--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The thing about boxers is that there's…" description: "\"The thing about boxers is that there's respect there. You beat me, and I may not like it, but you know what, deep down inside, I respect you. And that'..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8da/sugar-ray-leonard-3228_about_the-thing-about-boxers-is-that-there-s-r_738503.png" --- # The thing about boxers is that there's respect there. You… ![“The thing about boxers is that there's respect there. You beat me, and I may not like it, but you know what, deep down inside, I respect you. And that's the code of honor.” quote by Sugar Ray Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8da/sugar-ray-leonard-3228_about_the-thing-about-boxers-is-that-there-s-r_738503.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8da/sugar-ray-leonard-3228_about_the-thing-about-boxers-is-that-there-s-r_738503.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8da/sugar-ray-leonard-3228_about_the-thing-about-boxers-is-that-there-s-r_738503.png) > “The thing about boxers is that there's respect there. You beat me, and I may not like it, but you know what, deep down inside, I respect you. And that's the code of honor.” [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. Respect emerges from shared struggle; even in defeat, honor persists. **In simple terms:** Respect survives conflict. Key Takeaway Value opponents as teachers. Themes respect honor competition humility sportsmanship Mood reflective thoughtful Type inspirational philosophical When to use this quote - training - match preparation - post‑match analysis - team building Key Concepts code of honor mutual respect ethical conduct Questions to Reflect On - How do you show respect after a loss? - What role does honor play in modern sports? A Different Perspective Respect may be fleeting if not reinforced by consistent behavior. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Boxers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/boxers/) [Code](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/code/) [Code of honor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/code-of-honor/) [Deep down](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deep-down/) [Honor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/honor/) [Programming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/programming/) [Respect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/respect/) [Wrestling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wrestling/) ## Related quotes > [“Having a Code of Honor doesn’t mean that everyone on the team is happy 100 percent of the time. Sometimes things get messy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blair-singer/having-a-code-of-honor-doesn-t-mean-that-everyone-on-the-team-is/) [Blair Singer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blair-singer/) > [We all must educate children at the youngest ages that private parts are private, 'no' means no, and there is only one code of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-pelosi/we-all-must-educate-children-at-the-youngest-ages-that-private-parts/) [Christine Pelosi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-pelosi/) > [“Meyer summarizes his code of honor as “(1) Show up. (2) Work hard. (3) Be kind. (4) Take the high road.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-m-grant/meyer-summarizes-his-code-of-honor-as-1-show-up-2-work-hard-3-be-kind/) [Adam M. Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-m-grant/) > [As everyone knows, there is no intelligence in coercion or forcing another into action or realization. And if the name of the galactic game…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-arguelles/as-everyone-knows-there-is-no-intelligence-in-coercion-or-forcing/) [Jose Arguelles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-arguelles/) > [There is nothing more personal than your values. What you will and won't do to get ahead, the lines you will and won't cross…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-labelle/there-is-nothing-more-personal-than-your-values-what-you-will-and-won/) [Patti LaBelle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-labelle/) > [“Students should not be recommended to attend the Church schools, colleges, or university unless they agree to support the Latter-day Saint standards on these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/first-presidency-of-the-church-of-jesus-christ-of-latter-day-saints/students-should-not-be-recommended-to-attend-the-church-schools/) First Presidency of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints > [I believe in a code of honor, my personal Bushido. I'm not in a fight to make blood. I'm there for the technique.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rickson-gracie/i-believe-in-a-code-of-honor-my-personal-bushido-i-m-not-in-a-fight/) [Rickson Gracie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rickson-gracie/) > [I'm a guy who shakes your hand and will never let you down. I have a code of honor and I don't lie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-weintraub/i-m-a-guy-who-shakes-your-hand-and-will-never-let-you-down-i-have-a/) [Jerry Weintraub](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-weintraub/) > [Your lawyer is your true mercenary. Under his code honor consists in making the best possible fight in exchange for the biggest possible fee.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-graham-phillips/your-lawyer-is-your-true-mercenary-under-his-code-honor-consists-in/) [David Graham Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-graham-phillips/) > [“On August 19, 1934, the great majority of Germany’s registered voters went to the polls and handed Hitler 38 million votes, thereby demonstrating overwhelming…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/captain-hank-bracker-suppresed-i-rise/on-august-19-1934-the-great-majority-of-germany-s-registered-voters/) [Captain Hank Bracker, "Suppresed I Rise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/captain-hank-bracker-suppresed-i-rise/) > [It is contended that those who have been bred at Eton, Harrow, Rugby, and Westminster, that the public sentiment within each of those schools…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/it-is-contended-that-those-who-have-been-bred-at-eton-harrow-rugby/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [A Code of Honor: Never approach a friend's girlfriend or wife with mischief as your goal. There are just too many women in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-code-of-honor-never-approach-a-friend-s-girlfriend-or-wife-with/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [We are all members of the same great family ... On social occasions the formality of strictly military occasions should be relaxed, and a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-a-lejeune/we-are-all-members-of-the-same-great-family-on-social-occasions-the/) [John A. Lejeune](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-a-lejeune/) > [There is so much more to slaying dragons than a code of honor and a damsel. It's a complicated series of fate and destiny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/there-is-so-much-more-to-slaying-dragons-than-a-code-of-honor-and-a/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“... it’s