--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I made the decision to turn pro, and I…" description: "\"I made the decision to turn pro, and I remember what Ali said to me: 'Get Angelo Dundee. He's the right complexion with the right connection.' He knew ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c79/sugar-ray-leonard-3228_ali_i-made-the-decision-to-turn-pro-and-i-re_221760.jpg" --- # I made the decision to turn pro, and I remember what Ali… ![“I made the decision to turn pro, and I remember what Ali said to me: 'Get Angelo Dundee. He's the right complexion with the right connection.' He knew boxing. Our relationship was so genuine, so sincere.” quote by Sugar Ray Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c79/sugar-ray-leonard-3228_ali_i-made-the-decision-to-turn-pro-and-i-re_221760.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c79/sugar-ray-leonard-3228_ali_i-made-the-decision-to-turn-pro-and-i-re_221760.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c79/sugar-ray-leonard-3228_ali_i-made-the-decision-to-turn-pro-and-i-re_221760.jpg) > “I made the decision to turn pro, and I remember what Ali said to me: 'Get Angelo Dundee. He's the right complexion with the right connection.' He knew boxing. Our relationship was so genuine, so sincere.” [Sugar Ray Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sugar-ray-leonard/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Choosing the right mentor with expertise and genuine connection is crucial for success in professional sports. **In simple terms:** Pick a knowledgeable, trustworthy mentor. Key Takeaway Seek mentors who truly understand your field. Themes mentorship expertise trust career sports Mood inspirational reflective Type advice personal development When to use this quote - professional boxing - career transition - training decisions Key Concepts sports psychology networking skill development Questions to Reflect On - Who in your life embodies that genuine expertise? - How do you evaluate a mentor’s authenticity? A Different Perspective A mentor alone cannot guarantee success without personal effort. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Boxing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/boxing/) [Connection](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/connection/) [Decision](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decision/) [Relationship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/relationship/) [Sincere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sincere/) [Wrestling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wrestling/) ## Related quotes > [“Our faces were overly close, and in that moment something more passed between us. I’d never felt this kind of thing with a guy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-tawn-bergren/our-faces-were-overly-close-and-in-that-moment-something-more-passed/) [Lisa Tawn Bergren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-tawn-bergren/) > [Michelangelo's girlfriend, who said to Angelo, Forget the paint - let's put a mirror on the ceiling. Never got a dinner!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/red-buttons/michelangelo-s-girlfriend-who-said-to-angelo-forget-the-paint-let-s/) [Red Buttons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/red-buttons/) > [“I want to come inside you,” Corey said. Angelo squeezed his eyes shut. “Fuck. Say it again while you give me more.” Corey drew…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darien-cox/i-want-to-come-inside-you-corey-said-angelo-squeezed-his-eyes-shut/) [Darien Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darien-cox/) > [I knew about boxing, as my dad could fight. He had a successful security firm in Liverpool, and I'd see him come back from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-bellew/i-knew-about-boxing-as-my-dad-could-fight-he-had-a-successful/) [Tony Bellew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-bellew/) > [Ben Getty knew boxing. Even if I didn't believe in myself... he knew what he was talking about. For him to believe means I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-thurman/ben-getty-knew-boxing-even-if-i-didn-t-believe-in-myself-he-knew-what/) [Keith Thurman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-thurman/) > [Every day as a kid, I went to the boxing gym. I knew boxing before I knew anything else. And I was once told…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/floyd-mayweather-jr/every-day-as-a-kid-i-went-to-the-boxing-gym-i-knew-boxing-before-i/) [Floyd Mayweather, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/floyd-mayweather-jr/) > [The outgoing and spontaneous person that the world knew while I was boxing was a persona that I created to sell tickets and promote…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muhammad-ali/the-outgoing-and-spontaneous-person-that-the-world-knew-while-i-was/) [Muhammad Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muhammad-ali/) > [I knew boxing before I knew anything else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/floyd-mayweather-jr/i-knew-boxing-before-i-knew-anything-else/) [Floyd Mayweather, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/floyd-mayweather-jr/) > [You get these moments in the ring that live forever. That's what Muhammad Ali accomplished, and I hope that I have, too.