# Carlos De León

Carlos De León, also known as "Sugar" De Leon, (May 3, 1959 – January 1, 2020) was a Puerto Rican boxer who made history by becoming the first cruiserweight to win the world title twice. Subsequently, he kept breaking his own record for the most times as cruiserweight champion by regaining the title on two further occasions.

## Career

De León, a native of Trujillo Alto, Puerto Rico, first won a world title when he faced the WBC world champion Marvin Camel on November 25, 1980, replacing David Pearce the Great Britain boxer on the undercard of Sugar Ray Leonard and Roberto Durán's second fight in New Orleans. De León outpointed Camel over fifteen rounds. In a rematch later, De León knocked out Camel in eight rounds. When his countryman Ossie Ocasio won the WBA world title, De León and Ocasio became the second pair of Puerto Ricans to share world titles in the same division at the same time; Alfredo Escalera and Samuel Serrano had achieved the feat in the 1970s in the junior lightweight division.

### Taking loss

De León lost his title in a shocking upset to former Gerry Cooney victim S. T. Gordon by a knockout in round two in Cleveland in 1982, and won a comeback fight versus former world heavyweight champion Leon Spinks by a knockout in round six in 1983. After that, he and Gordon boxed a rematch in Las Vegas, and De León dropped Gordon once in the first round and once in the twelfth, en route to a unanimous decision win in a history-making bout: De León had now become the first boxer to win the world cruiserweight title twice.

### Champion again

He defended his title against Yaqui López by a knockout in four at San Jose, California, and with decisions over Anthony Davis and Bashiru Ali. The Davis bout took place in Las Vegas and the fight with Ali was in Oakland, California. De León next lost his title in Las Vegas to Alfonzo Ratliff in a decision. Ratliff was in turn beaten by Bernard Benton, who defended against De León on March 22, 1986, once again in Las Vegas. De León joined the likes of Sugar Ray Robinson and Muhammad Ali in becoming one of the few boxers ever to win one division's world championship at least three times, defeating Benton by decision.

### Once more

He made a couple of defenses in Italy and then in 1988, he defended the title against Uruguayan José María Flores Burlón in Atlantic City, New Jersey, winning by twelve rounds in a unanimous decision but then he lost his titles in a unification bout with WBA and IBF world champion Evander Holyfield, by technical knockout in the eighth round, also in Las Vegas. But Holyfield soon left the division to pursue the world heavyweight championship, and De León was left with an open door to break his own record and win the title for a record fourth time. He went to London, where he beat the WBC's number two ranked contender, Sammy Reeson, by a knockout in the ninth round, breaking his own record and was crowned world cruiserweight champion once again.

### Holding on

Carlos held on to the title for two years until finally losing it to Massimiliano Duran in Italy in an eleventh-round disqualification. He gained the title by his aforementioned win over Sammy Reeson. He made a defense by drawing with Johnny Nelson before the loss to Massimilano Duran mentioned earlier.

## After boxing

During the 1990s, De León ran afoul of the law a number of times, once while he was carrying a rifle. He worked on helping the professional boxing career of his son, prospect Carlos de León Jr.
He died on January 1, 2020, due to a cardiac arrest. He was 60.

