Angelo and Sugar Ray

You think great trainers in history, and the name Angelo Dundee quickly comes to mind. He has worked with some 15 world champions, such as Muhammad Ali, Sugar Ray Leonard, Carmen Basilioand George Foreman

Dundee trained Ali when he shocked the world by stopping Foreman in 1974 in the “Rumble in the Jungle.” Dundee trained Leonard when he stopped Roberto Duran in the eighth round of their 1980 rematch, known infamously as the “No Mas” fight. Dundee trained Leonard when, behind on points and exhausted, he stopped Tommy Hearns in 1981.

Dundee also trained Leonard when he earned a split decision over Marvin Hagler 20 years ago April 6. And Dundee was in Foreman’s corner when, behind on points, he knocked out Michael Moorer in 1994 to become the oldest man to win the heavyweight championship at age 45.

Indeed, it’s been a heck of a ride for Dundee. But it’s not over. He’s 85, but going strong. He said he is currently working with Virginia junior middleweight Jimmy Lange. Dundee, who
has appeared in several television specials about Muhammad Ali, also has had his hand in the movie industry recently, as he was a consultant for the 2005 movie “Cinderella Man.”

During a recent interview, Dundee talked about some of his great times in more than half a century in this game. Interestingly, he coulnd’t say enough about actor Russell Crowe, whom he trained for “Cinderella Man.” Crowe portrayed heavyweight champion James Braddock.

“Actors work as hard as fighters,” Dundee said. “Let me tell you about Russell Crowe. What a nice man he is. He took me out to his farm in Australia. Russell Crowe used to train for an hour before he went on the set. He did yoga. I trained him for four months. He could hit the speed bag, he could sip rope. The guy could have been a fighter.

“You see the career I could have ruined?”

And then there was director Ron Howard.

“Ron Howard, they threw away the mold,” Dundee said. “He was such a sweet man. I have never been treated better in my life. The fun I had for one year with that movie…”

Dundee was just getting started with the stories. When this man talks, you just listen and take it all in.

For example, Dundee recalled an incident that took place in the days leading to Leonard’s first fight with Duran, which was won by Duran via close 15-round decision in June 1980 in
Montreal.

“I was walking the streets of Montreal, me and my wife and him (Leonard) and his wife,” Dundee said. “Duran came up and started telling Ray’s wife what he was going to do, ‘I’m going to kill your husband.’ He got Ray so mad Ray wanted to dog-fight him right there.”

Dundee is well-known for telling Leonard late in his fight with Hearns that, “You’re blowing it, son. You’re blowing it.” To which Leonard responded with a 14th-round technical knockout in an incredible comeback.

But in talking to Dundee, he seemed to get more satisfaction out of Leonard’s victory over Hagler. Few gave Leonard a chance. He had fought just once during a span of five years prior to fighting Hagler, and Leonard was moving up from welterweight to take on one of the greatest middleweight champions in history.

Yes, the decision was suspect. Many experts thought Hagler deserved the nod because Leonard did the old stick-and-move and refused to take any chances. Furthermore, the one judge, Jose Guerra, had Leonard winning the fight by eight points. Absolutely ridiculous.

That said, Leonard officially won. He said recently that he had originally intended to go toe-to-toe with Hagler, but that he was nearly knocked out in sparring by Quincy Taylor five days
before the fight, and the stragety was changed.

Dundee also noted that he knew Leonard could beat Hagler because Hagler would step before he punched, rather than when he punched. It was subtle, but Dundee believed that Leonard was just talented enough to capitalize on that.

“I found a flaw in Hagler that Ray could take advantage of,” Dundee said. “It was a great night. I see Marvin every year at the Hall of Fame (in Canastota, N.Y.). He speaks Italian with a Boston accent.”

Hagler, of Brockton, Mass., retired after losing to Leonard and ever since has been living in Italy.

Through all of his adventures, Dundee said that the most fun he had were the years he spent with Ali.

“Ray was a close second,” Dundee said. “Nobody admired Ray as much as I did because Ray was a great fighter. What he did for boxing, I will always be grateful. Boxing is quiet right now. We need a Ray Leonard. Right now.”

And boxing needs more Dundees.

“I have been very fortunate in this game,” he said.

(Memories of “No Mas.”)

Yes, it is the 20th anniversary of Leonard-Hagler in nine days. But during a recent interview, Leonard was asked about his memories of his November 1980 victory over Duran, who turned his back on Leonard in the eighth round and literally said, “No mas.”

Duran, of course, to this day claims that he had stomach cramps and that’s why he quit. Most logical people believe that Leonard had frustrated Duran into quitting because Leonard would not stay still long enough to let Duran get off his vicious punches.

Meanwhile, Leonard would flash in, bust off a scoring combination, and he was gone again. But even though it was obvious to all why Duran quit, Leonard said that in his mind he never
received the proper accolades for bringing it all about.

“The fight was great, the ‘No Mas’ fight,” Leonard said. “But the thing about it, I didn’t get the credit. Because it was mostly why he quit as opposed to I made him quit. It was like, ‘Duran
quit, so what the hell happened?’ They never said Ray frustrated him to humiliation.”

After Duran beat Leonard in their first fight, Duran stalked around the ring after the decision was announced, grabbing his crotch. That made it sweeter for Leonard when Duran quit in their rematch.

“It’s like a bully kicking your ass, kicking your butt,” Leonard said. “Then you come back the next year and you stand up and you fight him. You beat him, bloddy his nose.”

Leonard said that when Duran said “No mas,” he didn’t know what was happening.

“I didn’t speak Spanish at that time, or much Spanish, when he said, ‘No mas,’ ” Leonard said. “He said, “No mas.’ What the hell is that? Somebody said, ‘It means no more.’ I said,
‘(Shoot), that’s good.’ ”

Leonard is currently acting as a strategist for Peter Manfredo Jr., who April 7 will challenge Joe Calzaghe for his super middleweight championship.