Ask boxing legend Sugar Ray Leonard how things are faring in his world these days, and it’s a far different answer than he may have given say, five years ago.
Back then he was undergoing a secret battle with alcoholism — an ailment that stemmed from an alleged sexual molestation when he was a 15-year-old, by a “prominent Olympic boxing coach,” on multiple occasions. Needless to say, life was rough.
But the sports icon has rebounded something fierce.
For starters, he’s laughing. A lot.
And he’s hopeful — that’s new, too. And he’s ready to take on what might be a remixed career a la Hollywood. Fans will get a look at his work firsthand this Friday, as Leonard serves as a consultant on the Walt Disney Pictures film starring Hugh Jackman Real Steel.
Here’s what else the champ has to say about his book, his career and why he doesn’t long to get back in that ring, like, ever.
You reveal a lot of personal back-story in your book, The Big Fight: My Life In and Out of the Ring. I imagine this was very therapeutic?
I just got fed up with dealing with these issues that I had suppressed for…over 30 years, and I think what really gave me the courage was when I saw Todd Bridges on Oprah. That had somewhat of an impact. It did help me decide to just come clean and just get it out of my system.
What was it that Todd said in that interview that made you say that it’s OK to talk about the molestation?
That he showed this splendor; he felt alive. It’s like something you keep in your chest or suppress for so long that it bothered me for period of time. It only bothered me when I had consumed an excessive amount of alcohol, because that’s when my emotional stability would break down, and I would release what I was feeling, which was sadness and pain. I did that when I made the revelations about the sexual encounters. I felt so relieved that all those years of my life this is how I felt. I’m like, ‘wow, that’s weight off my shoulders.’
You talked about self-medicating with alcohol. Where are things for you now? Are you in a healthy place?
I’m five years sober. I never thought in a million years that I would be telling, hell, the world that I had a problem, that I wasn’t perfect. Then things fell apart in my first marriage. I think that was the beginning of my, almost, demise. I was punishing myself more so because I was the one who could’ve been a better guy, could’ve been a better husband. I could’ve knocked that guy out who touched me. Those were the things that haunts me for so long.
What got you on the track to sobriety?
I found myself not taking my life serious, not taking my profession serious. I found myself becoming more complacent. I looked in the mirror and what I saw, I didn’t like. That song that Michael Jackson sang, “Man in the Mirror”, it resonates so well with me because it was always the mirror. I would look in the mirror to get that approval.
Do you like what you see now?
I love what I see. Except for a couple wrinkles here and there…
So what’s your take on the state of boxing today? Everyone is still talking about the Floyd Mayweather v. Victor Ortiz — your thoughts?
I was so disappointed in Ortiz, because that was such a flagrant foul. It was so intentional, he tried to use his head. He didn’t need that. He’s more talented … he has too much talent to do that. But I think it was frustration, desperation. Was it a cheap shot? Yeah. Sucker punch? Yes, it was. I’m just saying. But I understand it. Mayweather did what he had to do.
Sounds like you’re happy with the outcome of that fight…
I wish I saw more. First of all, Mayweather has so much talent. And this kid Ortiz was really not in the league of Mayweather.
Do you ever watch these matches and think: ‘I wish I could get in there one more time?’ Or are you very happy to be far away from the ring and only doing it in Hollywood right now?
Hell no! I had my day in the sun. I’ve danced as much as I could. I’m a blessed man, without question. I’ve been in this boxing game over 30-something years. I’ve continued and I’ve built relationships and I haven’t burned bridges and now I’m smelling the roses. I’m active, I’m relevant. And I’m still a fighter.