Sugar Ray Seales : The Other Sugar Ray

The guy was one of the greatest amateurs ever with a 338-12 amateur record to go with his 1972 Gold Medal. The only gold for team USA.

Turned pro won his first 21 fights, fought Marvin Hagler in his 22nd fight, damn near beat Marvin, then in the rematch held Marvin to a draw, in a fight that I think Seales won.

in the rubber match 3 years later Hagler knocked Seales out in the 1st round.

Against Jaime Thomas in 1980 Seales was thumbed and had his retina torn. He won the fight but began going blind. Sadly it was the beginning of the end for the man known as Sugar Ray Seales, Ray had 7 eye operations in hope that he was a win away from a title.

Sadly Seales was blind in his left eye and the right eye wasnt much better, even sadder, he fought numerous times like this in over 5 different states.

Finally, his gym noticed, Seales kept complaining the gym was too dark, they took him to a specialist and told them Seales had been blind for 18 months. Seales was completely blind in his left eye and had 10 percent of his vision in his right.

His career was over with a record of 56-8-3, even more baffling is the fact that he went 7-1 after the detached retina, he eventually had detached retinas in both eyes, owed over 100,000 dollars in medical bills that he couldnt afford.

Ray Seales wound up broke and blind. Sammy Davis Jr once said "He has the 3 B's, hes black, blind , and broke." He enver complained, he is still alive and does work with autistic children.

He never got the respect he deserved, and I honestly believe had he had 2 good eyes he could have been one of the greats.

A 6'1 lanky middleweight who is Southpaw. Thats scary.

he also was never caught because he memorized the eye exam

and I might have made a oooppsy guys, Krazy horse has brought to my attention their is no footage of the Halger Seales rematch, if thats true I was wrong and thought he won the first fight, was positive I saw the draw but it has been a while so I am probably wrong

I may be wrong, but in my years of collecting fights I have never run across this. I have seen the third fight readily available, but not the first two.

Wasn't trying to shit on you, Bird. That's why I privately contacted you about it.

KrazyHorseBennett wrote:

I may be wrong, but in my years of collecting fights I have never run across this. I have seen the third fight readily available, but not the first two.

Wasn't trying to shit on you, Bird. That's why I privately contacted you about it.

My first favorite fighter. Picked him up in the Olympic trials in '72 and for a brief period hated Hagler for what he had done. LOL,

KrazyHorseBennett wrote:

I may be wrong, but in my years of collecting fights I have never run across this. I have seen the third fight readily available, but not the first two.

Wasn't trying to shit on you, Bird. That's why I privately contacted you about it.

no no dont worry Krazy, i appreciate when ya tell me cause I have seen so many damn fights I confuse some of them, especially when Ive had a few beers and some lady Jane

I know I have seen one of the first 2 somewhere, and your right the 3rd one is easy cause its so short,

marbleheadmaui wrote:

KrazyHorseBennett wrote:

I may be wrong, but in my years of collecting fights I have never run across this. I have seen the third fight readily available, but not the first two.

Wasn't trying to shit on you, Bird. That's why I privately contacted you about it.

My first favorite fighter. Picked him up in the Olympic trials in '72 and for a brief period hated Hagler for what he had done. LOL,

I feel sorry for him cause he didnt get any Olympic love really like Leonard of 76, I tihnk that whole event gets remembered for the terrorist attack and feats like Seales and Prefontaine get lost in the shuffle

I read some where Seales got a thousand dollars for his debut, went 8 rounds in Tacoma, Leonard got what was it 60 grand? in his debut

also read Cus D'amato said Seales was to loyal, he stayed with the same people taht brought him up (amateur guys) that didnt understand how to do deals in the pro's and Seales paid for it.

good article..i learned a few things about seales that i did not know...i didnt realize also that his amatuer background was sooo extensive...good job bird.

Thank you.