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sugar-ray-leonard/you-get-these-moments-in-the-ring-that-live-forever-that-s-what/) [Sugar Ray Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sugar-ray-leonard/) > [I learned to run backwards from Muhammad Ali. He told me about running backwards because you try to imitate everything you do in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sugar-ray-leonard/i-learned-to-run-backwards-from-muhammad-ali-he-told-me-about-running/) [Sugar Ray Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sugar-ray-leonard/) > [Muhammad Ali was a god, an idol and an icon. He was boxing. Any kid that had the opportunity to talk to Ali, to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sugar-ray-leonard/muhammad-ali-was-a-god-an-idol-and-an-icon-he-was-boxing-any-kid-that/) [Sugar Ray Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sugar-ray-leonard/) > [I watched Ali, studied Ali, and I studied Sugar Ray Robinson. I watched them display showmanship. I watched them use pizzazz, personality, and charisma.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sugar-ray-leonard/i-watched-ali-studied-ali-and-i-studied-sugar-ray-robinson-i-watched/) [Sugar Ray Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sugar-ray-leonard/) > [I watched Muhammad Ali, how when he would speak, how it was such a thing of beauty. It sounded so wonderful. And I wanted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sugar-ray-leonard/i-watched-muhammad-ali-how-when-he-would-speak-how-it-was-such-a/) [Sugar Ray Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sugar-ray-leonard/) > [I decide intuitively what I want to do. When directors like Imtiaz Ali, Ayan Mukerji, Anurag Basu and Anurag Kashyap, who have stories to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ranbir-kapoor/i-decide-intuitively-what-i-want-to-do-when-directors-like-imtiaz-ali/) [Ranbir Kapoor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ranbir-kapoor/) > [Ali had a break that was an inch and a half long, and you keep getting hit as hard and as much as I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-norton/ali-had-a-break-that-was-an-inch-and-a-half-long-and-you-keep-getting/) [Ken Norton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-norton/) ## More by Sugar Ray Leonard > [I always expect unexpected challenges.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sugar-ray-leonard/i-always-expect-unexpected-challenges/) [Sugar Ray Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sugar-ray-leonard/) > [Were all given some sort of skill in life. Mine just happens to be beating up on people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sugar-ray-leonard/were-all-given-some-sort-of-skill-in-life-mine-just-happens-to-be/) [Sugar Ray Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sugar-ray-leonard/) > [I made mistakes, but I'm luckier than most. I've got a successful business, lots of fans who think a lot of me and a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sugar-ray-leonard/i-made-mistakes-but-i-m-luckier-than-most-i-ve-got-a-successful/) [Sugar Ray Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sugar-ray-leonard/) > [Muhammad Ali was a god, an idol and an icon. He was boxing. Any kid that had the opportunity to talk to Ali, to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sugar-ray-leonard/muhammad-ali-was-a-god-an-idol-and-an-icon-he-was-boxing-any-kid-that/) [Sugar Ray Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sugar-ray-leonard/) > [It's different when you become a professional, because you also have to become a businessman, and that takes something away from it](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sugar-ray-leonard/it-s-different-when-you-become-a-professional-because-you-also-have/) [Sugar Ray Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sugar-ray-leonard/) > [I don't hold any regrets whatsoever about my life besides hurting people I loved.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sugar-ray-leonard/i-don-t-hold-any-regrets-whatsoever-about-my-life-besides-hurting/) [Sugar Ray Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sugar-ray-leonard/) > [I've never believed in tying myself up in a long-range contract, and I've been very outspoken on that subject.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sugar-ray-leonard/i-ve-never-believed-in-tying-myself-up-in-a-long-range-contract-and-i/) [Sugar Ray Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sugar-ray-leonard/) > [I was not from a middle-class family at all. I did not have middle-class possessions and what have you. But I had middle-class parents…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sugar-ray-leonard/i-was-not-from-a-middle-class-family-at-all-i-did-not-have-middle/) [Sugar Ray Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sugar-ray-leonard/) > [When the trainer talks to the fighter, there's a connection. You don't always have to say much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sugar-ray-leonard/when-the-trainer-talks-to-the-fighter-there-s-a-connection-you-don-t/) [Sugar Ray Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sugar-ray-leonard/) > [At 14, I was the most disciplined guy around. I would get up at 5 o'clock in the morning and run five miles, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sugar-ray-leonard/at-14-i-was-the-most-disciplined-guy-around-i-would-get-up-at-5-o/) [Sugar Ray Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sugar-ray-leonard/) > [Bruce Lee was an artist and, like him, I try to go beyond the fundamentals of my sport. I want the public to see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sugar-ray-leonard/bruce-lee-was-an-artist-and-like-him-i-try-to-go-beyond-the/) [Sugar Ray Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sugar-ray-leonard/) > [You just don't heal that easy unless you're young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sugar-ray-leonard/you-just-don-t-heal-that-easy-unless-you-re-young/) [Sugar Ray Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sugar-ray-leonard/) > [I learned to run backwards from Muhammad Ali. He