Sugar Ray Leonard

One of the legends of pugilism, Sugar Ray Leonard was the first boxer to earn more than $100 million in purses. Winning world titles in five different weight divisions by defeating greats of the sport, Leonard was named the Boxer of the Decade for the 1980s. An ideal boxing speaker for events and functions, Sugar Ray talks on a number of motivational topics including overcoming adversity and maximising success. Making his professional debut in 1977, in front of a crowd of 10,270 in Baltimore, Maryland, Leonard defeated Luis Vega in six rounds and received $40,044 for the fight.

By 1979, after fighting world ranking opponents, including Floyd Mayweather, Leonard had accrued a record of 25-0 with 16 knockouts. To consistently perform under the pressure of a boxing environment makes Sugar Ray one of the most formidable characters of the sport, an attribute he talks about with detail during his time as a boxing speaker. Challenging for his first world title in 1979 in Las Vegas, Nevada, Leonard battled Wilfred Benitez for the World Boxing Council (WBC) Welterweight Belt. Leonard defeated Benitez in the fifteenth round after one of the hardest fights of his life, stating “no one, I mean no one, can make me miss punches like that”.

Sugar Ray speaks passionately about overcoming adversity in order to achieve goals as an after dinner speaker, drawing upon many examples of his times in bouts against some of the most formidable boxers of the age. A multiple award winner, including Fighter of the Year by The Ring and Sportsman of the Year by Sports Illustrated, Leonard was a remarkable athlete and perhaps one of the most highly respected athletes in boxing.

Multiple comebacks saw him defeat giants of the sport including Marvin Hagler, Thomas Hearns and Roberto Duran. Retiring for the final time in 1998, Leonard had left a legacy of a career, recording 36-3-1 with 25 knockouts. Leonards ability to maximise success over such a length career makes him a remarkable example of huge drive and determination, two attributes that are relatable to both business and social environments alike as a sports speaker. Perfect for events and conferences, Leonard enjoys interacting and engaging with the crowd as an after dinner speaker, immersing the audience in his life story as the greatest boxer in the world. A consummate professional, Ray’s ability to use both anecdotal examples and invaluable advice during talks will ensure he is a hit with the crowd.