you. You with that bloody obsession, that love of other that runs like a seam of gold through you. That life unlike…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jae-t-jaggart/it-s-you-you-with-that-bloody-obsession-that-love-of-other-that-runs/) [Jae T. Jaggart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jae-t-jaggart/) ## 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 made the decision to turn pro, and I remember what Ali said to me: 'Get Angelo Dundee. He's the right complexion with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sugar-ray-leonard/i-made-the-decision-to-turn-pro-and-i-remember-what-ali-said-to-me/) [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/) [Explore all 136 Sugar Ray Leonard quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sugar-ray-leonard/) ## More About quotes > [If you ask an introvert a question, wait until she thinks about it. Introverts think before speaking, not through speaking. If you want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-helgoe/if-you-ask-an-introvert-a-question-wait-until-she-thinks-about-it/) [Laurie Helgoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-helgoe/) > [Joking about violence is not funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/perez-hilton/joking-about-violence-is-not-funny/) [Perez Hilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/perez-hilton/) > [I talk to my mates about our kids, being too tired and being worn out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-willoughby/i-talk-to-my-mates-about-our-kids-being-too-tired-and-being-worn-out/) [Holly Willoughby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-willoughby/) > [With 'Pretty Girls,' I saw the opportunity to talk not just about crime but what crime leaves behind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karin-slaughter/with-pretty-girls-i-saw-the-opportunity-to-talk-not-just-about-crime/) [Karin Slaughter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karin-slaughter/) > [I write about presidents. That means I write about guys - so far. I'm interested in the people closest to them, the people they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-kearns-goodwin/i-write-about-presidents-that-means-i-write-about-guys-so-far-i-m/) [Doris Kearns Goodwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-kearns-goodwin/) > [That's something a lot of folks don't know about me - I'm pretty darn funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jai-white/that-s-something-a-lot-of-folks-don-t-know-about-me-i-m-pretty-darn/) [Michael Jai White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jai-white/) > [I learned a lot about myself at Oakmont.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-lowry/i-learned-a-lot-about-myself-at-oakmont/) [Shane Lowry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-lowry/) > [I don't think about the press or the crowds or the other leaders of the race. The focus is only on myself. As soon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magdalena-neuner/i-don-t-think-about-the-press-or-the-crowds-or-the-other-leaders-of/) [Magdalena Neuner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magdalena-neuner/) > [Sport is not just about entertainment. It is equally about winning and losing, pooling and galvanising the energy of the youth, upgrading people's physical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nita-ambani/sport-is-not-just-about-entertainment-it-is-equally-about-winning-and/) [Nita Ambani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nita-ambani/) > [One of the ways that I discovered my confidence and my ability to overpower is becoming a mother. Suddenly, my world wasn't about myself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lights/one-of-the-ways-that-i-discovered-my-confidence-and-my-ability-to/) [Lights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lights/) > [I didn't want to do 'Fashion Police' because I thought, 'This is stupid, this is beneath me, who wants to talk about fashion?' It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-rivers/i-didn-t-want-to-do-fashion-police-because-i-thought-this-is-stupid/) [Joan Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-rivers/) > [I just worried about my weight. Worried about my appearance and thought I wan't pretty enough to be a pop star. It was very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-durham/i-just-worried-about-my-weight-worried-about-my-appearance-and/) [Judith Durham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-durham/) > [I read a couple of books about neuroscience and the relationship between the mind and the body.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-kinnaman/i-read-a-couple-of-books-about-neuroscience-and-the-relationship/) [Joel Kinnaman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-kinnaman/) > [There are a lot of kids out there copying and distributing movies - not because they care about seeing the movies or sharing them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-perry-barlow/there-are-a-lot-of-kids-out-there-copying-and-distributing-movies-not/) [John Perry Barlow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-perry-barlow/) > [I have no physical genius about me. I can't dribble a ball and run at the same time, I can't do lay-ups - I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-mullins/i-have-no-physical-genius-about-me-i-can-t-dribble-a-ball-and-run-at/) [Rich Mullins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-mullins/) Browse all 26,122 About quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The thing about boxers is that there's respect there. You beat me, and I may not like it, but you know what, deep down inside, I respect you. And that's the code of honor.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Sugar Ray Leonard" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sugar-ray-leonard/the-thing-about-boxers-is-that-there-s-respect-there-you-beat-me-and/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "About" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sugar-ray-leonard/the-thing-about-boxers-is-that-there-s-respect-there-you-beat-me-and/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8da/sugar-ray-leonard-3228_about_the-thing-about-boxers-is-that-there-s-r_738503.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8da/sugar-ray-leonard-3228_about_the-thing-about-boxers-is-that-there-s-r_738503.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8da/sugar-ray-leonard-3228_about_the-thing-about-boxers-is-that-there-s-r_738503.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The thing about boxers is that there's respect there. You beat me, and I may not like it, but you know what…” — Sugar Ray Leonard", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Sugar Ray Leonard", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sugar-ray-leonard/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The thing about boxers is that...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sugar-ray-leonard/the-thing-about-boxers-is-that-there-s-respect-there-you-beat-me-and/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sugar-ray-leonard/the-thing-about-boxers-is-that-there-s-respect-there-you-beat-me-and/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```