Some memories really are sweeter than sugar and this one came with a signed glove. A backstage meeting brought together two stars connected by one very familiar name. Min Yoongi, the BTS member who goes by the stage name SUGA, and boxing legend Sugar Ray Leonard have finally shared a kind of full-circle moment.
Recently, the former professional boxer attended ARIRANG World Tour show at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles with his family. On Thursday, September 10, he posted a souvenir photo with the South Korean rapper alongside a sweet message. Backstage they posed together with their fists raised.
He captioned the post, writing, "Still smiling from this unforgettable night in Los Angeles. Getting to meet SUGA of BTS was such a special moment." "Every bit as kind, humble, and down-to-earth as you could hope for," the one of the greatest boxers of all time describe Suga. "Sharing this experience with my family and watching their incredible show at SoFi Stadium made it a night we'll never forget." "Some memories really are sweeter than sugar," he added before attaching hashtags.
"#BTS #SUGA #KeepSwimming @agustd @bts.bighitofficial." However, the real knockout was the exchange of gifts. Leonard, 70, presented the K-pop idol with a boxing glove carrying a personal message, which read, "Love your name! Only legends can carry the name 'Suga.'" The 33-year-old singer returned the gesture by signing his D-DAY album for the boxing great.
The meeting marked a full circle moment. For the unversed, for over a decade, Yoongi told fans and bandmates the name meant shooting guard (combining syu from shooting and ga from guard, his school basketball position). He admitted in a 2026 WIRED Interview that he used the basketball story as a simple cover because the boxing explanation was annoying to re-explain.
In reality, his stage name comes from combat sports, given to him by Big Hit founder Bang Si-hyuk because his sharp, technical rap style matched fighters known as "Suga" Bang Si-hyuk liked boxing and noted that combat sports specialists with high technical skill are nicknamed "Suga" (spelled without the 'r', echoing Sugar Ray Leonard). He felt Yoongi's technical rap delivery fit this title.