## Professional boxing record

| 62 fights | 53 wins | 8 losses |
| By knockout | 33 | 5 |
| By decision | 20 | 2 |
| By disqualification | 0 | 1 |
| Draws | 1 | 1 |
| No. | Result | Record | Opponent | Type | Round, time | Date | Location | Notes |
| 62 | Loss | 53–8–1 | Brian Nielsen | TKO | 3 (8) | Nov 24, 1995 | Randers, Denmark | |
| 61 | Loss | 53–7–1 | Corrie Sanders | TKO | 1 (10), 0:49 | Aug 13, 1994 | Convention Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. | |
| 60 | Win | 53–6–1 | Bobby Arthurs | MD | 10 | Feb 17, 1994 | Joliet, Illinois, U.S. | |
| 59 | Win | 52–6–1 | Brian Morgan | PTS | 8 | Jan 14, 1994 | Chicago, Illinois, U.S. | |
| 58 | Win | 51–6–1 | Jordan Keepers | TKO | 5 (?) | Nov 5, 1993 | Gary, Indiana, U.S. | |
| 57 | Win | 50–6–1 | Andre Crowder | KO | 1 (8) | Jun 19, 1993 | Davenport, Iowa, U.S. | |
| 56 | Win | 49–6–1 | Joey Christjohn | PTS | 6 | May 15, 1993 | Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S. | |
| 55 | Win | 48–6–1 | James Wilder | UD | 10 | Mar 13, 1993 | Aurora, Illinois, U.S. | |
| 54 | Win | 47–6–1 | Rocky Bentley | UD | 10 | Jan 22, 1993 | Countryside, Illinois, U.S. | |
| 53 | Win | 46–6–1 | Bruce Johnson | TKO | 4 (10) | Jun 27, 1992 | Miami, Florida, U.S. | |
| 52 | Loss | 45–6–1 | Massimiliano Duran | DQ | 11 (12) | Jul 27, 1990 | Capo d'Orlando, Sicilia, Italy | Lost WBC cruiserweight title; DeLeon disqualified for hitting after the bell |
| 51 | Draw | 45–5–1 | Johnny Nelson | SD | 12 | Jan 27, 1990 | City Hall, Sheffield, England | Retained WBC cruiserweight title |
| 50 | Win | 45–5 | Sammy Reeson | TKO | 9 (12), 2:04 | May 17, 1989 | London Arena, London, England | Won vacant WBC cruiserweight title |
| 49 | Loss | 44–5 | Evander Holyfield | TKO | 8 (12), 1:08 | Apr 9, 1988 | Caesars Palace, Paradise, Nevada, U.S. | Lost WBC cruiserweight title; For WBA and IBF cruiserweight titles |
| 48 | Win | 44–4 | Jose Maria Flores Burlon | UD | 12 | Jan 22, 1988 | Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. | Retained WBC cruiserweight title |
| 47 | Win | 43–4 | Larry Phelps | KO | 1 (10), 1:33 | Aug 1, 1987 | Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S. | |
| 46 | Win | 42–4 | Angelo Rottoli | TKO | 5 (12) | Feb 21, 1987 | Bergamo, Lombardia, Italy | Retained WBC and The Ring cruiserweight titles |
| 45 | Win | 41–4 | Michael Greer | TKO | 8 (12), 1:43 | Aug 10, 1986 | Giardini Naxos, Sicilia, Italy | Retained WBC and The Ring cruiserweight titles |
| 44 | Win | 40–4 | Bernard Benton | MD | 12 | Mar 22, 1986 | Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S. | Won WBC and The Ring cruiserweight titles |
| 43 | Loss | 39–4 | Alfonzo Ratliff | SD | 12 | Jun 6, 1985 | Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S. | Lost WBC and The Ring cruiserweight titles |
| 42 | Win | 39–3 | Dorcey Gaymon | TKO | 9 (10) | Jan 12, 1985 | Oranjestad, Aruba | |
| 41 | Win | 38–3 | Bash Ali | UD | 12 | Jun 2, 1984 | Oakland, California, U.S. | Retained WBC and The Ring cruiserweight titles |
| 40 | Win | 37–3 | Anthony Davis | UD | 12 | Mar 9, 1984 | Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S. | Retained WBC and The Ring cruiserweight titles |
| 39 | Win | 36–3 | Yaqui Lopez | TKO | 4 (12), 2:51 | Sep 21, 1983 | San Jose, California, U.S. | Retained WBC cruiserweight title |
| 38 | Win | 35–3 | S.T. Gordon | UD | 12 | Jul 17, 1983 | Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S. | Won WBC cruiserweight title |
| 37 | Win | 34–3 | Leon Spinks | RTD | 6 (10), 3:00 | Mar 6, 1983 | Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. | |
| 36 | Win | 33–3 | Ivy Brown | PTS | 10 | Nov 26, 1982 | Houston, Texas, U.S. | |
| 35 | Loss | 32–3 | S.T. Gordon | TKO | 2 (15), 2:51 | Jun 27, 1982 | Highland Heights, Ohio, U.S. | Lost WBC cruiserweight title |
