'Sugar' Ray: Mayweather is risking his legacy

'Sugar' Ray Leonard today warned modern day contemporary Floyd Mayweather Jr he's risking his legacy by staying in the ring.

The five-weight world champion came out of retirement five times and suffered three of his four pro career blemishes after that.

Undefeated Mayweather takes in his 11th straight fight in Las Vegas on May 3, with the WBC and WBA 'super' world welterweight titles on the line.

But Leonard warns that no fighter can beat father time and, at age 37, reckons that Mayweather needs to know his days are numbered.

The super fight with Manny Pacquiao seems further away than ever with Marcos Maidana, rather than Amir Khan, chosen as his next foe.

Leonard said: "Floyd is a phenomenon, with the exposure and the age he's in and, to be honest, he would have held his own in any era.

"He's a multi-talented fighter, not one dimensional. He's my favourite fighter in the modern day, without question.

"Based upon what's happening now, I wouldn't put it past him to retire undefeated. At this moment, he's the best.

"He has impressed and surprised me with his wealth and fame. I made some serious money, but he's in a different tax bracket to me!

"He's 37 now and still winning, but there are not enough guys who are in his league or on his level. There's no second player or other fighter.

"Every year that passes and the more he stays in the ring, he could become less aggressive and less focussed, that becomes inevitable."

'Sugar' Ray Leonard was talking to Craig Birch during a packed-out sportsman's dinner in the Premier Suite at Bar Sport in Cannock.