The four-weight world title holder stated that the two pound for pound stars going head to head still has the interest factor despite not happening as early as 2009 and has high hopes that the pay-per-view contest will live up to all expectations next month.
“The Mayweather v Pacquiao fight is a highly-anticipated fight that could have taken place five years ago or longer. It’s one of those fights that fans just shiver over because they want to see two of the best guys out there take on each other,” Leonard told Sky Sports News HQ.
“I’m glad to hear that the fight is on and already it’s been huge. Well, huge is not a good word. It’s gigantic, but I am glad to see that is has come to fruition.
“If you try to use a fight that is similar to it, it is the (Leonard v) Hagler fight. I came out of retirement a couple of times, and then for Hagler. It was a fight people thought would be one-sided and naturally so because I was out of the ring for so long. I had one fight in five years and Hagler hadn’t lost in eleven consecutive years.
“He was a bigger man and had other attributes, but it lived up to expectations because nobody thought I could go the distance. I trained hard and long enough to make it happen.”
Leonard made a second comeback in 1997 against Hector Camacho but was stopped in five rounds and retired from the sport immediately after with a 36-3-1 record.