The great, good and charming Sugar Ray Leonard with his dazzling smile and sparkling effervescent character, came and charmed the General Assembly of the World Boxing  Council`s 59th Convention in Salon Castillo of the Presidente Intercontinental Hotel in the heart of Mexico City.

It was Ray Day at the Convention, but he was also joined on the stage by Roberto “Stone Hands” Duran, Vinny Paz and Donny lalonde.  Pinatas of the four kings Leonard, Duran, Hagler and Hearns were brought up. Ray was somewhat perplexed that Roberto`s mannequin towered over his own?

In the questions and answers session Ray who`s a spritely sixty-five, showed and displayed his wit, sense of humour and candid shrewd intelligence. He pointed the difference between retired fighters coming back for an exhibition, as opposed to a fight, saying we should be able to do what we want at any age, unless there`s the risk of you getting hurt.

Named after the singer Ray Charles, the Sugar Ray Leonard story many never have happened.  The rather shy nine-year-old Ray got biffed on the nose in the ring and retired until the age of fourteen, flourishing thereafter, explaining that: “Boxing gave me a life. I found boxing, boxing found me and so we found each other.” Ray also had to overcome being sexually abused as a child and boxing proved an effective way to battle back.  He retired for the second time aged twenty five due to a partically detached retina, underwent successful surgery and came back to fight the awesome Marvelous Marvin Hagler.

Ray was quick to pay tribute to the Greatest, Muhammad Ali. He said: “Ali was from a different planet. What he did inside and outside of the ring, allowed me to do what I do.”

Ray and Roberto who didn`t much like one another back then have since become friends. Ray said: “Roberto handed me my first loss and in so doing taught me so much. Back then we weren`t that keen on one another but that`s changed.”  Asked about Canelo audaciously moving up to cruiserweight championship challenge Ray winced slightly remembering the Lalonde knockdown and how each punch hurt so much, saying when there`s that much weight difference YOU FEEL IT.

He retired in 1982, saying: “I give boxing a big hug, because it made me who I am today. But Ray got lost in drink and drugs. He thanks God for being sixteen years sober.

In a spoonful of Sugar interview with the WBC, we asked Ray if he prefers to be called Ray or Sugar?

Ray: I`m still trying to convince my Wife to call me Sugar, but you can call me Ray. Sugar Ray…whatever.

WBC: Marvin`s death was a tremendous shock. He was such strong man.

Ray:  When I heard the terribly bad news from my son, intitially I couldn`t believe it. Then he called back several hours later and said, he`s gone Pops. It bothers and saddens me so much.

WBC: It shows us all how fragile we really are, no matter how well conditioned we are.

Ray: They say life is what you make it. But then again, I`m an optimist. If you live to be a hundred or even two hundred years old, you must appreciate life and its times and its  moments, because we never, ever know.

WBC: You and Marvin….very different characters. What will you remember about him the most?

Ray: It`s all about the ring. Marvin never went to the ring unprepared. He was always totally prepared….all right buddy?