Sugar Ray Leonard survives lockdown with remote AA meetings
SHOWS: ATLANTIC CITY, NEW JERSEY, USA (FILE - FEBRUARY 25, 1997) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL) 1.
SUGAR RAY LEONARD BOXING IN FRONT OF A MIRROR LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, USA (MAY 7, 2020) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL) 2.
(SOUNDBITE) (English) SUGAR RAY LEONARD SAYING: "I can't go to meetings now but I'm on Zoom, I get it on Zoom and I join meetings, AA (Alcoholics Anonymous) meetings, that are people from the UK, Puerto Rico, all over the world and we're watching this, like I am doing with you, because technology is so amazing." ATLANTIC CITY, NEW JERSEY, USA (FILE - FEBRUARY 25, 1997) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL) 3.
LEONARD TRAINING IN THE RING LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, USA (MAY 7, 2020) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL) 4.
(SOUNDBITE) (English) SUGAR RAY LEONARD SAYING: "You can go anywhere.
What happens is it takes you to where everyone else is, it takes you.
Like it takes me from Los Angeles to London, or Scotland or wherever, it puts us together." ATLANTIC CITY, NEW JERSEY, USA (FILE - FEBRUARY 25, 1997) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL) 5.
LEONARD TRAINING IN THE RING LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, USA (MAY 7, 2020) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL) 6.
(SOUNDBITE) (English) SUGAR RAY LEONARD SAYING: "It was scary because, like you asked me, I was afraid, not afraid, well, yes I was afraid.
I was afraid to go on camera and say hi guys, I am Sugar Ray - I say Ray - and I'm an alcoholic.
That was tough, that was tough, but I am getting better now feeling more comfortable talking about these things that are so stigmatised." ATLANTIC CITY, NEW JERSEY, USA (FILE - FEBRUARY 25, 1997) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL) 7.
LEONARD SIGNING AUTOGRAPHS LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, USA (MAY 7, 2020) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL) 8.
(SOUNDBITE) (English) SUGAR RAY LEONARD SAYING: "It's new people, but it's the demons messing with me.
They're saying, Don't reveal yourself, Don't reveal yourself.
And this guy is saying hey Ray, it's OK, it's OK, you're one and the same, you guys are alcoholics, it's OK." LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, USA (MAY 20, 2014) (REUTERS PICTURES - ACCESS ALL) (MUTE) 9.
LEONARD WITH FORMER PROFESSIONAL BOXERS MIKE TYSON (R) AND OSCAR DE LA HOYA LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, USA (MAY 7, 2020) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL) 10.
(SOUNDBITE) (English) SUGAR RAY LEONARD SAYING: "(People say) 'You're that guy right' and I say, 'Yeah, but what guy?'
And he says, 'The guy on Dancing with the Stars'." LAS VEGAS, NEVADA, USA (AUGUST 26, 2017) (REUTERS PICTURES - ACCESS ALL) (MUTE) 11.
LEONARD RINGSIDE AT FIGHT BETWEEN NATHAN CLEVERLY AND BADOU JACK STORY: Boxer Sugar Ray Leonard was used to spending months in isolation preparing for fights but the retired world champion has said one of the ways he stays sane through the coronavirus lockdown is by attending Alcoholics Anonymous meetings online.
Leonard, who regularly spent months away from the crowds as he trained to win six world titles at five weights between 1979 and 1989, has been attending AA meetings for close to 15 years.
"I can't go to meetings now but I'm on Zoom, I get it on Zoom and I join meetings, AA meetings, that are people from the UK, Puerto Rico, all over the world and we're watching this, like I am doing with you, because technology is so amazing," the 63-year-old told Reuters from his home in California.
Leonard, who has fought alcohol and drug addiction and struggled with what he called "the demons" inside him, said he was wary of the online version of AA but understood the assistance they offer.
"It was scary because, like you asked me, I was afraid, not afraid, well, yes I was afraid.
I was afraid to go on camera and say hi guys, I am Sugar Ray - I say Ray - and I'm an alcoholic.
That was tough, that was tough, but I am getting better now feeling more comfortable talking about these things that are so stigmatised.
"It's new people, but it's the demons messing with me," said the man remembered for his epic fights with Roberto Duran, Thomas Hearns and Marvin Hagler -- known as the Fabulous Four.
"They're saying, 'Don't reveal yourself, Don't reveal yourself'.
And this guy is saying hey Ray, it's OK, it's OK, you're one and the same, you guys are alcoholics, it's OK." Leonard, who now runs a foundation to fight Type 1 and 2 Diabetes, still works out and told fans a great way to beat the isolation blues is to keep active, whether it's punching a heavy bag or simply shadow boxing for a few seconds in your kitchen.
Leonard, who was famous for his grace and speed in the ring, was good humoured about being recognised in the online gatherings, even if some of the younger participants know him more for his smooth moves outside the ring than inside.
"(People say) 'You're that guy right' and I say, 'Yeah, but what guy?'
And he says, 'The guy on Dancing with the Stars'." (Production: Andy Ragg)