| 34 | Win | 32–2 | Marvin Camel | TKO | 8 (15) | Feb 24, 1982 | Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. | Retained WBC cruiserweight title |
| 33 | Win | 31–2 | Greg Payne | TKO | 3 (10), 1:38 | Dec 12, 1981 | Houston, Texas, U.S. | |
| 32 | Win | 30–2 | Marvin Camel | MD | 15 | Nov 25, 1980 | New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S. | Won WBC cruiserweight title |
| 31 | Win | 29–2 | Mario Rosa | PTS | 8 | Jun 28, 1980 | San Juan, Puerto Rico | |
| 30 | Win | 28–2 | Waldemar Paulino | KO | 1 (12), 0:28 | Apr 25, 1980 | Anaheim, California, U.S. | |
| 29 | Win | 27–2 | Christy Elliott | TKO | 4 (12), 1:15 | Sep 25, 1979 | Miami Beach, Florida, U.S | |
| 28 | Win | 26–2 | Willie McIntyre | TKO | 1 (10) | Aug 25, 1979 | San Juan, Puerto Rico | |
| 27 | Win | 25–2 | Manny Freitas | TKO | 1 (?), 1:25 | Apr 8, 1979 | Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S. | |
| 26 | Win | 24–2 | Bonifacio Avila | TKO | 2 (10), 2:46 | Jan 27, 1979 | San Juan, Puerto Rico | |
| 25 | Win | 23–2 | Wendell Joseph | PTS | 10 | Nov 18, 1978 | Saint Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, U.S. | |
| 24 | Win | 22–2 | Rennie Pinder | TKO | 3 (10) | Sep 26, 1978 | Miami Beach, Florida, U.S. | |
| 23 | Win | 21–2 | Roy Harry | KO | 1 (10), 2:14 | Sep 8, 1978 | Saint Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, U.S. | |
| 22 | Win | 20–2 | Tyrone Freeman | TKO | 3 (10), 2:28 | Apr 8, 1978 | Bayamón, Puerto Rico | |
| 21 | Win | 19–2 | Jesse Lara | TKO | 2 (?), 1:13 | Mar 25, 1978 | Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S | |
| 20 | Win | 18–2 | Ray Bryant | TKO | 5 (10) | Jan 28, 1978 | San Juan, Puerto Rico | |
| 19 | Win | 17–2 | Eddie Davis | TKO | 5 (10) | Nov 8, 1977 | Orlando, Florida, U.S. | |
| 18 | Win | 16–2 | Battling Douglas | TKO | 5 (10), 2:12 | Oct 14, 1977 | Saint Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, U.S. | |
| 17 | Loss | 15–2 | Ray Hammond | PTS | 8 | Sep 10, 1977 | San Juan, Puerto Rico | |
| 16 | Win | 15–1 | Mustapha Ali | UD | 10 | Jul 29, 1977 | Saint Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, U.S | |
| 15 | Win | 14–1 | Eddie Davis | TKO | 3 (?) | Jun 25, 1977 | Bayamón, Puerto Rico | |
| 14 | Win | 13–1 | Antonio Colon | TKO | 6 (?) | Feb 12, 1977 | Bayamón, Puerto Rico | |
| 13 | Win | 12–1 | Carlos Soto | PTS | 8 | Oct 11, 1976 | San Juan, Puerto Rico | |
| 12 | Win | 11–1 | Astor Agosto | PTS | 8 | Aug 16, 1976 | San Juan, Puerto Rico | |
| 11 | Win | 10–1 | Dario de Jesus | PTS | 8 | Jul 19, 1976 | San Juan, Puerto Rico | |
| 10 | Win | 9–1 | Carlos Soto | PTS | 8 | Apr 5, 1976 | San Juan, Puerto Rico | |
| 9 | Loss | 8–1 | Roberto Colon | PTS | 4 | Feb 15, 1976 | Ponce, Puerto Rico | |
| 8 | Win | 8–0 | Larry Adkins | PTS | 8 | Sep 15, 1975 | Port-of-Spain, Trinidad and Tobago | |
| 7 | Win | 7–0 | James Jackson | TKO | 3 (?) | Nov 11, 1975 | Port-of-Spain, Trinidad and Tobago | |
| 6 | Win | 6–0 | Cubby Jackson | TKO | 4 (?) | May 17, 1975 | Philipsburg, Sint Maarten, Netherlands Antilles, Netherlands | |
| 5 | Win | 5–0 | Kid Gavilan | TKO | 6 (?) | Apr 5, 1975 | Philipsburg, Sint Maarten, Netherlands Antilles, Netherlands | |
| 4 | Win | 4–0 | Tripodi Guadalupe | TKO | 5 (?) | Mar 17, 1975 | Philipsburg, Sint Maarten, Netherlands Antilles, Netherlands | |
| 3 | Win | 3–0 | Vernon Laws | TKO | 3 (?) | Nov 2, 1974 | Saint Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands, U.S. | |
| 2 | Win | 2–0 | Jesse Torres | TKO | 2 (?) | Oct 19, 1974 | Saint Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands, U.S. | |
| 1 | Win | 1–0 | Roy Harris | TKO | 4 (?) | Aug 3, 1974 | Saint Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, U.S. | |