Sugar Ray Leonard - African American Men, Birthday and Childhood
Sugar Ray Leonard's Personal Details
Sugar Ray Leonard, is a legendary boxer, who won world titles in five different weight classes
| Information | Detail |
|---|---|
| Birthday | May 17, 1956 |
| Nationality | American |
| Famous | Black Boxers, Sportspersons, Boxers, African American Men, Professional Boxer |
| Spouses | Bernadette Robi (m. 1993), Juanita Wilkinson (m. 1980–1990) |
| Siblings | Roger Leonard |
| Known as | Ray Charles Leonard |
| Childrens | Camille Leonard, Daniel Ray Leonard, Jarrel Leonard, Jr., Ray Charles Leonard |
| Birth Place | Rocky Mount |
| Height | 178 |
| Gender | Male |
| Father | Cicero Leonard |
| Mother | Getha Leonard |
| Net Worth | $120 Million as of Dec 12,2016 |
| Sun Sign | Taurus |
| Born in | Rocky Mount |
| Famous as | American professional boxer |
// Famous Professional Boxer
Laila Ali
Laila Amaria Ali is an American former professional boxer and daughter of the legendary boxer, Muhammad Ali. This biography profiles her childhood, family, personal life, career etc.
Jack Dempsey
Jack Dempsey was a professional boxer who held the World Heavyweight Championship title from 1919 to 1926. This biography of Jack Dempsey provides detailed information about his childhood, life, achievements, works & timeline.
Rocky Marciano
An American professional boxer from the USA, Rocky Marciano is known to have defended his heavyweight champion title six times during his career. Read on to know more about his childhood, career, profile and timeline
Sugar Ray Leonard's photo
Who is Sugar Ray Leonard?
Sugar Ray Leonard, the name which inspired a whole generation of boxers, is one of the most charming and popular boxers of our time. His parents named him after singer Ray Charles, with the hope that he would become like him one day. But fate had something else in store for him. He was drawn to boxing and soon decided to take it up as his profession. He was just sixteen when he began boxing following some rudimentary training from his elder brother, Roger Leonard. Soon, Sugar was winning all major championships and was seen as a rising star in the sport. When asked about what inspired him to wrestle professionally, the boxer replied, “So that I could pay my father’s hospital bills”. Apparently, it was the only profession where he thought he could make a quick buck and foot his father’s medical bills. Hardly did he know that a brilliant career awaited him. Today, he is one of the most revered boxers and has set great examples for decades to come. As far as his personality is concerned, he is a natural charmer with a pleasant smile on his face. The public simply loved him for his agreeable persona and his sweet looking face which is miraculously unscarred.
// Famous African American Men
Snoop Dogg
Snoop Dogg is an American rapper and actor who emerged as one of the best-known figures in gangsta rap during the 1990s. This biography of Snoop Dogg provides detailed information about his childhood, life, achievements, works & timeline
Spike Lee
Spike Lee is an Emmy Award winning film director and actor known for his films that deal with controversial subjects like racism and politics. This biography of Spike Lee provides detailed information about his life, achievements, works & timeline.
Satchel Paige
Satchel Paige was a legendary African-American baseball player. Know more about his profile, childhood, life, and timeline in this biography.
Childhood & Early Life
Sugar Ray Leonard, christened as Ray Charles Leonard, was born to Cicero and Getha Leonard. He was only three when his family moved to Washington D.C. and they settled in Palmer Park, Maryland, where his father worked as a supermarket manager and his mother as a nurse.
Career
Leonard began boxing in 1969 at the Pational Park recreation center with his elder brother Roger, who helped him train. Soon, he was trained by Dave Jacobs, a former boxer, and Janks Morton, both of whom volunteered as his boxing coaches.
In 1972, he competed in the featherweight quarterfinals of the National AAU Tournament, against boxer Jerome Artism and faced the first defeat of his career.
In 1973, he competed in the Eastern Olympic Trials where the minimum age eligibility was seventeen but Leonard, who was then sixteen, lied about his age.
