MANILA, Philippines – Isama na si Sugar Ray Leonard, kinikilala bilang isa sa pinakamahuhusay na boxer, sa listahan ng mga gustong mapanood ang Floyd Mayweather Jr.- Manny Pacquiao fight.
Para kay Leonard, nakilala sa kanyang mga laban kontra sa mga bigating sina Thomas Hearns, Marvin Hagler at Roberto Duran, hindi lang pera ang dahilan kung bakit kailangang matuloy ang laban nina Mayweather at Pacquiao.
“It’s more than just the money. Because the money will be there. It’s the legacy,” sabi ng 58-gulang na si Leonard sa panayam ng Fox 11 Los Angeles.
Ang di matuluy-tuloy na paghaharap nina Mayweather at Pacquiao ay inaasahang babasag ng lahat ng record sa kasaysayan ng boxing.
Pero higit sa lahat, ang kanilang paghaharap ang tutukoy kung sino talaga ang best-pound-for-pound king.
“They should fight,” sabi ni Leonard. “Now they’re leaning more towards Mayweather. Because at first it was ‘We don’t know who’s going to win the fight’ – like Tommy Hearns and I, like Hagler and I, like Duran and I.”
“I think fans are starving for excitement. Fans are starving for competition,” giit pa ni Leonard.