Still a 'Contender'

By Jacqueline Cutler, Zap2it, Zap2It.com | July 12, 2008

Sugar Ray Leonard

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Sugar Ray Leonard reflects on the show, his career, kids and philosophy

Thirty years after bursting onto the scene in the Olympics, Sugar Ray Leonard continues to mesmerize. No longer pummeling opponents - it was because of Leonard that Roberto Duran said "no mas" -- Leonard captivates by the sheer force of his personality.

Fans of ESPN's "The Contender" have been watching Leonard mentor 16 young boxers since July 18. Last season, he and Sylvester Stallone, an executive producer, mentored the fighters, but Stallone is off making "Rocky VI" and this season Leonard ably handled the job solo.

The second season's finale, Tuesday, Sept. 26, unfolds live at Staples Center in Los Angeles. The undercard consists of three six-round bouts with fighters from this season. Then, Cornelius "K-9" Bundrage battles Norberto "El Gallito" Bravo, followed by the top draw of the night, Steve "2 Pound" Forbes and Grady "Bad Boy" Brewer for a $500,000 purse and the chance to have a real career in the ring.

Zap2it: What lessons are you trying to impart to the boxers?

Sugar Ray Leonard: The most important thing I try to convey to them is to stay focused. And really be disciplined. You can't teach discipline. That is within. The key word is focus.

Zap2it: What mistakes or pitfalls do you try to warn them against making?

Leonard: The biggest pitfall, and it happened the first two seasons, is overconfidence. Happened with Peter Manfredo against Alfonso Gomez, and it happened with Michael Clark and K-9.

Zap2it: It would seem that cockiness is a necessary trait in a boxer. Don't you have to be pretty confident to walk into a ring where someone is there to beat you up?

Leonard: There's a thin line between confidence and overconfidence. Overconfidence brings your mental state of mind into play. Although you are somewhat superior over the opposition, you still have to respect that he too is a fighter.

Zap2it: And what advice do you give them out of the ring?

Leonard: The same thing applies. I do motivational speaking on the side and I use boxing as a metaphor because we are all fighters. We get knocked down in the ring, in relationships, business deals and in all aspects of life, so we are all fighters. You have to be focused and disciplined. All these things applicable in boxing, same things apply to life. The most important thing I tell them is respect. I try to make them understand that respect is the hardest thing to gain but it is the easiest thing to lose.

Zap2it: These boxers are by necessity tough, but they are all fairly young at 24 to 34. What do you see when you look at them?

Leonard: It is such a reflection on my life. They are so young and they want it so bad, it is almost as if they want instant gratification. The experience and the patience of going through this journey are key.

Zap2it: That, and there is some serious money at stake, isn't there?

Leonard: This time around it's half a million.

Zap2it: That's a lot of money, especially to young men who are broke. Do you also try to advise them about suddenly having more money than they ever did?

Leonard: It's all relative. When I turned professional, in two years I was a millionaire. I don't think you are a millionaire until you can write a check for a million without worrying about the next paycheck. We try to advise these young guys, and see if they have any financial advisors. If not, we will recommend someone.

Zap2it: Speaking of which, there was recently an article that Mike Tyson went through $400 million in his career and has nothing left. What can you say to these young boxers to make them realize this big money may not last if you are not wise?

Leonard: These things do occur, though not to that degree. It's still devastating. It's even hard to fathom someone having that kind of financial success. At the end of the day it is also based upon who you have to orchestrate or run your career.

Zap2it: Last question about Iron Mike, but do you think he hurt or helped boxing?

Leonard: Because of Mike Tyson's personality, his aura, his notoriety, unfortunately it was a negative for boxing because Mike Tyson was boxing for a while. He could have been huge with a double capital bold H. And unfortunately his legacy will be that guy who bit Holyfield's ear.

Zap2it: You were a commentator on that fight, weren't you?

Leonard: I was actually there. I was up above the crowd, with James Brown or Jim Hill, and I saw the blood running down Evander Holyfield's face.

Zap2it: This is a strange thing to remember, and though you are very quick with responses as we're chatting now, but weren't you struck silent that moment?

Leonard: It was one of the most bizarre instances that ever took place in boxing. I could not comprehend. I don't know.

Zap2it: And it's the first time you are reaching for words now.

Leonard: Words can't come to my mouth.

Zap2it: OK, let's move on. Who was the biggest tomato can you ever fought?

Leonard: Luis "The Bull" Vega. It was my first professional fight. I don't see him as a tomato can, as much as he was the guy who gave me the least opposition. But that is indeed the process of some young prospect fighting his very first fight. It has to be someone you know he can beat. As a manager you make sure that with the first fight of your protégée, that guy is as close to the cemetery as possible -- if not in it.

Zap2it: And who put you in the most pain? Was getting the detached retina as painful as it sounds?

