Ask the Champ: Donny Lalonde Answers Questions about Sugar Ray Leonard, Roy Jones, JR. , Bernard Hopkins & One That Will SHOCK YOU
Compiled by “Bad” Brad Berkwitt
Donny,
How have you dealt with the aftermath of your very successful career in professional boxing and do you suffer from any negative physical/psychological/emotional consequences?
Seamus M.
Seamus,
Post boxing life has been very good to me. Challenging at times like for everyone but all in all I am very fortunate and very blessed. I have noticed effects I experienced from years in boxing, hockey, football, life lol, etc but I use natural products that help me stay ahead of the symptoms. I have been into natural healing and holistic living since 1981 and since have always been able to find a natural remedy for any symptoms. Memory and brain fog creeps up but coconut oil and cranial sacral therapy help remove those symptoms.
Mr Goldenboy,
Huge fan of yours for many many years. I bet on you against SRL and had you stuck to your fight game before you dropped Ray, you would have beaten the sugar out of him for sure. If you had faced Tommy Hearns at Light Heavy, how do you think you would have done? I think when you fought Hill in your last fight, you were shot, but in your prime, you would have stopped Quick Silver. What do you think?
Tristin M.
Tristin,
When I got back to my dressing room after the fight Bob Dylan was there. He said, Donny, ‘why didn’t you just keep that jab in his face all night, you would have won easy?” Just like what your saying, had I kept the same fight plan I believe it would have ended early but when he went down the thought that came to me was, next time I hit him this is over. Well, I started waiting for that next time and he started boxing to be sure it never happened…I was looking, waiting instead of leading and setting it up…your right.
I wasn’t really at all shot for the Hill fight. I had 4 warm up fights, felt really good in them. Training was going great. I actually felt better than ever. One week before the fight in my last round of my last day sparring I was hit with a jab that cut my eye, closed it, and damaged a nerve in the eye. I went ahead with the fight because I was promoting it, but mainly because I wanted my career to end trying against an ATG instead of it ending in the gym. I punched hard enough to get that lucky punch in and end my career with a win against an ATG was my thinking. In the 7th round I connected with that shot. Hill told me after the fight had I just touched him after that right hand he would not have been able to get up. Such is life.
From that injury I can’t see on angles anymore and I see traces. I have double vision at certain angles. When the fight started is when I realized as I had no depth perception and I saw trails of Hill as he moved. I was in trouble, should not have been in the fight but it was eye damage not being “shot”…
Donny,
Do you think you could have beaten Roy Jones in your prime? Where do you rank yourself in the history of light heavy champs? How do you think you would have done against Michael Spinks and Bernard Hopkins at light heavy? Thanks for answering my questions.
Tony A.
Tony,
In his prime it would have been a tough fight for me he was so fast with his legs. Anytime other than his prime I think I had a good shot. I pursued a fight with RJJ because I felt he was vulnerable to a right hand puncher. If I had beat Virgil Hill in my last fight I probably would have gotten to fight RJJ and at that time, I had a great shot. Right at that time is when he started getting hit with right hands and ko’d…Styles and era’s are very hard to compare. I think I could have made a number of great fights with a lot of great fighters from the past. Michael Spinks and I almost fought in ’83. He would most likely have won. I wasn’t ready yet. Our styles would have made for an awkward fight. Not sure on that one. Bernard, I would try that one now. Boring as hell the fight would be but I think it could go either way.
Champ,
Is it really true that having sex before a fight kills your legs? I read that in an old boxing book and think it was a crock of crap.
Gene T.
Gene,
I did that a few times. I don’t know if it is in our head or true but each time I was so nervous because I had it was hard for me to walk to the ring my legs were sooo weak… Still not sure.
Yo Donny,
What came first, the chicken or the egg? Just messing with you pal. Do think Oscar Delahoya ripped off your nickname? Who do you see winning the fight with Old Man Alien Hopkins and the Russian Sergey Kovolev? I think he retires that old geezer in six!
Trey W.
Trey,
I don’t think Oscar stole my name because it was a name used many years before and he was a Gold medal winner. I take no offense to it at all. I could see Kovalev winning but also Bernard just nullifying his power. It is a very interesting fight I think. If I had to pick I would pick Hopkins…which means probably to bet Kovalev…lol
MR Lalonde,
My mom said she had a crush on you back in the day and dared me to ask do you wear boxers or briefs?
Tom B
Tom,
Funny, nothing most of the time I live in the jungle in Costa Rica but I guess you would say boxers. Of course.
Donny,
How much did you get paid for the Leonard fight? I heard 7.5 million. Thanks for allowing me to ask the question.
Jorge J.
Jorge,
Ray and I co promoted the fight. We split the net proceeds 66/33 in his favor. I ended up with $5.5 mil minus all the costs, 2.1 after taxes…blew it ALL!!! lol Made enough money to buy Miami but I pissed it away so fast…never meant to last, never meant to last///Jimmy Buffett….