Sugar Ray’s Latest Fight

Boxer Is Honored with Angel Award by Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation

Sugar Ray Leonard made a career of beating the odds. Now, he’s on a mission to win a fight far more important than any he had as a Hall of Fame boxer. It is a fight against diabetes–a disease that has afflicted millions of Americans, including his own father. Leonard, who lives near Riviera Country Club, has for many years served as the international chairman of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation’s “Walk for a Cure” and on May 7 he was presented with the Angel Award during a Gala Tribute called “Finding a Cure: A Love Story” last Thursday at the Beverly Hilton. “I was a pretty tough fighter, but these kids are the true fighters, every day,” Leonard said in his acceptance speech. “Yes, I’m making another comeback, but not in the ring. This is a fight to knock out juvenile diabetes. And this is one fight we can all win.” Leonard’s 12-year-old daughter Camille, a sixth-grader at St. Matthew’s, introduced him to the gathering of donors, doctors and dinner guests. “A lot of people call Sugar Ray Leonard ‘champ.’ I just call him Papa,” she said. “He is an inspiration to me and I am proud that he is getting honored here tonight.” Then, comedian Arsenio Hall, singer Johnny Gill and actor Eddie Murphy took the stage to present Leonard with his award–one he is just as proud of as any he won as one of the world’s most adored and recognizable athletes. “It said that it takes dedication, intensity and grace to be a champion,” Hall said. “Well, Ray applies those same attributes to this foundation.” Leonard, who retired for good in 1997, won an Olympic gold medal in 1976 and went on to win world titles in five different weight classes. He was named “Fighter of the Decade” for the 1980s. Several other Palisadians were there, including longtime Palisades High football supporter Joe Spector and 16-year Highlands resident Jeff Wald, a boxing promoter and producer of “The Contender,” the reality television series which Leonard hosts. Also attending were John McNamee and his wife and Jody, who have a family member afflicted with the disease and expressed gratitude for Francine R. Kaufman, M.D., who was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award. McNamee coaches his two sons’ Palisades Pony Baseball Association’s Mustang Yankees team and is a big supporter of JDRF. Singer Kenny Loggins performed four songs to cap off the benefit, which raised $865,000 for diabetes research. Leonard signed a pair of boxing gloves and volunteered to play a round of golf at Riviera with a lucky winner at the evening’s live auction.