Ray Leonard vs Bruce Finch

On February 15, 1982, the Centennial Coliseum in Reno, Nevada, hosted a significant welterweight title fight between Sugar Ray Leonard and Bruce Finch. This bout marked the second encounter between the two fighters, who had previously met as amateurs in 1973. Leonard won by a points decision over three rounds. The stakes were higher this time as Leonard defended his WBC and WBA World Welterweight titles against Finch.

Leonard entered the fight with a record of 31-1-0, weighing in at 146 pounds, while Finch had a record of 28-3-1 and weighed slightly less at 145¼ pounds. The event was promoted by Main Events and broadcast on HBO World Championship Boxing. Despite losing the first round, Leonard quickly regained control, dropping Finch twice in the second round. This momentum continued into the third round. Leonard again sent Finch to the canvas before referee Mills Lane stopped the fight at 1:50, awarding Leonard a TKO victory.

The fight was notable for Leonard's dominant performance and his first defence of the WBA title, which he had won from Thomas 'Hitman' Hearns five months prior. The sellout crowd 7,330 witnessed a commanding display by Leonard, who demonstrated his skill and power against a formidable opponent. However, this victory would be followed by a significant layoff for Leonard due to a detached retina, which kept him out of the ring for 27 months.

Leonard's subsequent return to boxing was marked by a challenging fight against Kevin Howard, the Ring magazine's eighth-ranked welterweight contender. In a surprising turn of events, Howard managed to floor Leonard in the fourth round, marking the first time Leonard had been knocked down in his professional career. This fight highlighted the competitive nature of the welterweight division during the early 1980s and the resilience of fighters like Leonard, who continued to face tough opponents despite setbacks.