ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. -- Sugar Ray Leonard Thursday said he intends to settle a score with Thomas Hearns, even if he decides to fight Roberto Duran next.
Leonard's attorney, Mike Trainer, has conducted negotiations with representatives for both Duran and Hearns, and is expected to announce a November bout soon.
'I'm waiting to hear from Mike,' Leonard said. 'Hopefully I'll know (Friday) and no later than next week.'
Leonard was in Atlantic City working as a television reporter for the Mike Tyson-Carl Williams heavyweight title bout. He was a special reporter for ABC's 'Good Morning America' at the Thursday morning weigh-in, and Leonard is the boxing analyst for HBO, which will televise the Friday night bout.
Leonard says, regardless of whom he fights next, a third bout against Hearns is in his future.
'I'm going to fight Tommy again,' Leonard said after the weigh-in. 'It may not be in the fall, but I'm going to fight Tommy again.'
Leonard and Hearns fought a 12-round draw June 12 at Las Vegas, Nev. Hearns, a heavy underdog, dropped Leonard twice and most thought he should have been awarded the decision.
Leonard, 33, retained his World Boxing Council super middleweight title with the draw.
'I have a score to settle with Tommy because of that controversial decision,' Leonard said.
Hearns fought Leonard one day after his brother, Henry Hearns, was charged with the shooting murder of a woman in the boxer's home in suburban Detroit. But Leonard said he also had other things on his mind that night. Leonard and his wife Juanita had separated before the bout. They vacationed together with their two sons after the fight.
Leonard also dismissed his trainers and boxing support staff after the disappointing draw.
'Considering the state of mind I was in, I put up a hell of a fight,' Leonard said. 'There was no protest from Thomas Hearns, he was happy to be standing after 12 rounds.
'There were personal problems I'd rather not discuss. Next time I'll get away from the whole Hollywood atmosphere, the hotels, the people, and get back to basics.'
When asked if his problems were behind him, Leonard said, 'Damn right.
'I look forward to the next one.'
A source familiar with the negotiations said money would determine whom Leonard next fights. Duran was thought to have the edge because he was willing to settle for less. Hearns has asked for purse parity with Leonard for a third bout -- a request Trainer has balked at.
Promoter Bob Arum was involved in the negotiations with Trainer. Caesars Palace in Las Vegas has Nov. 2 reserved for Leonard's next bout, although Trump Plaza Hotel and Casino in Atlantic City is also expected to bid -- especially if Leonard fights Duran.
Trump Plaza was the site of Duran's upset victory over Iran Barkley Feb. 24 for the WBC middleweight title. That bout put Duran in line to fight the Leonard-Hearns winner, but there was no winner.
'I'm not going to look at who's next,' Leonard said. 'The last time everybody said that Duran was next and that I was looking past Hearns.
'It became subliminal. I almost came to believe that.'
Leonard has fought both men twice. He stopped Hearns in a 1981 welterweight title bout after splitting two fights with Duran the previous year.
Duran won the WBC welterweight title in June 1980 from Leonard, losing it back five months later in the famous 'No mas' fight when he quit without explanation in the eighth round.
The 38-year-old Panamanian has ached for a rematch ever since.
