this weeks friday night fights- shocking srl interview

[Bricks]

This weeks friday night fights was certainly shocking.
And i dont mean the 40 year old grady brewers beating of unbeaten fernando guerrero.

On the upside the canastota weekend feature was amazing. The stallone standing ovation showed sly still has astonishing charisma.

Ken norton looked shockingly old. Jonathan coachmans voice is shockingly screechy it could crack the china on the mantlepiece

but in all seriousness the interview with sugar ray leonard as he talked about his sexual abuse at the hands of an olympic coach was shocking. The devil whispered to me srl just has a book to sell he wants to be the new oprah......hes just another american asshole crying on tv or having a breakdown on tv for attention seeking purposes. But i told the devil to go fornicate himself........this was real

sugar was a frail shabby figure id never seen him like this. It was genuinely moving to see a childhood hero.a man of consumate class and dignity. The 100 million dollar kid reduced to speaking of his alchololism. The "horrible thinsgs he did to his first wife juanita"...."being a crappy father, the breakdown of his relationship with his sons".....how he drank after retiring and had been in counselling 5 years......very sad to see. I genuinely pray ray finds peace of mind and the sick fornicate who abused him as a teen burns in hell.

[ed robinson]

I'm pleased I'm not the only one who found it a bit surreal.

[Bricks]

ed had you ever seen ray leonard look like that before?
i couldnt beleive my eyes....or ears....
the surreal irony was deepened when u saw guys like hagler and tyson at canastota looking like they were having the time of their lives hi fiving stallone in the raucous celebrations at slys acceptance speech

[jamesmcdonnell]

This weeks friday night fights was certainly shocking.
And i dont mean the 40 year old grady brewers beating of unbeaten fernando guerrero.

On the upside the canastota weekend feature was amazing. The stallone standing ovation showed sly still has astonishing charisma.

Ken norton looked shockingly old. Jonathan coachmans voice is shockingly screechy it could crack the china on the mantlepiece

but in all seriousness the interview with sugar ray leonard as he talked about his sexual abuse at the hands of an olympic coach was shocking. The devil whispered to me srl just has a book to sell he wants to be the new oprah......hes just another american asshole crying on tv or having a breakdown on tv for attention seeking purposes. But i told the devil to go eff himself........this was real

sugar was a frail shabby figure id never seen him like this. It was genuinely moving to see a childhood hero.a man of consumate class and dignity. The 100 million dollar kid reduced to speaking of his alchololism. The "horrible thinsgs he did to his first wife juanita"...."being a crappy father, the breakdown of his relationship with his sons".....how he drank after retiring and had been in counselling 5 years......very sad to see. I genuinely pray ray finds peace of mind and the sick eff who abused him as a teen burns in hell.

It's pretty amazing considering what a golden boy SRL was - he seemed to have it all, Looks, Skills, money, fame, success, adulation - a beautiful wife.

Yet deep down he was incredibly troubled - it always seems rosier for other people, but you never know what they are contending with inside.

[Glyn Leach]

The problems definitely seem to be long standing and deep rooted. I remember being told by a very reliable source, although I have no idea whether this is true, that Leonard's nickname within the Olympic team was 'Coke'. This does seem a sad development though, it will be my latest (final) piece of catchup TV this evening.

[Glyn Leach]

The problems definitely seem to be long standing and deep rooted. I remember being told by a very reliable source, although I have no idea whether this is true, that Leonard's nickname within the Olympic team was 'Coke'. This does seem a sad development though, it will be my latest (final) piece of catchup TV this evening.

was this on UK telly?

ESPN Friday Night Fights Mark, weekly show

[ed robinson]

Hey BigMark

ESPN show the full broadcast from America so you get to see all the studio inserts. The interview with Sugar Ray was to promote his new book but Brian Kenny caught Leonard in the mood to open his heart.

It was unsettling in many ways. Fighters like Tyson or Tapia have obviously got that self destructive streak but Ray always seemed to, well, be last person you'd expect to suffer from low self esteem. On the back of De La Hoya's recent problems it shows that no one has it easy. It sounded like a man trying very hard to make peace with those that he had hurt - namely Juanita and his kids.

Mugabi, I know what you're saying about the contrast with the Hall of Fame, although for me it was more what Kostya Tzyu said that resonated with me. About being desperate not to spoil his kids because overcoming adversity is essentially the real key to making your life worthwhile.

[DIRT SUGAR]

This weeks friday night fights was certainly shocking.
And i dont mean the 40 year old grady brewers beating of unbeaten fernando guerrero.

