40 years ago

Date: 11th May 1984

Title: 10 Round Super-welterweight Bout

Promoter: Dan Doyle

Tv: HBO

Ray Leonard
( 32 - 1 - 0 )
Weight: 149 lbs

Kevin Howard
( 20 - 4 - 1 )
Weight: 150½ lbs

On Friday, May 11th, 1984, Sugar Ray Leonard made his much-anticipated return to the ring in a 10-round super-welterweight bout against Kevin Howard at the DCU Center in Worcester, Massachusetts. Leonard had been out of the ring for two years due to a detached retina in his left eye, but his successful surgery and subsequent clearance to fight had paved the way for his comeback. Howard, a 26-year-old from Philadelphia with a record of 20-4-1, was the underdog against the 27-year-old Leonard, whose record was 32-1-0.

The fight started slowly, with both fighters feeling each other out. However, by the fifth round, Leonard had begun to assert himself, landing several powerful shots that rocked Howard. Despite the damage, Howard refused to go down and continued to fight on, even landing a few blows of his own. Leonard's superior speed and technique proved too much for Howard, and in the ninth round, Leonard delivered a vicious left hook that sent Howard to the canvas. Howard was unable to beat the count, and the fight was stopped at 2:28 in the ninth round, with Leonard declared the winner by TKO.

Leonard's win was a triumphant return to the sport he loved and a testament to his remarkable resilience and skill. His return had been eagerly anticipated by boxing fans around the world, and the fight was a sellout, with a crowd of 10,461 at the Centrum. Leonard's purse was a massive $3 million, while Howard's was a comparatively modest $125,000. The fight was also televised live on HBO, ensuring that fans around the world could witness the spectacle of one of boxing's greatest champions returning to the ring.