Sugar Ray Leonard Pens Autobiography, Says Coach Sexually Abused Him

55-year-old boxing legend, Sugar Ray Leonard has penned an autobiography that admits that he was sexually abused by his boxing coach at age 15. In the book, “The Big Fight: My Life In and Out of the Ring,” Leonard describes one of his sexual encounters with the coach, “Before I knew it, he had unzipped my pants and put his hand, then mouth, on an area that has haunted me for life. I didn’t scream. I didn’t look at him. I just opened the door and ran.”

What gave Leonard the inspiration to pen the book and open up his life? An episode of the Oprah Winfrey Show. He explained, “After watching the actor Todd Bridges bare his soul on Oprah’s show about how he was sexually abused as a kid, I realized I would never be free unless I revealed the whole truth, no matter how much it hurt.” In addition to discussing his sexual abuse, the book also addresses his dysfunctional upbringing. Peep the full story here.

There are 2 comments for this article
  1. TRenee at 2:43 pm

    I don’t mean to sound insensitive, child abuse of any form is unacceptable, but it seems like a lot of singers, athletics and actors are coming out with their autobiographies and 90% have been sexually abused as a child . . . . . just seems strange to me . . . . just saying.

  2. Andi Williams at 8:38 pm

    @TRenee…more people that you and I would like to know or think have been molested. Both men and women. I would venture to say probably more men. Most will never come forward with it because of the shame.

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