Sugar Ray Leonard continues to show why he was known as a gracious champion.
On the night he received a lifetime achievement award from the Harold & Carole Pump Foundation for his help in fighting cancer, Leonard honored his old rival Thomas Hearns.
Leonard won the first fight against Hearns in 1981 with a TKO in the 14th round to unify the welterweight title. The 1989 rematch was scored as a draw, but most observers thought Hearns deserved the decision.
Leonard himself acknowledged that The Hitman had earned the victory as he accepted his award at the foundation's 14th annual celebrity dinner in Century City, California.
"We were rivals -- major rivals," Leonard said.
Hearns responded, "We were? We still are."
Leonard then proceeded to talk about the second fight.
"Well, to me, Tommy Hearns won that fight," Leonard said. "So give him a round of applause."
See how this all played out on stage:
