# Sugar Ray Seales

"Sugar" Ray Seales, (born September 4, 1952) is an American former boxer. He was the only American boxer to win a gold medal in the 1972 Summer Olympics. As a professional, he fought middleweight champion Marvin Hagler three times. He is also the former NABF and USBA middleweight champion.

## Family and early life

Seales was born in the U.S. Virgin Islands, where his father, who boxed in the U.S. Army, was stationed. The Seales family moved to Tacoma, Washington in 1965. He is the half-brother of boxer Dale Grant and the brother of boxer Wilbur Seales.

## Career
### Olympic

Seales was a product of the Tacoma Boys Club amateur boxing program, and was coached by Joe Clough.
Amateur record: 338–12
* 1972 Olympic gold medalist (139 lbs.)
* 1971 National AAU light welterweight champion
* 1972 National Golden Gloves 139 pounds champion, defeating Donnie Nelson of Lowell, MA in the final

### 1972 Olympic results

* Round of 32: defeated Ulrich Beyer (East Germany) on points
* Round of 16: defeated Jim Montague (Ireland) on points
* Quarterfinal: defeated Andres Molina (Cuba) 3–2
* Semifinal: defeated Zvonimir Vujin (Yugoslavia) 5–0
* Final: defeated Angel Angelov (Bulgaria) 3–2

### Professional

Seales was a contender for the middleweight title during the late '70s and early '80s, winning the regional level USBA and NABF titles in the process. In his two most memorable fights, he lost a narrow decision to future middleweight champion Marvin Hagler in July 1974, then drew with Hagler in a rematch three months later. After losing to European champion Alan Minter in 1976, Seales remained on the outskirts of contention, until a first-round technical knockout at the hands of Hagler effectively ended his title hopes.

## Retirement

In 1980, Seales injured his left eye in a fight with Jaime Thomas, and retired due to a serious retinal tear. He was subsequently declared legally blind, and was used as a cause célèbre along with Sugar Ray Leonard during the 1980s for those pushing for a ban on boxing.

## Life after boxing

Years later, doctors operated and restored Seales' vision in his right eye, though he wears glasses. Seales later worked as a schoolteacher of autistic students at Lincoln High School in Tacoma for 17 years, retiring in 2004. In 2006, he moved to Indianapolis with his wife, and currently teaches at Indy Boxing and Grappling.

## Honors

Seales was a 2005 inductee into the Tacoma-Pierce County Sports Hall of Fame.
On May 5, 2018, Seales was inducted to the Indiana Boxing Hall of Fame in their inaugural class.

## Professional boxing record

| 68 fights | 57 wins | 8 losses |
| By knockout | 34 | 3 |
| By decision | 23 | 5 |
| Draws | 3 | 3 |
| No. | Result | Record | Opponent | Type | Round, time | Date | Location | Notes |
| 68 | Win | 57–8–3 | Max Hord | TKO | 1 (10), 2:44 | Jan 22, 1983 | Regency Hotel, Denver, Colorado, U.S. | |
| 67 | Loss | 56–8–3 | James Shuler | UD | 12 | Oct 23, 1982 | Great Gorge Resort, McAfee, New Jersey, U.S. | Lost NABF middleweight title |
| 66 | Win | 56–7–3 | Jesse Lara | KO | 3 (10), 1:29 | Aug 7, 1982 | University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico, U.S. | |
| 65 | Win | 55–7–3 | John LoCicero | UD | 10 | Mar 31, 1982 | Felt Forum, New York City, New York, U.S. | |
| 64 | Win | 54–7–3 | Alejo Rodriguez | TKO | 6 (10), 1:07 | Jan 23, 1982 | Sahara Tahoe Hotel, Stateline, Nevada, U.S. | |
| 63 | Win | 53–7–3 | Juan Rivas | KO | 1 (10), 2:34 | Sep 23, 1981 | Civic Auditorium, Bakersfield, California, U.S. | |
| 62 | Win | 52–7–3 | Sammy NeSmith | KO | 5 (12), 1:00 | Mar 31, 1981 | Market Square Arena, Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S. | Retained NABF middleweight title |
| 61 | Win | 51–7–3 | James Williams | UD | 10 | Dec 23, 1980 | Bicentennial Pavilion, Tacoma, Washington, U.S. | |
| 60 | Win | 50–7–3 | Jamie Thomas | UD | 10 | Aug 2, 1980 | Centroplex, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, U.S. | |
| 59 | Loss | 49–7–3 | Dwight Davison | TKO | 10 (10), 1:47 | May 23, 1980 | Pine Knob Music Theatre, Clarkston, Michigan, U.S. | |
| 58 | Win | 49–6–3 | Ted Sanders | RTD | 7 (10), 3:00 | Apr 19, 1980 | MetraPark, Billings, Montana, U.S. | |
| 57 | Win | 48–6–3 | Art Harris | TKO | 6 (10), 2:35 | Apr 5, 1980 | Armory, Akron, Ohio, U.S. | |
| 56 | Draw | 47–6–3 | Mike Colbert | PTS | 12 | Jun 21, 1979 | Seattle Center Arena, Seattle, Washington, U.S. | For vacant Pacific Northwest middleweight title |
| 55 | Win | 47–6–2 | Raul Adams | TKO | 3 (10), 2:15 | Mar 24, 1979 | Paul E. Joseph Stadium, Frederiksted, U.S. Virgin Islands | |
| 54 | Loss | 46–6–2 | Marvin Hagler | TKO | 1 (10), 1:26 | Feb 3, 1979 | Boston Garden, Boston, Massachusetts, U.S. | |
| 53 | Loss | 46–5–2 | Ayub Kalule | MD | 10 | Nov 9, 1978 | Brondby Hallen, Brondby, Denmark | |
| 52 | Win | 46–4–2 | Sammy NeSmith | TKO | 5 (15), 2:49 | Aug 29, 1978 | Seattle Center Arena, Seattle, Washington, U.S. | Retained USBA middleweight title |
| 51 | Win | 45–4–2 | Johnny Heard | UD | 10 | Jun 28, 1978 | DC Armory, Washington, D.C., U.S. | |
| 50 | Win | 44–4–2 | Tommy Howard | UD | 12 | Jun 20, 1978 | Seattle Center Coliseum, Seattle, Washington, U.S. | |
| 49 | Win | 43–4–2 | Mayfield Pennington | TKO | 8 (10), 2:57 | Apr 8, 1978 | High School Gym, Pikeville, Kentucky, U.S. | |
| 48 | Draw | 42–4–2 | Willie Warren | SD | 10 | Feb 28, 1978 | Seattle Center Arena, Seattle, Washington, U.S. | |
| 47 | Win | 42–4–1 | Emmett Atlas | TKO | 2 (10), 2:43 | Jan 26, 1978 | Seattle Center Arena, Seattle, Washington, U.S. | |
| 46 | Win | 41–4–1 | Doug Demmings | UD | 15 | Dec 2, 1977 | Auditorium Theatre, Chicago, Illinois, U.S. | Won vacant USBA middleweight title |
| 45 | Win | 40–4–1 | Joe Gonsalves | KO | 5 (10), 1:22 | Oct 25, 1977 | Seattle Center Coliseum, Seattle, Washington, U.S. | |
| 44 | Win | 39–4–1 | Mike Hallacy | UD | 10 | Sep 21, 1977 | Municipal Auditorium, West Memphis, Arkansas, Kansas, U.S. | |
| 43 | Win | 38–4–1 | Eddie Davis | KO | 7 (10) | Sep 6, 1977 | Municipal Auditorium, West Memphis, Arkansas, U.S. | |
| 42 | Win | 37–4–1 | Nate Lenoir | KO | 2 (10) | Jul 19, 1977 | Seattle Center Arena, Seattle, Washington, U.S. | |
| 41 | Win | 36–4–1 | Vicente Medina | UD | 10 | Jun 29, 1977 | Anchorage Sports Arena, Anchorage, Alaska, U.S. | Retained NABF middleweight title |
| 40 | Win | 35–4–1 | Clifford Wills | UD | 10 | Jun 22, 1977 | Exhibition Gardens, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada | |
| 39 | Win | 34–4–1 | Johnny Heard | KO | 2 (10), 1:40 | Jun 9, 1977 | Civic Center, Butte, Montana, U.S. | |
| 38 | Win | 33–4–1 | Tony Gardner | KO | 4 (15), 2:28 | May 25, 1977 | Anchorage Sports Arena, Anchorage, Alaska, U.S. | Retained NABF middleweight title |
| 37 | Win | 32–4–1 | George Davis | TKO | 2 (10), 2:59 | Apr 26, 1977 | Seattle Center Arena, Seattle, Washington, U.S. | |
