Leonard wants to see Mayweather-Pacquiao

MANILA, Philippines – Count Sugar Ray Leonard, one of the greatest boxers ever, among those who want to see Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao get in the ring together.

Leonard, best known for his fights with fellow middleweight greats Thomas Hearns, Marvin Hagler and Roberto Duran, recently gave his thoughts on why Mayweather and Pacquiao should face each other.

For him, it’s not about the financial reasons.

"It's more than just the money. Because the money will be there. It's the legacy," the 58-year-old Leonard said in an interview with Fox 11 Los Angeles.

A fight between Mayweather and Pacquiao remains the biggest one that could be arranged as of the moment, with both boxers set to earn career-high paydays. The bout could shatter existing records for the richest and most-watched fight ever.

More importantly, the duel will settle the debate on who’s the best fighter of this generation.

"They should fight," Leonard said. "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.”

Leonard himself beat Hearns once then drew with him, outpointed Hagler, and went 2-1 against Duran. But it was his second fight with Duran in 1980 that came down as the most notable, being known as the “No Mas” bout after the Panamanian quit in the eighth round.

He simply fought the best of his era, and now urges Mayweather and Pacquiao to do the same.

"I think fans are starving for excitement. Fans are starving for competition, evenly matched fights. But it would be huge," Leonard stressed.

Leonard, who retired several times and made comebacks, finally called it quits for good in 1997 after compiling a record of 36-3-1, with 25 knockouts.