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Who is Sugar Ray Leonard?
Sugar Ray Leonard is a former professional boxer, motivational speaker, and occasional actor. Sugar Ray Leonard also competed in the Olympic Games for his country. His post-boxing career as a motivational speaker is remembered by die-hard fans.
Sugar Ray’s post-fighting job as a commentator kept him in the news when he retired from boxing.
He worked for ABC, CBS, NBC, ESPN, HBO, and EPIX as a result of this.
Early Life, Family & Education
Sugar Ray Leonard was born on May 17, 1956, in Wilmington, North Carolina, United States of America, to Cicero and Getha Leonard.
His mother named him after her favorite singer, Ray Charles.
The family moved to the nation’s capital, Washington, D.C., when he was three years old, and then to Palmer Park, an incorporated neighborhood in Maryland.
He was ten years old at the time. Ray, like his older brother, began boxing at the Palmer Park Recreation Center after graduating from Parkdale High School.
Leonard began to outshine everyone in the ring, winning 145 of the 150 fights he entered.
Sugar Ray went on to win two National Golden Glove titles, a Pan-American Games gold medal, and two Amateur Athletic Union titles after that.
Facts of Sugar Ray Leonard
| Real Name | Ray Charles Leonard |
| Date of Birth | May 17, 1956 |
| Birth Place | Wilmington, North Carolina, U.S |
| Nick Name | Sugar |
| Religion | Unknown |
| Nationality | American |
| Ethnicity | Unknown |
| Zodiac Sign | Taurus |
| Age | 65 years old (as of October 2021) |
| Height | 5 feet 10+1⁄2 inches (1.79 meters) |
| Weight | 145 lb (66 kg) |
| Hair Type | Medium length brown |
| Eye Color | Medium Brown |
| Build | Athletic |
| Father’s Name | Cicero Leonard |
| Mother’s Name | Getha Leonard |
| Siblings | Four siblings; Roger Leonard, Bunny Leonard, Sandy Leonard, and Sharon Leonard |
| Education | Parkdale High School |
| Marital Status | Married |
| Wife | Bernadette Robi (m. 1993) Juanita Wilkinson (m. 1980–1990) |
| Kids | Ray Charles Leonard, Jr., Camille Leonard, Daniel Ray Leonard, Jarrel Leonard |
| Profession | Former professional boxer, motivational speaker, and occasional actor. |
| Division |
|
| Stance | Orthodox |
| Reach | 74 inches (188 cm) |
| Total Career Fights | 40 |
| Net Worth | $120 million |
| Social Media | Instagram, Twitter |
| Last Update | October 2021 |
Net Worth | Boxing Earnings & Salary
Sugar Ray Leonard, the only African-American boxer, accumulated a fortune of $120 million throughout his professional career.
Perhaps the difference in pay is due to popularity or contract negotiations, as the Palmer Park native was paid $11 million while his opponent, Thomas Hearns, was paid only $5.1 million.
Leonard reaped substantial rewards during the course of his boxing career, thanks to multiple victories.
Sugar Ray also competed in the Olympic Games for his country.
Despite the fact that the pay was less than what he earned in professional fights, the money had a significant impact on his net worth.
Not only that, but his pay-per-views totaled $83.5 million. In addition, the Americans won a substantial $30 million in the fight against Roberto Duran and Michael Nunn.
Similarly, he received $40k for the opening game of the Olympic games.
He earned $7.5 million by fighting in 25 fights. Leonard has never seen an amount less than six figures, which is a remarkable achievement in and of itself.
Unless you have the expertise to accomplish what it takes, making millions from a fight is a pipe dream.
Endorsements in Books, Movies, and TV Shows
Sugar Ray’s post-fighting job as a commentator kept him in the news when he retired from boxing. He worked for ABC, CBS, NBC, ESPN, HBO, and EPIX as a result of this.
Similarly, the retired legend was seen in commercials for Coca-Cola, EA Sports, Ford, Nabisco, Revlon, and 7Up, with the latter being the most popular.
Apart from that, his post-boxing career as a motivational speaker is remembered by die-hard fans.
Most notably, POWER, an acronym for Prepare, Overcome, and Win Every Round, is one of the shows that people eagerly watch in order to gain inspiration from the legendary boxer in their daily lives.
The show is sponsored by Fortune 500, and it takes place primarily in the United States and a few select international locations.
Sugar Ray also tried his hand at acting after his retirement. Half & Half, L.A. Heat, Married…with Children, Renegade, and Tales From The Crypt, to name a few, are just a few of his credits.
Recently, Leonard also had a minor role in I Spy, and the most prominent being Mark Wahlberg and Christian Bale starred as The Fighter. Similarly, in the Hugh Jackman Real Steel, he volunteered as a fighting advisor.
With that, Leonard appeared as a host and mentor to young fighters in The Contender. Upon departing from the show, the boxing legend went on to establish Sugar Ray Leonard Inc.
The company’s main objective is to promote boxing.
Finally, Leonard also earns a figurable sum from the publication of his books The Big Fight: My Story and The Big Fight: My Life In and Out of the Ring are some inspiring books.
These were best-sellers at one point. These books are a must-read for people who want to know more about the legendary boxer.
Know about: Erin Manning Kellerman, Linda Holliday, Rory Cochrane
Houses, Lifestyle, & Cars
Sugar Ray Leonard, is one of the most popular names in boxing and even outside.
People will be in awe when they find out the assets the boxer owns.
To begin with, the retired boxer bought a home in Pacific Palisades, Los Angeles, for around $7 million.
Over the years, the value of land and its properties significantly rose in price. Hence, the same property he bought in 1993 now has a $52 million jaw-dropping value.
According to reports in 2019, taking a $ 14 million inflation into account, Leonard listed his property for sale at $52 million.
The mansion stands on a two-acre land complete with a guesthouse, tennis court, and a large swimming pool.
The interior includes an old-world design, including a vaulted ceiling, fireplaces imported from Europe, and floors made of stones from Jerusalem.
Similarly, the large land space also houses a separate two-story cottage.
The entire estate is a thing of beauty and comes at a price that would make us scream. The boxer is quite an aesthete, isn’t he?
Again, in California, Sugar Ray owns a large house valued at $2.2 million.
Rather small compared to his previous one, it, however, is bigger than any average housing.
Moving on, the American boxer also owns a collection of cars. Starting with the Vintage Porsche 911 Targa convertible that has a value of $24,750.
In like manner, he owns a comfortable Mercedes E Class sedan that starts from the market price of $54,050.
Instead of pricy cars, Sugar really values his comfort. The Mercedes is smooth to drive and, even in the harshest road condition, gives you the pleasure of the rise.
The car also features a sunroof and is adjustable according to the drivers’ or passengers’ comfort.
Added to these, the boxer turned author recently purchased a Ferrari F12 Berlinetta. Coming at a staggering price of $388,168, it is the first modern car Leonard owns.
It is “the car” for auto-enthusiasts. With a 730 horsepower and 6.3 Litres of V-12 engine, a seven-speed dual-clutch system, and an automatic rear-wheel drive system, the Ferrari clocks in at 62 mph in just 3.1 seconds.
Finally, Sugar Ray is a fan of riding in jeeps. Jeep Wrangler, which has an estimated price of $28,295, the off-road beast weighs an astonishing 1.9 to 2.2 tons.
A patriot at heart, Leonard had his jeep painted in the U.S. flag colors. The 5-seater V6 cylinder, a gas-type vehicle, is perfect for family outings and easy to ride on rough terrains.