On the upside the canastota weekend feature was amazing. The stallone standing ovation showed sly still has astonishing charisma.

Ken norton looked shockingly old. Jonathan coachmans voice is shockingly screechy it could crack the china on the mantlepiece

but in all seriousness the interview with sugar ray leonard as he talked about his sexual abuse at the hands of an olympic coach was shocking. The devil whispered to me srl just has a book to sell he wants to be the new oprah......hes just another american asshole crying on tv or having a breakdown on tv for attention seeking purposes. But i told the devil to go eff himself........this was real

sugar was a frail shabby figure id never seen him like this. It was genuinely moving to see a childhood hero.a man of consumate class and dignity. The 100 million dollar kid reduced to speaking of his alchololism. The "horrible thinsgs he did to his first wife juanita"...."being a crappy father, the breakdown of his relationship with his sons".....how he drank after retiring and had been in counselling 5 years......very sad to see. I genuinely pray ray finds peace of mind and the sick eff who abused him as a teen burns in hell.

I'm looking forward to reading Leonard's book, should be interesting. Leonard had a lot of problems after his eye injuries despite the charm and good looks had some serious demons to battle over the years.

Talking of the other guys, to be fair, Ken Norton was in a horrific car accident in 1986 that basically would have ended the life of a person who wasn't in such great physical condition. Doctors thought he would die and when he didn't they then said he'd never walk or talk again. Tough man.

[ed robinson]

I did Mark but today is my day off and so I'm at home - reading boxing forums! I know we have the footage in house now but no idea what the scoop is with copyright, I'll ask tomorrow....

[leforge]

I did Mark but today is my day off and so I'm at home - reading boxing forums! I know we have the footage in house now but no idea what the scoop is with copyright, I'll ask tomorrow....

Have you done a behind the ropes?

[ed robinson]

Hey leforge,

Obviously a work in progress but yes, it'll be on next week.

[Glyn Leach]

Just seen it. Clearly a man in a lot of distress and turmoil. I wish him luck.

[hurlock]

in turmoil?? is srl breaking down or somthing??? is letting this out destroying or helping him??

any links??

how could he get touched as a l.welter who was stopping cubans??? was the trainer a lump??

i heard his name was pat nappy which is quite a surreal name for a nonce D

[chinny]

I'm normally a cynical bastard when those with something to plug break down in public. But I'll make an exception in this case, it was genuinely hard to watch.

I recently finished Angelo Dundee's autobiog and although SRL steadily fell out with him over money, Dundee retains a soft spot for him and paints him as a very complete man. Sad.

[G-man]

According to his facebook, he'll personally sign your copy of his book if you send it him with return postage:

'Send your copy of "The Big Fight" w/ return postage to 517 11th Street, Manhattan Beach, CA 90266 and I will personally sign it.'

http://www.facebook.com/SugarRayLeonard6

[JC]

Is this the interview? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n-zlkshjtvA

[Glyn Leach]

Is this the interview? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n-zlkshjtvA

Yep

[stujones]

This weeks friday night fights was certainly shocking.
And i dont mean the 40 year old grady brewers beating of unbeaten fernando guerrero.

On the upside the canastota weekend feature was amazing. The stallone standing ovation showed sly still has astonishing charisma.

Ken norton looked shockingly old. Jonathan coachmans voice is shockingly screechy it could crack the china on the mantlepiece

but in all seriousness the interview with sugar ray leonard as he talked about his sexual abuse at the hands of an olympic coach was shocking. The devil whispered to me srl just has a book to sell he wants to be the new oprah......hes just another american asshole crying on tv or having a breakdown on tv for attention seeking purposes. But i told the devil to go eff himself........this was real

sugar was a frail shabby figure id never seen him like this. It was genuinely moving to see a childhood hero.a man of consumate class and dignity. The 100 million dollar kid reduced to speaking of his alchololism. The "horrible thinsgs he did to his first wife juanita"...."being a crappy father, the breakdown of his relationship with his sons".....how he drank after retiring and had been in counselling 5 years......very sad to see. I genuinely pray ray finds peace of mind and the sick eff who abused him as a teen burns in hell.

Shocking stuff - although I do think at 56 he looks good and sounds sharp.

[Bricks]

ray always was a good talker ( unless he was behind a HBO mic in which case he was a bad talker)

[Old bones Ian]

everyone has a crutch when it comes to drugs/drink, but sometimes it the basic fact that they enjoy taking them as well.

I'm not saying that SRL doesn't have problems, as many do.