Ray Charles Leonard born May 17, , best known as Sugar Ray Leonard , is an American former professional boxer , motivational speaker, and actor. Often regarded as one of the greatest boxers of all time, he competed professionally between and , winning world titles in five weight classes ; the lineal championship in three weight classes; [ 3 ] as well as the undisputed welterweight championship. As an amateur , Leonard won a light welterweight gold medal at the Summer Olympics.
In , Leonard was voted by The Ring as the ninth greatest fighter of the last 80 years. His father worked as a supermarket night manager and his mother was a nurse.
He attended Parkdale High School. Leonard was a shy child, and aside from the time he nearly drowned in a creek during a flood in Seat Pleasant, Maryland , his childhood was uneventful. He stayed home a lot, reading comic books and playing with his dog.
His mother said: "He never did talk too much. We never could tell what he was thinking. But I never had any problems with him. I never had to go to school once because of him. Leonard started boxing at the Palmer Park Recreation Center in His older brother, Roger , started boxing first.
Roger helped start the boxing program, urging the center's director, Ollie Dunlap, to form a team. Dave Jacobs, a former boxer, and Janks Morton volunteered as boxing coaches. Roger won some trophies and showed them off in front of Ray, goading him to start boxing.