He participated and won the National Golden Gloves Lightweight Championship in 1973, but was defeated by Randy Shields in the final of the National AAU Lightweight Championship, the same year.
In 1974 he earned both the National Golden Gloves and National AAU Lightweight Championship titles.
In 1975, he won the National AAU Light Welterweight Championship, as well as the Light Welterweight Championship at the Pan American Games.
This great boxer represented the U.S. Olympic Team in 1976 as a light welterweight contestant, and went on to win the Olympic Gold Medal.
He won the World Boxing Council's welterweight title in November, 1979 and, in the following decade he wrestled in some of boxing's most notable bouts, winning almost all of them.
His first retirement from boxing came in 1984 when this prodigious boxer decided to study business administration and communications after receiving a scholarship from the University of Maryland.
On May 1, 1986, he announced that he would return to fight Hagler, a twelve-time World Middleweight Champion. However, after losing the bout he declared his retirement once again on May 27, 1987.
Later, in June 1988, he announced his second comeback and fought Don Lalonde at Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas on November 7, 1988, which proved to be one of the most controversial fights of his career.
In January 1990, he withdrew from the WBC Super Middleweight Championship, stating he was not interested in a third comeback.
However, he made a comeback on March 1, 1997 for the IBC Middleweight Championship to fight H�ctor Camacho. He lost the bout and declared that it was indeed his final fight.
Awards & Achievements
In 1976, he won an Olympic Gold Medal after an impressive 5-0 win against Kazimier Szczerba in the semifinals and another 5-0 win against Andr�s Aldama in the final round.
He defeated Wilfred Benitez on November 30, 1979 at Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas in the WBC Welterweight Championship. The victory earned him a whopping $1 million and he was given the ‘Fighter of the Year’ title.
In 1981, he was named the ‘Fighter of the Year’ for the second time by ‘The Ring’ (magazine) and ‘The Boxing Writers Association of America’. He was also declared the ‘Sportsman of the Year’ by the magazine, ‘Sports Illustrated’.
In January 1997, he was inducted into the ‘International Boxing Hall Of Fame’ in Canastota, New York.
He remains the only boxer till date to have won world titles in five different weight classes.
Personal Life & Legacy
He married his childhood sweetheart Juanita Wilkinson in 1980 and couple had two children before they got separated in 1990.
He married Bernadette Robi in 1993 and currently lives with his four children and wife in Southern California.
Trivia
This former world-class boxer’s assistant coach once said "That kid you got is sweet as sugar." Thus, he was nicknamed ‘Sugar’.
Wilfredo Benitez, the famous boxer who had never been beaten before was knocked down by this exceptional boxer on November 30, 1979.
// Famous Sportspersons
Ted Williams
Ted Williams was an American baseball player. Read this biography to learn more about his profile, childhood, life and timeline.
Jürgen Klopp
Jürgen Klopp is a German football manager, and a former professional football player. Check out this biography to know more about his childhood, family, personal life, etc.
Yao Ming
Yao Ming is a retired Chinese basketball player who played for Chinese Basketball Association (CBA). Check out this biography to know about his childhood, family life, achievements and fun facts about him.
Sugar Ray Leonard biography timelines
- // 1969Leonard began boxing in 1969 at the Pational Park recreation center with his elder brother Roger, who helped him train. Soon, he was trained by Dave Jacobs, a former boxer, and Janks Morton, both of whom volunteered as his boxing coaches.
- // 1972In 1972, he competed in the featherweight quarterfinals of the National AAU Tournament, against boxer Jerome Artism and faced the first defeat of his career.
- // 1973He participated and won the National Golden Gloves Lightweight Championship in 1973, but was defeated by Randy Shields in the final of the National AAU Lightweight Championship, the same year.
- // 1974In 1974 he earned both the National Golden Gloves and National AAU Lightweight Championship titles.
- // 1975In 1975, he won the National AAU Light Welterweight Championship, as well as the Light Welterweight Championship at the Pan American Games.
- // 1976This great boxer represented the U.S. Olympic Team in 1976 as a light welterweight contestant, and went on to win the Olympic Gold Medal.