told me about running backwards because you try to imitate everything you do in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sugar-ray-leonard/i-learned-to-run-backwards-from-muhammad-ali-he-told-me-about-running/) [Sugar Ray Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sugar-ray-leonard/) > [I asked my kids, 'Do you know what Papa used to do.' They said, 'You were a boxer, you won the Olympics!' And that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sugar-ray-leonard/i-asked-my-kids-do-you-know-what-papa-used-to-do-they-said-you-were-a/) [Sugar Ray Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sugar-ray-leonard/) > [In Italy, I had an Afro, and a lot of the kids came up and felt my hair. It really was funny. I wish…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sugar-ray-leonard/in-italy-i-had-an-afro-and-a-lot-of-the-kids-came-up-and-felt-my-hair/) [Sugar Ray Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sugar-ray-leonard/) [Explore all 136 Sugar Ray Leonard quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sugar-ray-leonard/) ## More Ali quotes > [Ali had a break that was an inch and a half long, and you keep getting hit as hard and as much as I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-norton/ali-had-a-break-that-was-an-inch-and-a-half-long-and-you-keep-getting/) [Ken Norton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-norton/) > [I decide intuitively what I want to do. When directors like Imtiaz Ali, Ayan Mukerji, Anurag Basu and Anurag Kashyap, who have stories to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ranbir-kapoor/i-decide-intuitively-what-i-want-to-do-when-directors-like-imtiaz-ali/) [Ranbir Kapoor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ranbir-kapoor/) > [I think Ali was a fan of mine, even though he never said it. A lot of fighters thought I was pretty good. Nobody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-holmes/i-think-ali-was-a-fan-of-mine-even-though-he-never-said-it-a-lot-of/) [Larry Holmes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-holmes/) > [To me, Muhammad Ali, he was the greatest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-baffert/to-me-muhammad-ali-he-was-the-greatest/) [Bob Baffert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-baffert/) > [“To love you is to love water that either parches the throat by its absence or drowns me with its anger!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aleksandr-voinov/to-love-you-is-to-love-water-that-either-parches-the-throat-by-its/) [Aleksandr Voinov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aleksandr-voinov/) > [Muhammad Ali was a god, an idol and an icon. He was boxing. Any kid that had the opportunity to talk to Ali, to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sugar-ray-leonard/muhammad-ali-was-a-god-an-idol-and-an-icon-he-was-boxing-any-kid-that/) [Sugar Ray Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sugar-ray-leonard/) > [No cares about the Muhammad Ali trophy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dereck-chisora/no-cares-about-the-muhammad-ali-trophy/) [Dereck Chisora](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dereck-chisora/) > [When I attacked Ali I had to have one hand and one foot on the mat at all times.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonio-inoki/when-i-attacked-ali-i-had-to-have-one-hand-and-one-foot-on-the-mat-at/) [Antonio Inoki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonio-inoki/) > [I'd love to work with Vishal Bhardwaj and Imtiaz Ali.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahira-khan/i-d-love-to-work-with-vishal-bhardwaj-and-imtiaz-ali/) [Mahira Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahira-khan/) > [I went to see President Nixon at the White House. It wasn't difficult to get a meeting because I was heavyweight champion of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-frazier/i-went-to-see-president-nixon-at-the-white-house-it-wasn-t-difficult/) [Joe Frazier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-frazier/) > [“SUMMIT PLUMMET Celeb's conquest of a mountain, then jumping off, too exhausted to descend Kamil Ali”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamil-ali/summit-plummet-celeb-s-conquest-of-a-mountain-then-jumping-off-too/) [Kamil Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamil-ali/) > [“SMILE Sustain Moderation In Life's Expressway Kamil Ali”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamil-ali/smile-sustain-moderation-in-life-s-expressway-kamil-ali/) [Kamil Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamil-ali/) > [“FRACTURED FACTIONS Many cults are created by the uncontrollable egos of religious zealots”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamil-ali/fractured-factions-many-cults-are-created-by-the-uncontrollable-egos/) [Kamil Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamil-ali/) > [ “..Imam Ali \[A\].. 'However knows himself (his soul or spirit) knows \[or has known\] his Lord” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-muhammad-ali-shomali/imam-ali-a-however-knows-himself-his-soul-or-spirit-knows-or-has/) DR MUHAMMAD ALI SHOMALI > [“Of whomsoever I had been Master (Mawla), Ali here is to be his Master. O Allah, be a supporter of whoever supports him (Ali)…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/of-whomsoever-i-had-been-master-mawla-ali-here-is-to-be-his-master-o/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) Browse all 139 Ali quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I made the decision to turn pro, and I remember what Ali said to me: 'Get Angelo Dundee. He's the right complexion with the right connection.' He knew boxing. 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