Sugar Ray Leonard comes to town (From Warrington Guardian)

Sugar Ray Leonard comes to town

10:59am Monday 1st December 2008

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THE plaque next to Bank Quay Sports and Social Club’s new all-weather sports training pitch reads: ‘Opened by Sugar Ray Leonard, November 21, 2008’.

In a way, one of the greatest fighters to have graced the planet will be forever looking over at those who use the facilities to harness their fitness and skills in sport – an industry that has made Leonard a household name since his gold medal success at the Montreal Olympics in 1976.

Leonard, the first boxer to win world titles at five different weights, was the guest of honour at the re-launch of promoter Ray Fisher’s Bank Quay club, in Warrington, last Friday night.

A room packed with fight fans gave the 52-year-old grandfather-of-four, from North Carolina, America, a standing ovation on his arrival.

And there were cheers with every high point as the former welterweight recalled glorious times in the ring that included thrilling wins against fellow champions Marvellous Marvin Hagler, Roberto Duran and Thomas Hearns.

Leonard, now a television personality in boxing reality series The Contender, appeared as humbled with the reception he received from his Bank Quay audience as Hagler and football superstar George Best were when they were previously in town as 48-year-old Fisher’s guests.

Despite feeling under the weather with a cold, Leonard’s happiness was displayed in a surreal moment while swaying, clapping hands and singing along with New York artiste Sebastian – all this in little old Warrington – as the night got into full swing.

“This is my first time in Warrington and the people are very warm and receptive. It’s cool to come across the world and meet wonderful boxing fans,” Leonard told the Warrington Guardian before reflecting on his career and today’s boxing scene in an exclusive interview.

“I’m still a major boxing fan but I just wish there were less sub-governing bodies than there are.

“I wish that champions would fight champions rather than it now being about undefeated records.

“I want to see moments in the ring like it used to be in the 1970s and 1980s, moments that are etched on people’s minds forever.

“I’m talking about boxers being knocked down and getting back up to win, or a great corner team patching up a cut on their boxer who then goes on to win his fight, and also those fights where the last rounds are the deciding factor.

“We have to bring the drama back to the ring and the only way that will happen is if the promoters or managers and the fighters themselves compete against the best – each other.”

From his own dramatic and illustrious career that included 36 wins from 40 professional fights and a comeback that followed an operation on a detached retina in 1982, Leonard picked out two memories as his fondest.

“When I fought Thomas Hearns in 1981 to unify the title and my comeback fight against Marvellous Marvin Hagler which was a personal triumph,” he said.

And life could have been very different for Leonard and the boxing fans, like those at the Bank Quay club, who hold him in such high esteem.

“I came home from Montreal to celebrate my Olympics success in 1976 and had no intention of turning professional,” he said.

“I was going to college on a scholarship but my dad was ill so I turned pro to make some money to pay for the hospital fees.

“So, maybe it was destiny but I’d never thought I would be a world champion.”

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