--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Sugar Ray Leonard was as close as anyone…" description: "\"Sugar Ray Leonard was as close as anyone came after Ali to being Ali, but he wasn't Ali.\" — Dick Schaap" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/edc/dick-schaap-23889_after_sugar-ray-leonard-was-as-close-as-anyone_1459179.png" --- # Sugar Ray Leonard was as close as anyone came after Ali to… ![“Sugar Ray Leonard was as close as anyone came after Ali to being Ali, but he wasn't Ali.” quote by Dick Schaap](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/edc/dick-schaap-23889_after_sugar-ray-leonard-was-as-close-as-anyone_1459179.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/edc/dick-schaap-23889_after_sugar-ray-leonard-was-as-close-as-anyone_1459179.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/edc/dick-schaap-23889_after_sugar-ray-leonard-was-as-close-as-anyone_1459179.png) > “Sugar Ray Leonard was as close as anyone came after Ali to being Ali, but he wasn't Ali.” [Dick Schaap](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-schaap/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Sugar Ray Leonard was the closest challenger to Muhammad Ali’s legacy, yet he remained distinct, underscoring the uniqueness of each champion. **In simple terms:** Leonard was great but not Ali. Key Takeaway Recognize each athlete’s unique contributions. Themes sports legacy comparison Mood analytical respectful Type historical inspirational When to use this quote - sports commentary - historical analysis - team building - leadership training Key Concepts greatness individuality boxing history Questions to Reflect On - What qualities set your role model apart? - How do you honor individuality in competition? A Different Perspective Comparisons can diminish appreciation for distinct talents. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Being](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being/) [Wrestling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wrestling/) ## Related quotes > [You couldn't find a more stylized boxer than Sugar Ray Leonard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/usher/you-couldn-t-find-a-more-stylized-boxer-than-sugar-ray-leonard/) [Usher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/usher/) > [Ray Leonard is more the family man, kind of quiet. He's not as outgoing as Sugar Ray Leonard. Sugar Ray Leonard was very determined,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sugar-ray-leonard/ray-leonard-is-more-the-family-man-kind-of-quiet-he-s-not-as-outgoing/) [Sugar Ray Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sugar-ray-leonard/) > [Ray Leonard was... he was the best in his era, like Im the best in my era.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/floyd-mayweather/ray-leonard-was-he-was-the-best-in-his-era-like-im-the-best-in-my-era/) [Floyd Mayweather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/floyd-mayweather/) > [Ray Leonard was more of a favorite than Thomas Hearns that night.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hearns/ray-leonard-was-more-of-a-favorite-than-thomas-hearns-that-night/) [Thomas Hearns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hearns/) > [I liked Roy Jones, Sugar Ray Leonard, Ali... those were the guys I was looking at growing up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nonito-donaire/i-liked-roy-jones-sugar-ray-leonard-ali-those-were-the-guys-i-was/) [Nonito Donaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nonito-donaire/) > [Sugar Ray and talked about doing some articles together or writing a book together but dealing with Sugar Ray was a lot like fighting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-schaap/sugar-ray-and-talked-about-doing-some-articles-together-or-writing-a/) [Dick Schaap](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-schaap/) > [I got to know Sugar Ray but I certainly would not say we were good friends.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-schaap/i-got-to-know-sugar-ray-but-i-certainly-would-not-say-we-were-good/) [Dick Schaap](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-schaap/) > [I did not choose necessarily on the basis of significance. If you have a vote for the most significant athlete, then you have Ali,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-schaap/i-did-not-choose-necessarily-on-the-basis-of-significance-if-you-have/) [Dick Schaap](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-schaap/) > [I thought I would make so much money and be the next Ray Leonard. Maybe it was farfetched, but I thought I could be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulie-malignaggi/i-thought-i-would-make-so-much-money-and-be-the-next-ray-leonard/) [Paulie Malignaggi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulie-malignaggi/) > [Sugar Ray Leonard's retirements last about as long as Elizabeth Taylor's marriages.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-arum/sugar-ray-leonard-s-retirements-last-about-as-long-as-elizabeth/) [Bob Arum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-arum/) > [My first boxing memory is watching Marvin Hagler and Sugar Ray Leonard on television.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-calzaghe/my-first-boxing-memory-is-watching-marvin-hagler-and-sugar-ray/) [Joe Calzaghe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-calzaghe/) > [I love to watch fights with Sugar Ray Leonard before my fights. I learn from his fights. I also like to watch Gennady Golovkin,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dmitry-bivol/i-love-to-watch-fights-with-sugar-ray-leonard-before-my-fights-i/) [Dmitry Bivol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dmitry-bivol/) > [Other great fighters like Sugar Ray Leonard and Muhammad Ali have fallen to the canvas. Why not Julio Cesar Chavez?