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World title holder and Olympic gold boxer Sugar Ray Leonard will visit Guernsey next month to talk about his career and raise funds for Guernsey Mind and the Sugar Ray Leonard Foundation.
Leonard is widely regarded as one of the greatest boxers of all time, winning world titles in five different weight classes as well as Gold at the 1976 Olympics. He will be speaking at the Duke of Richmond at an event which will include a question and answer session.
All guests will be presented with a complimentary copy of the OPUS WBC Greatest Fights book, and every ticket holder will have the chance to meet Leonard and have an official photograph taken with him.
Pictured: Sugar Ray Leonard has won world titles in five different weight classes. Credit: Zenon Texeira, OPUS.
Leonard was part of the famous 'Four Kings', a group of exceptional boxers which also included Roberto Duràn, Thomas Hearns and Marvin Hagler. Leonard will talk about his iconic bouts from this golden era of the sport, as well as other memories from his career.
The evening will support Guernsey Mind and the Sugar Ray Leonard Foundation, which funds research and awareness for childhood diabetes.
A host of unique prizes will be available, including the chance for eight people to visit Leonard at his home in Los Angeles for a day’s boxing training with him before a night out on the town. Other prizes include the opportunity to play golf with Leonard and have lunch with him at his house.
Leonard said he was excited to visit the island and "share some memories of my career" as well as fundraise for the charities.
"I have never visited the Channel Islands but have heard a lot about them and understand there is a strong amateur boxing scene on the island," he said.
"I am really looking forward to meeting some of the island’s up and coming stars on what we hope will be a fun evening."
Pictured: In 2016, boxing magazine The Ring voted Sugar Ray Leonard the greatest living fighter. Credit: Zenon Texeira, OPUS.
Maddy Diligent from Guernsey Mind said it was a "great honour" for the charity to have been selected by Leonard.
"We know the people of Guernsey will be excited by the chance to meet a true sporting icon and hear stories from his incredible career," she said.
"Some of the auction prizes on offer are truly remarkable and will help raise vital funds to support our work in the Bailiwick, especially after the increased strains of the pandemic."
The event has been organized by OPUS.
OPUS CEO Karl Fowler said: "Being able to invite and bring one of the all-time greats like Sugar Ray Leonard to Guernsey has been a long time in the making and we are just thrilled that Ray is coming for what we hope will be a most memorable evening.
"We are also so happy to be able to support such a wonderful charity as Guernsey Mind."
Pictured: Sugar Ray Leonard won a golf medal at the 1976 Olympics. Credit: Zenon Texeira, OPUS.
Tickets to the evening cost £65.
The event will take place at the Duke of Richmond Hotel from 19:00 until 22:00 on 10 June.
Tickets are available HERE
Pictured top: Sugar Ray Leonard. Credit: Zenon Texeira, OPUS.
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