Boxing legend Sugar Ray Leonard has defeated some of the greatest fighters in history but admits the Scottish weather may prove one of his biggest battles yet.
The man who won world titles in five weight divisions is set to arrive in the country this week as he embarks on a UK tour and says he’ll be packing his thermals in preparation for beating the chilly Scottish climes.
“I’m really looking forward to seeing Scotland but not to the temperature,” he laughed. “I’ve beat some big names, but ‘snow’ and ‘ice’ aren’t ones I want to take on!”
The American is lined up to perform motivational talks at events in Kilmarnock and Aberdeen, where the 58-year-old will tell fans of the highs and lows of life both inside and outside the ring.
It’s a new career for the fighter who made history as the first to make more than $100 million in purses since his retirement from boxing 18 years ago. And he’s confident he can prove just as much of a knockout on stage as he was in the ring.
“You need a focus in life and, even though I’ve retired, boxing is still like my GPS,” Leonard said. “I like to use fighting as a metaphor in motivational speaking. Life is all about getting up after knock-downs.”
For someone with such an illustrious career in the ring, taking on big names like Tommy Hearns and Wilfred Benitez, it was Leonard’s charm that made him such a hit in his heyday and he retains that today.
“I’m a real people person, so I think this is the perfect career for me and it means being reunited with the fans which is very humbling,” he told The Sunday Post.
Sugar Ray Leonard speaks at Kilmarnock’s Fenwick Hotel on Sunday March 15. For tickets and more information, call 07715 683 448.
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