Boxing legend Sugar Ray Leonard is less than a month away from his historic visit to Merseyside

Sep 16 2009 by Philip Kirkbride, Birkenhead News

BOXING legend Sugar Ray Leonard is less than a month away from his historic visit to Merseyside.

The former five weight world champion and International Boxing Hall of Fame inductee is set for an after dinner speech for Vauxhall Motors Amateur Boxing Club at the Ellesmere Port Social Club on October 13 - and tickets are still available.

Originally scheduled for October, 4, Sugar Ray monumental visit to this part of the world has been put back as the excitement of his arrival builds.

A 1976 Olympic Light Welterweight gold medallist, Leonard carved out a career in the professional ranks so great, many consider him the finest boxer of all time.

Leonard is sure to discuss with the Wirral audience his legendary bouts with Roberto Duran, Tommy Hearns and Marvin Hagler during the 1980s in which he was named fighter of the decade – as well as his eventful life outside of the boxing ring.

He became the first fighter to win world titles in five weight divisions, at welterweight, junior middleweight, middleweight, super middleweight and light heavyweight.

Twice Ring Magazine fighter of the year, inheriting the title from Muhammad Ali in 1979 and from Hearns in 1981, Sugar Ray retired from boxing for the fourth and final time in 1997, when he was inducted into the Hall of Fame.

Proceeds of the evening, which includes a three-course meal, raffle and auction, will help fund a trip for Vauxhall boxers to fight in Majorca.

For more information on how to get tickets, priced at £50, e-mail vmabc@hotmail.com or call 07971476605 or 07806711429.

Doors open at 7pm for a 7:30pm sit down.