| 36 | Loss | 31–4–1 | Ronnie Harris | UD | 10 | Mar 2, 1977 | Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S. | |
| 35 | Loss | 31–3–1 | Alan Minter | TKO | 5 (10), 2:14 | Dec 7, 1976 | Royal Albert Hall, Kensington, England | |
| 34 | Win | 31–2–1 | Gianni Mingardi | TKO | 6 (8) | Oct 15, 1976 | Palasport di San Siro, Milan, Italy | |
| 33 | Win | 30–2–1 | Bobby Hoye | KO | 4 (12), 2:18 | May 25, 1976 | Seattle Center Arena, Seattle, Washington, U.S. | Retained NABF middleweight title |
| 32 | Win | 29–2–1 | George Cooper | UD | 12 | Mar 9, 1976 | Seattle Center Coliseum, Seattle, Washington, U.S. | Won NABF middleweight title |
| 31 | Win | 28–2–1 | Renato Garcia | MD | 10 | Dec 2, 1975 | Seattle Center Arena, Seattle, Washington, U.S. | |
| 30 | Win | 27–2–1 | Mike Lankester | KO | 2 (10), 1:45 | Oct 21, 1975 | Seattle Center Arena, Seattle, Washington, U.S. | |
| 29 | Loss | 26–2–1 | Eugene Hart | PTS | 10 | Sep 15, 1975 | Convention Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. | |
| 28 | Win | 26–1–1 | Rudy Cruz | UD | 10 | May 13, 1975 | Memorial Auditorium, Sacramento, California, U.S. | |
| 27 | Win | 25–1–1 | Manuel Elizondo | KO | 2 (10), 1:50 | Apr 22, 1975 | Memorial Auditorium, Sacramento, California, U.S. | |
| 26 | Win | 24–1–1 | Johnny Rico | UD | 10 | Mar 28, 1975 | Community Center, Tucson, Washington, U.S. | |
| 25 | Win | 23–1–1 | Mike Nixon | UD | 10 | Feb 11, 1975 | Seattle Center Coliseum, Seattle, Washington, U.S. | |
| 24 | Draw | 22–1–1 | Marvin Hagler | MD | 10 | Nov 26, 1974 | Seattle Center Coliseum, Seattle, Washington, U.S. | |
| 23 | Win | 22–1 | Les Riggins | TKO | 2 (10) | Sep 17, 1974 | Seattle Center Coliseum, Seattle, Washington, U.S. | |
| 22 | Loss | 21–1 | Marvin Hagler | UD | 10 | Aug 30, 1974 | WNAC-TV Studio, Boston, Massachusetts, U.S. | |
| 21 | Win | 21–0 | David Love | TKO | 12 (12), 2:45 | Aug 6, 1974 | U. of Puget Sound Fieldhouse, Tacoma, Washington, U.S. | |
| 20 | Win | 20–0 | John L. Sullivan | TKO | 2 (10) | Jun 8, 1974 | Saint Martin's Pavilion, Lacey, Washington, U.S. | Won vacant Pacific Northwest middleweight title |
| 19 | Win | 19–0 | Jose Martin Flores | TKO | 4 (10) | Apr 16, 1974 | U. of Puget Sound Fieldhouse, Tacoma, Washington, U.S. | |
| 18 | Win | 18–0 | Joe Espinosa | KO | 10 (10), 2:42 | Mar 19, 1974 | Denver Coliseum, Denver, Colorado, U.S. | |
| 17 | Win | 17–0 | Beto Gonzalez | KO | 3 (10), 2:45 | Mar 6, 1974 | Centennial Coliseum, Reno, Nevada, U.S. | |
| 16 | Win | 16–0 | Omar Chavez | KO | 8 (10), 2:44 | Feb 27, 1974 | Circus Circus Hippodrome Theater, Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S. | |
| 15 | Win | 15–0 | Angel Robinson Garcia | UD | 10 | Feb 13, 1974 | Circus Circus Hippodrome Theater, Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S. | |
| 14 | Win | 14–0 | Jose Miranda | UD | 10 | Dec 11, 1973 | Civic Auditorium, San Francisco, California, U.S. | |
| 13 | Win | 13–0 | Dave Coventry | TKO | 4 (10), 1:38 | Nov 11, 1973 | Sports Arena, Portland, Oregon, U.S. | |
| 12 | Win | 12–0 | Roy Barrientos | UD | 10 | Oct 11, 1973 | Memorial Auditorium, Dallas, Texas, U.S. | |
| 11 | Win | 11–0 | Chucho Garcia | UD | 10 | Aug 22, 1973 | Cheney Stadium, Tacoma, Washington, U.S. | |
| 10 | Win | 10–0 | Chu Chu Padilla | TKO | 2 (10), 2:25 | Jul 27, 1973 | Community Center, Tucson, Arizona, U.S. | |
| 9 | Win | 9–0 | Frank Davila | UD | 10 | Jul 7, 1973 | Gardnerville Ballpark, Gardnerville, Nevada, U.S. | |
| 8 | Win | 8–0 | Leroy Romero | UD | 10 | Jun 25, 1973 | Civic Center, Butte, Montana, U.S. | |
| 7 | Win | 7–0 | Roger Buckskin | TKO | 5 (10), 3:00 | May 19, 1973 | Hoquiam High School Gym, Hoquiam, Washington, U.S. | |
| 6 | Win | 6–0 | Chico Andrade | TKO | 3 (8) | Apr 12, 1973 | Centennial Coliseum, Reno, Nevada, U.S. | |
| 5 | Win | 5–0 | Jose Miranda | UD | 8 | Mar 26, 1973 | Lane County Fairgrounds, Eugene, Oregon, U.S. | |
| 4 | Win | 4–0 | Felix Alvarado | UD | 8 | Mar 15, 1973 | Seattle Center Arena, Seattle, Washington, U.S. | |
| 3 | Win | 3–0 | Sugar Montgomery | TKO | 6 (8) | Mar 1, 1973 | Civic Auditorium, Stockton, California, U.S. | |
| 2 | Win | 2–0 | Conrad Green | KO | 2 (8), 2:03 | Feb 12, 1973 | Lane County Fairgrounds, Eugene, Oregon, U.S. | |
| 1 | Win | 1–0 | Gonzalo Rodriguez | UD | 8 | Jan 11, 1973 | U. of Puget Sound Fieldhouse, Tacoma, Washington, U.S. | |