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julio-cesar-chavez-sr/other-great-fighters-like-sugar-ray-leonard-and-muhammad-ali-have/) [Julio Cesar Chavez Sr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julio-cesar-chavez-sr/) > [Someone once said there was a comparison between Sugar Ray Leonard and Sugar Ray Robinson. Believe me, there's no comparison. Sugar Ray Robinson was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sugar-ray-leonard/someone-once-said-there-was-a-comparison-between-sugar-ray-leonard/) [Sugar Ray Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sugar-ray-leonard/) > [I know I've been out for a while and but I'm not going to talk about ring rust or use it as an excuse.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kell-brook/i-know-i-ve-been-out-for-a-while-and-but-i-m-not-going-to-talk-about/) [Kell Brook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kell-brook/) ## More by Dick Schaap > [I was also in love with the English language.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-schaap/i-was-also-in-love-with-the-english-language/) [Dick Schaap](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-schaap/) > [I came up with new leads for game stories by being observant and clever, by using the many gifts of the English language to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-schaap/i-came-up-with-new-leads-for-game-stories-by-being-observant-and/) [Dick Schaap](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-schaap/) > [In fifty years of covering the sport, of course Muhammad Ali is by far the dominant figure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-schaap/in-fifty-years-of-covering-the-sport-of-course-muhammad-ali-is-by-far/) [Dick Schaap](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-schaap/) > [I think my mistakes were kind of common - leaning on cliches and adjectives in the place of clear, vivid writing. But at least…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-schaap/i-think-my-mistakes-were-kind-of-common-leaning-on-cliches-and/) [Dick Schaap](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-schaap/) > [Sugar Ray and talked about doing some articles together or writing a book together but dealing with Sugar Ray was a lot like fighting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-schaap/sugar-ray-and-talked-about-doing-some-articles-together-or-writing-a/) [Dick Schaap](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-schaap/) > [All of journalism is a shrinking art. So much of it is hype. The O.J. Simpson story is a landmark in the decline of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-schaap/all-of-journalism-is-a-shrinking-art-so-much-of-it-is-hype-the-o-j/) [Dick Schaap](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-schaap/) > [I began learning the sportswriting business very early in life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-schaap/i-began-learning-the-sportswriting-business-very-early-in-life/) [Dick Schaap](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-schaap/) > [I think on balance, Don King has been bad for boxing. I think he's done some very good things and I think he did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-schaap/i-think-on-balance-don-king-has-been-bad-for-boxing-i-think-he-s-done/) [Dick Schaap](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-schaap/) > [It's kind of ironic that the two sports with the greatest characters, boxing and horse racing, have both been on the decline. In both…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-schaap/it-s-kind-of-ironic-that-the-two-sports-with-the-greatest-characters/) [Dick Schaap](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-schaap/) > [Today, it's money. There's no question about that. Unless you endorse a grill that cooks hamburgers and steaks, where else can you make the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-schaap/today-it-s-money-there-s-no-question-about-that-unless-you-endorse-a/) [Dick Schaap](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-schaap/) > [My top three were Jim Brown, Wilt Chamberlain and Bo Jackson.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-schaap/my-top-three-were-jim-brown-wilt-chamberlain-and-bo-jackson/) [Dick Schaap](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-schaap/) > [Sportswriters have changed more than sportswriting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-schaap/sportswriters-have-changed-more-than-sportswriting/) [Dick Schaap](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-schaap/) > [I worked with Rocky Graziano and Rocky was certainly a character.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-schaap/i-worked-with-rocky-graziano-and-rocky-was-certainly-a-character/) [Dick Schaap](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-schaap/) > [Sugar Ray Robinson was at the top of the boxing world during the 1950's when it seemed that he would either win or lose…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-schaap/sugar-ray-robinson-was-at-the-top-of-the-boxing-world-during-the-1950/) [Dick Schaap](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-schaap/) > [Cliches and adjectives permeated my prose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-schaap/cliches-and-adjectives-permeated-my-prose/) [Dick Schaap](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-schaap/) [Explore all 25 Dick Schaap quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-schaap/) ## More After quotes > [At the drop of a hat, people will say there are no roles for women after 40. 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