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Sugar Ray preps for Kalule, defends against Bonds
By Angelo Prospero, Jr.
Over twenty-thousand fans packed the new Carrier Dome in Syracuse to see boxing's latest idol and pinup
boy, Sugar Ray Leonard, make a mandatory defense of his WBC welterweight title against journeyman Larry
Bonds. The Denver southpaw, ranked fifth, but with only one fight the last year, was the country's best known
garbage man.
And collect he did, a series of stinging right leads and lightning combinations to fall to a tenth-round KO in a
dull contest. Referee Arthur Mercante stopped the one-sided affair with a minute to go in the round after
Bonds was floored and unable to defend himself upon arising. Leonard unleashed eight successive blows
without return before Mercante jumped in to end the fray.
Bonds did little more than run and fight defensively the entire fight. I scored eight rounds for Leonard with the
first round even. Bonds threw only three left hands the entire fight.
After a slow two rounds, Leonard, who did his homework well against southpaws, started throwing right leads
effectively. He realized it is the punch that stifles the unorthodox stance of the lefties and was good practice for
his upcoming jr. middleweight title fight against another southpaw, Ayub Kalule.
Bonds landed an occasional jab and his first solid right in round four, but paid for it in the exchange as
Leonard dropped him for a seven count with a right-left-right combination. Bonds arose groggily at seven
when the bell rang. This proved to be a problem as it was all night because the 30 million dollar Dome had a
ten cent bell that didn't work. Thus, no one heard the bell and Leonard charged forth only to be tied up by
Bonds before the timekeeper notified the referee.
Knowing Bonds was running, the usual dancing tactics of Sugar Ray changed as he went flatfooted trying to
end the fracas with one blow. However, Bonds danced and clinched his way out of danger though scoring
infrequently. Leonard, meticulous as ever and knowing it was just a matter of time, electrified the crowd at
times with his shuffle, wiggle and other mannerisms—the same as he did in the seventh round of the second
Duran fight.
Finally, in round ten, Leonard trapped Bonds in a corner and dropped him for nine with a barrage of blows too
fast to count. Bonds struggled to his feet and Leonard rained blow after blow on his hurt foe before Mercante
stepped in and mercifully ended the bout. Leonard raised both arms in a victory salute.
- The finish brought about an unexpected result. The end brought a chorus of boos from the crowd,
displeased- by a lackluster undercard, Leonard's Iengthy KO pursuit and Bonds' inept performance.
Leonard was particularly upset at the crowd and the sportswriters and unleashed his fury in the post-fight
interview. He said, "Everyone owes this man, Larry Bonds, an apology. You belittled him as a fighter and he
proved tonight he is a class fighter." He also said the fans- were not satisfied because not enough blood was,
spilled in the ring.
Bonds said he wasn't hurt and could have continued, further stating that his game plan was to come on strong
the last five rounds. Few agreed with him.
Tony Ayala and Johnny Bumphus were the most impressive of the "Top Rank" fighters of the eighties. The
stocky 18-year-old Ayala survived a first round knockdown and then unleashed a furious assault to knock out
seasoned Mario Maldonado in three rounds. Ayala effectively mixed a body attack with left hooks in an
impressive display to score his ninth straight win, including eight KOs. Only the experienced Mike Baker went
the distance with the slugger from San Antonio, Lou Duva's best hope for championship honors.
After the fight, Bob Arum, who unsuccessfully tried to get local favorite Rocky Fratto to fight Ayala with a
$10,000 offer on this card, upped his bid to $40 000. Fratto. who demanded $30,000 for the bout and signed
to meet Rocky Mosely instead, said he wanted $80,000 to fight Ayala if he beats Mosely.
The proposed Ayala-Fratto fight would take place on the Leonard-Ayub Kalule undercard. The undefeated
Fratto (23-0) has had a carefully orchestrated schedule in his career, not meeting one contender and winning
two controversial decisions over Steve Michalerya. It is doubtful Fratto will take the Ayala bout at any price,
since it would deter his title ambitions which is to beat Mosely and then challenge Leonard or Kalule.
Bumphus, another of those Olympic hopefuls denied a gold medal opportunity because of Jimmy Carter's
dubious logic to forego Moscow, scored an easy win over outclassed Jackie Morrell. The slick southpaw
floored Morrell twice in round five before the referee stopped the con test. It was Bumphus' sixth cam secutive
win.
In other action, Bernard Taylor ran his record to 50 with a six-round decision over Antonio Nieves. Alex Ramos,
highly touted middleweight was unimpressive in decisioning Dan Snyder. Ramos looked totally inept against a
southpaw failing to land his vaunted right hand. Davey Moore stopped Tony Suero in five as the N.Y.S.A.
Commission doctor intervened to end the one-sided affair.
In a bout after the main event, Steve Zouski won a close six-round decision over Tyrone Harlee.
