sports history. The following year, Leonard retired due to a detached retina caused by a Hearns jab and there would be no rematch until 1989.

Now, for the first time, audiences will be able see up-close and personal, these Hall of Fame warriors reminisce and share their behind-the-scenes stories.  Just to give some perspective, the combined records of these three Hall of Famers is 200 wins, only 24 loses and an astounding 143 knockouts. According to Sugar Ray, “I can’t wait to get together with these guys again and relive our spectacular fights and confrontations. We still have some unfinished business!”

 

After Kansas City, the trio will appear at the Peabody Opera House, St. Louis, MO, Saturday June 22^nd  and the The Murant, Indianapolis, IN, Sunday June 23^rd.