Leonard: The eye injury was a gradual progression of trauma, no pain. The detached retina was never pain, thank God. The best description I heard of it was it was like you pull the shades down. My ophthalmologist said it was an accumulation of trauma, and boxing doesn't help. They brought in the mandatory gloves. At first your thumb was free, now the thumb is attached.

Zap2it: So who did put you in the most pain?

Leonard: The most pain I ever experienced was when I fought Roberto Duran in Montreal in 1980. He was rubbing his gloves in my ear. My doctor had to withdraw blood from the ear so they would not become cauliflower. If you don't get that blood out, it dries out and stays deformed. You see wrestlers with those kinds of ears.

Zap2it: I have to ask, especially since you brought up cauliflower ears. Your face has been used to stop powerful punches, so how do you stay so pretty?

Leonard: I was pretty fast. I was very technical, and I used a great deal of psychological warfare. I won titles in five different weight categories.

Zap2it: Has anyone else ever done that?

Leonard: Not to my knowledge.

Zap2it: What's your workout these days?

Leonard: I do a lot of cardio. I run four or five miles, not every day. I have two young kids, Camille is 9, and my son is 5, Daniel.

Zap2it: On the days you don't run, what else do you do?

Leonard: I do weights, I have punching bags in my gym. I have a gym at home. I try. As we get older we try to stop because we are so tired. It's like a classic car -- maintenance. On days I don't work out, I am almost menopausal.

Zap2it: How old were you when you had your first fight?

Leonard: Fourteen. My brother Roger beat me up for no apparent reason. I have brothers who are very good athletes, recreational basketball and football. I was mama's boy. I stayed home. Then I went down to the rec center, put the gloves on and in less than a year I could beat him. At 14, I ran to school and the kids thought I was crazy. It was about three miles, or I ran back.

Zap2it: That's the discipline you talked about earlier. Does it help with everything?

Leonard: That discipline helped in business, not necessarily with my wife.

Zap2it: Well, love is a different matter, entirely. You were pretty young when you first married, weren't you?

Leonard: I was very young, and I didn't know how to truly be a father or a husband.

Zap2it: Since you are named for Ray Charles, did you ever get the chance to meet him?

Leonard: I met him in my rematch fight, the "no mas" fight with Roberto Duran, and he walked towards me and I walked towards him and he said, "I love you, son," and he gave me additional confidence in that fight.

Zap2it: When did you know you should hang up your gloves?

Leonard: Thank God I did OK financially. I always get to the edge of the cliff and look over. I enjoy defiance and beating the odds, and I have been able to beat the odds. It gets to a point that if you truly don't understand that the other guy hit you more times than you hit him, it is time to retire. I am enjoying my life and my business and my kids.

Zap2it: What is your business?

Leonard: I am still with 'The Contender' and I do motivational speaking. I also feel a higher calling to do something else.

Zap2it: As in the ministry?

Leonard: Not sure about the ministry. It feels so good when you are able to help other people.

Zap2it: Given your experience, can you look at these boxers and see who will win?

Leonard: What shocked me both seasons was when the guy I thought who would come away with flying colors was knocked out the first time. Michael Clark lost in the very first fight. This tells you it is not always just talent. It is determination. In boxing, if you have a bad day it can be a long night.

Zap2it: What's your favorite part of the show?

Leonard: When we allow the viewers or the fans to go behind the scenes; when you see the emotional attachment to their families. I love that because that is what carries the majority of the boxers through -- their love for their family.

Zap2it: Do you stay in touch with the boxers from the first season?

Leonard: We promote some of the boxers. Sergio Mora, Alfonso Gomez we promote their fights and careers. They have gone from maybe making $8,000 to making six figures and sellout crowds. It has been amazing.

Zap2it: So besides the show and motivating people, are you busy being dad?

Leonard: I am totally involved with my kids now.

Zap2it: Do you go over homework?

Leonard: I can't understand that stuff, man. I was trying to help my daughter, Camille, with her with her homework. And she said, "It's not right, papa, it's not right." She argues with me. And she came up with the same answer. Just Saturday, they both had soccer games. Two years ago I was the soccer coach, but I don't know anything about soccer. I had the best time, God, just being a parent, just being a dad.

Zap2it: Are you looking forward to Halloween?

Leonard: Yeah, I dress up. I dress up as a boxer.

Zap2it: Tough to get the costume?

Leonard: I take out my wife's mascara and get a black eye and some crooked teeth. And my son says, "Papa what are you? Who are you?"

Zap2it: What are your goals?

Leonard: I want to continue to be a better businessman, a better father, husband, friend. I look at my life and where I have been and where I am going. I appreciate little things which are big things to other people. I really am enjoying my life. Because I have a different perspective, my whole life is different. You also cherish life. When I was a young boxer in my 20s, I thought I was immortal. Now I see that life is wonderful.