By Angelo Prospero, Jr.
Over twenty-thousand fans packed the new Carrier Dome in Syracuse to see boxing's latest idol and pinup
boy, Sugar Ray Leonard, make a mandatory defense of his WBC welterweight title against journeyman Larry
Bonds. The Denver southpaw, ranked fifth, but with only one fight the last year, was the country's best known
garbage man.
And collect he did, a series of stinging right leads and lightning combinations to fall to a tenth-round KO in a
dull contest. Referee Arthur Mercante stopped the one-sided affair with a minute to go in the round after
Bonds was floored and unable to defend himself upon arising. Leonard unleashed eight successive blows
without return before Mercante jumped in to end the fray.
Bonds did little more than run and fight defensively the entire fight. I scored eight rounds for Leonard with the
first round even. Bonds threw only three left hands the entire fight.
After a slow two rounds, Leonard, who did his homework well against southpaws, started throwing right leads
effectively. He realized it is the punch that stifles the unorthodox stance of the lefties and was good practice for
his upcoming jr. middleweight title fight against another southpaw, Ayub Kalule.
Bonds landed an occasional jab and his first solid right in round four, but paid for it in the exchange as
Leonard dropped him for a seven count with a right-left-right combination. Bonds arose groggily at seven
when the bell rang. This proved to be a problem as it was all night because the 30 million dollar Dome had a
ten cent bell that didn't work. Thus, no one heard the bell and Leonard charged forth only to be tied up by
Bonds before the timekeeper notified the referee.
Knowing Bonds was running, the usual dancing tactics of Sugar Ray changed as he went flatfooted trying to
end the fracas with one blow. However, Bonds danced and clinched his way out of danger though scoring
infrequently. Leonard, meticulous as ever and knowing it was just a matter of time, electrified the crowd at
times with his shuffle, wiggle and other mannerisms—the same as he did in the seventh round of the second
Duran fight.
Finally, in round ten, Leonard trapped Bonds in a corner and dropped him for nine with a barrage of blows too
fast to count. Bonds struggled to his feet and Leonard rained blow after blow on his hurt foe before Mercante
stepped in and mercifully ended the bout. Leonard raised both arms in a victory salute.
- The finish brought about an unexpected result. The end brought a chorus of boos from the crowd,
displeased- by a lackluster undercard, Leonard's Iengthy KO pursuit and Bonds' inept performance.
Leonard was particularly upset at the crowd and the sportswriters and unleashed his fury in the post-fight
interview. He said, "Everyone owes this man, Larry Bonds, an apology. You belittled him as a fighter and he
proved tonight he is a class fighter." He also said the fans- were not satisfied because not enough blood was,
spilled in the ring.
Bonds said he wasn't hurt and could have continued, further stating that his game plan was to come on strong
the last five rounds. Few agreed with him.
Tony Ayala and Johnny Bumphus were the most impressive of the "Top Rank" fighters of the eighties. The
stocky 18-year-old Ayala survived a first round knockdown and then unleashed a furious assault to knock out
seasoned Mario Maldonado in three rounds. Ayala effectively mixed a body attack with left hooks in an
impressive display to score his ninth straight win, including eight KOs. Only the experienced Mike Baker went
the distance with the slugger from San Antonio, Lou Duva's best hope for championship honors.
After the fight, Bob Arum, who unsuccessfully tried to get local favorite Rocky Fratto to fight Ayala with a
$10,000 offer on this card, upped his bid to $40 000. Fratto. who demanded $30,000 for the bout and signed
to meet Rocky Mosely instead, said he wanted $80,000 to fight Ayala if he beats Mosely.
The proposed Ayala-Fratto fight would take place on the Leonard-Ayub Kalule undercard. The undefeated
Fratto (23-0) has had a carefully orchestrated schedule in his career, not meeting one contender and winning
two controversial decisions over Steve Michalerya. It is doubtful Fratto will take the Ayala bout at any price,
since it would deter his title ambitions which is to beat Mosely and then challenge Leonard or Kalule.
Bumphus, another of those Olympic hopefuls denied a gold medal opportunity because of Jimmy Carter's
dubious logic to forego Moscow, scored an easy win over outclassed Jackie Morrell. The slick southpaw
floored Morrell twice in round five before the referee stopped the con test. It was Bumphus' sixth cam secutive
win.
In other action, Bernard Taylor ran his record to 50 with a six-round decision over Antonio Nieves. Alex Ramos,
highly touted middleweight was unimpressive in decisioning Dan Snyder. Ramos looked totally inept against a
southpaw failing to land his vaunted right hand. Davey Moore stopped Tony Suero in five as the N.Y.S.A.
Commission doctor intervened to end the one-sided affair.
In a bout after the main event, Steve Zouski won a close six-round decision over Tyrone Harlee.
