Often in boxing, the heavyweights get the most attention.  The heavyweights are often the biggest and strongest, and boxers such as Mike Tyson, George Foreman, Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier have rose to stardom through heavyweight competition.  However, every now and then, a welterweight boxer comes onto the scene and dominates an era.

It was on this day, February 5th, 1977, that Sugar Ray Leonard made his professional boxing debut. Sugar Ray defeated Luis Vega in a 6-round fight in convincing fashion.

At the time, Sugar Ray was thought to be just another welterweight fighter.  However, he would go on to have one of the most impressive boxing careers of all-time, winning world titles in five weight divisions and earning Boxer of the Decade honors for the 1980s.