- // 1979He won the World Boxing Council's welterweight title in November, 1979 and, in the following decade he wrestled in some of boxing's most notable bouts, winning almost all of them.
- // 1979He defeated Wilfred Benitez on November 30, 1979 at Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas in the WBC Welterweight Championship. The victory earned him a whopping $1 million and he was given the ‘Fighter of the Year’ title.
- // 1980He married his childhood sweetheart Juanita Wilkinson in 1980 and couple had two children before they got separated in 1990.
- // 1981In 1981, he was named the ‘Fighter of the Year’ for the second time by ‘The Ring’ (magazine) and ‘The Boxing Writers Association of America’. He was also declared the ‘Sportsman of the Year’ by the magazine, ‘Sports Illustrated’.
- // 1984His first retirement from boxing came in 1984 when this prodigious boxer decided to study business administration and communications after receiving a scholarship from the University of Maryland.
- // 1986On May 1, 1986, he announced that he would return to fight Hagler, a twelve-time World Middleweight Champion. However, after losing the bout he declared his retirement once again on May 27, 1987.
- // 1988Later, in June 1988, he announced his second comeback and fought Don Lalonde at Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas on November 7, 1988, which proved to be one of the most controversial fights of his career.
- // 1990In January 1990, he withdrew from the WBC Super Middleweight Championship, stating he was not interested in a third comeback.
- // 1993He married Bernadette Robi in 1993 and currently lives with his four children and wife in Southern California.
- // 1997However, he made a comeback on March 1, 1997 for the IBC Middleweight Championship to fight H�ctor Camacho. He lost the bout and declared that it was indeed his final fight.
- // 1997In January 1997, he was inducted into the ‘International Boxing Hall Of Fame’ in Canastota, New York.
// Famous Boxers
Mike Tyson
Mike Tyson is a former heavyweight boxing champion, known for his ferocious and intimidating style. Read this biography to know about his life, profile & timeline.
Nikolai Valuev
Nikolai Valuev is a Russian retired professional boxer, actor, politician, and author. Check out this biography to know about his childhood, family life, achievements and fun facts about him.
Muhammad Ali
Muhammad Ali was a legendary boxer who became the first and only three-time lineal World Heavyweight Champion. This biography provides detailed information about his childhood, life, boxing career, achievements & timeline.
Badr Hari
Badr Hari is a Moroccan-Dutch super heavyweight kickboxer. Check out this biography to know about his childhood, family life, achievements and fun facts about his life.
Mickey Rourke
Mickey Rourke is an American actor and former boxer. Check out this biography to know about his childhood, family life, achievements and fun facts about him.
Dicky Eklund
Dicky Eklund is an American former professional boxer who competed in the welterweight division. Check out this biography to know about his childhood, family life, achievements and fun facts about him.
Sugar Ray Leonard's FAQ
What is Sugar Ray Leonard birthday?
Sugar Ray Leonard was born at 1956-05-17
Where is Sugar Ray Leonard's birth place?
Sugar Ray Leonard was born in Rocky Mount
What is Sugar Ray Leonard nationalities?
Sugar Ray Leonard's nationalities is American
Who is Sugar Ray Leonard spouses?
Sugar Ray Leonard's spouses is Bernadette Robi (m. 1993), Juanita Wilkinson (m. 1980–1990)
Who is Sugar Ray Leonard siblings?
Sugar Ray Leonard's siblings is Roger Leonard
Who is Sugar Ray Leonard childrens?
Sugar Ray Leonard's childrens is Camille Leonard, Daniel Ray Leonard, Jarrel Leonard, Jr., Ray Charles Leonard
How tall is Sugar Ray Leonard?
Sugar Ray Leonard's height is 178
Who is Sugar Ray Leonard's father?
Sugar Ray Leonard's father is Cicero Leonard
Who is Sugar Ray Leonard's mother?
Sugar Ray Leonard's mother is Getha Leonard
What is Sugar Ray Leonard's sun sign?
Sugar Ray Leonard is Taurus
How famous is Sugar Ray Leonard?
Sugar Ray Leonard is famouse as American professional boxer