Larry Bonds

Larry Bonds was a professional boxer from Denver, Colorado, who competed in the welterweight division during the 1970s and 1980s. Born November 30, 1951, Bonds began his professional career in 1973 with a victory over fellow debutant Andy Sanchez. He went on to win his first seven bouts before suffering his first loss by a cut eye stoppage against Ezra Davis in Las Vegas in June 1974.

Bonds bounced back from the loss and strung together 12 consecutive wins before facing his second defeat against Kevin Morgan in April 1977, again in Las Vegas. Following this setback, Bonds secured a victory over Bruce Finch, who would later challenge Sugar Ray Leonard for the world title.

On March 28, 1981, Bonds faced his most significant challenge when he fought Leonard for the WBC World Welterweight Title at the Carrier Dome in Syracuse, New York. Despite some questioning Bonds' credentials as the sixth-ranked welterweight by the WBC, he earned the opportunity to face the champion. Leonard's purse for the fight was $750,000, while Bonds received $100,000, a significant increase from his previous highest purse of $1,500.

The fight against Bonds was viewed as a tune-up for Leonard, who had already signed up to challenge WBA Junior Middleweight Champion Ayub Kalule three months later. Bonds and Kalule were southpaws, and Leonard had only faced two southpaws in his professional career up to that point.

In front of a crowd of over 21,000 fans, Leonard was the aggressor against the slick-boxing Bonds. Leonard knocked Bonds down once in the fourth round and again in the tenth. After the second knockdown, Leonard battered Bonds until the referee stopped the fight at 2:22 in the tenth round, securing a successful first defence of his WBC World Welterweight Title.

Nine months after losing to Leonard, Bonds dropped a 10-round decision to Ronnie Shields. He then went on to win against Dave Lopez, Ray Menefee, and Tony Biglen before retiring in 1990 with a respectable record of 32 wins and 5 losses.

Although he may not be as well-known as some of his contemporaries, Larry Bonds was a solid professional boxer who faced one of the greatest fighters of all time, Sugar Ray Leonard. Despite the loss, Bonds' career is a testament to his skill and determination in the ring.