Sugar Ray's Book Signing Is a Knockout

Throughout his spectacular career, Sugar Ray Leonard was the biggest draw in boxing. He was that marquee attraction in his sport, the pugilist fans most wanted to see, and he was involved in some of the richest and most memorable bouts of all time.

Now he's long retired, but Leonard can still pack the fans in like no one else, as he showed June 30 when he discussed his new autobiography "The Big Fight: My Life In and Out of the Ring" in front of a standing-room only audience during a closing night celebration at Village Books.

"Working on this book is the most difficult thing I've ever done in my life--well, except dancing," Leonard said, referring to his recent appearance on "Dancing with the Stars," a reality TV show pairing celebrities and athletes with professional dancers. "This book has been an amazing tool that allowed me to come to grips with myself. Deep down, I was dying inside for 30 years. Now I'm stronger and more confident with who I am."

Leonard, who succeeded actor Gavin MacLeod as Honorary Mayor of Pacific Palisades on June 16, moved to the Riviera neighborhood in 1993 and he and his family have been actively involved in the community ever since.

"It's very difficult to talk about your flaws, about what you did wrong," Leonard continued. "A lot of my friends and family thought I was being too open, revealing too much, but sharing what happened in my past is something I had to do. It's enabled me to get closer with my older sons, Ray Jr. (37) and Jarrel (27), and clear up the confusion between 'Sugar Ray' and Ray."

Joining Leonard at the book signing was his co-author Michael Arkush, whose prior books include "The Fight of the Century," retelling the epic first meeting between Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier, and "The Last Season: A Team in Search of Its Soul," an account of the Los Angeles Lakers' 2003-2004 campaign under Coach Phil Jackson. 

"When we first started this project in 2009 I wanted to go over every detail, but it wasn't always that clear," said Arkush, who thanked his wife Pauletta Walsh and Leonard's wife Bernadette for their support and patience. "We would talk for hours and at a certain point we'd reach a magical spot of introspection for half an hour and those half hours are what Ray's life--and this book--is about."

Released June 6, the 320-page autobiography pulls no punches as the 55-year-old retired Hall of Fame boxer is candid about his challenges both in and out of the ring--including his struggle with drug addiction and his admission that he was sexually abused by an Olympic boxing coach at the age of 15.   

"When we first discussed the sexual abuse issue, Ray didn't go into a lot of detail but I could tell it was eating away at him," said Arkush, a Palisadian from 1991-96 who now resides in Ojai. "He started opening up one day and it got very emotional but that was a turning point. It was tough to confront his family members. How far do you go? There were some strong denials."

When Village Books owner Katie O'Laughlin introduced Leonard she told guests who needed help with anything that he was the man to ask. "How about my left jab?" someone shouted.

Asked by Todd Cooper who his first comeback fight would be against, Leonard playfully shot back "How about you?" He then went on to say he has no desire to return to the ring.

"I've had my day in the sun, and I've retired what, four or five times?" Leonard guessed, looking to Arkush for confirmation. 

"Five," his friend replied with a grin. 

"Yeah, so I'm happy where I am now. Being in the Palisades is the best remedy," Leonard added. "Besides, fighting is a poor man's sport. Once you have money and fame you start to lose your edge. I really believe that."

When asked what his greatest moment was in boxing, Leonard's response was loudly applauded: "Winning the Olympic gold medal because I wasn't just representing myself, I was representing my country. I was ready to retire right then and there but I turned pro because I needed the money and I thought 'This isn't a bad job.'"

Then Leonard was asked what he was thinking going toe-to-toe in his first fight with Roberto Duran, who dealt Leonard the first defeat of his professional career.

"The reason is that he got under my skin," Leonard admitted, recounting with vivid detail the press conferences leading up to the fight in June 1980--a classic that has since been dubbed 'The Brawl in Montreal.' "He insulted me, gave me all kinds of obscene gestures. He challenged my manhood and I was determined to beat him at his own game."

In the rematch five months later in New Orleans, Leonard so frustrated Duran with his elusive boxing skills that the Panamanian quit in the eighth round, uttering the famous words "No mas, no mas."

"My mother named me Ray Charles after the singer," Leonard said, even demonstrating the fake bolo and jab he landed to Duran's face--the signature punch of the fight. "That was the biggest fight of my life. Ray Charles himself sang 'America the Beautiful' and I remember thinking he [Duran] is in trouble. Then, on his way out of the ring, with everyone in the arena cheering, Ray Charles leaned over to me and whispered 'Kick his --."

Asked if there were any fights he thought he deserved to lose, Leonard could thing of only one: "The rematch with Tommy Hearns. They ruled it a draw but he knocked me down twice. I couldn't believe it. I should've lost that fight."

Remembering his greatest triumph, a split-decision over middleweight champion Marvelous Marvin Hagler in 1987, Leonard said an incident in training changed his mentality heading into the fight.

"It was the last day of sparring, five days before the fight, and one of my sparring partners hit me so hard it almost knocked me out," recalled Leonard, the first fighter to win titles in five weight divisions. "We were driving back to the hotel and no one said a word about it, but I decided then and there 'He won't touch me. I'm going to box him and he won't touch me.'"

Leonard's appearance coincided with the closing of Village Books and O'Laughlin claimed she sold every copy of "The Big Fight" they had in stock. By night's end a total of 147 were purchased and the man who 20 years ago was named Ring Magazine's "Fighter of the Decade" spent two hours signing for everyone who made a request. 

As he proved so many times in his career, most notably in his 14th-round knockout of Hearns in their 1981 welterweight unification fight in Las Vegas, Leonard knows how to close the show. 

"This is my home and I can't imagine wanting to be anywhere else right now than at Village Books," Leonard said. "I'm grateful for my wife's support and for Michael's friendship. He's the best."

Those who would like an autographed copy of "The Big Fight: My Life In and Out of the Ring" should send the book with return postage to 517 11th Street, Manhattan Beach, CA 90266 and Leonard will personally sign it.