Gold medalist and the first boxer to win championships in five weight classes, Sugar Ray Leonard is considered one of the top pound for pound fighters to ever lace up the gloves.
Since leaving the ring, the sports icon has become a best-selling author, television personality and met a calling to help humanity through many philanthropic efforts.
Sponsored by CARFAX, Leonard will share his drive for success as the keynote speaker for the National Independent Automobile Dealers Association’s Accelerate 2023 Convention and Expo. Leonard will speak at 4:30 p.m. June 20 at the Wynn Las Vegas.
Registration for the largest expo and convention for the independent auto dealer is underway at niada.com/convention. Early bird registration ends May 15.
Leonard began boxing at 14, winning three Golden Gloves, two Amateur Athletic Union and the 1975 Pan-American crown, before capturing the gold medal at the 1976 Olympic games in Montreal.
To help his family defray mounting medical costs due to his father’s illness, he turned professional following the Olympics.
At 20, he won his first professional fight to start his stellar career, which included winning welterweight, junior middleweight, super middleweight, and light heavyweight titles. He fought and won legendary bouts against Wilfred Benetiz, Roberto Duran, Thomas Hearns and Marvelous Marvin Hagler in his 20-year career.
After retiring from boxing, he provided expert ring commentary on NBC, ABC, FOX, HBO and ESPN, also featured as the international commentator for the record-breaking Mayweather vs. McGregor fight.
He hosted the Emmy-nominated “The Contender” and competed on “Dancing with the Stars.”
In 2011, Leonard published his autobiography “The Big Fight: My Life In and Out of the Ring.” In his memoir, he describes his greatest competitor, himself, and confronts his personal battles with depression, rage, addiction and greed.
Leonard started the The Sugar Ray Leonard Foundation in 2009 with his wife, Bernadette. Since its inception, the foundation has funded countless research projects and offered life-changing patient care for children living with type 1 and type 2 diabetes. The foundation is also committed to helping children lead healthier lives through diet and exercise, equipping them with the tools to be successful in health later on.
Leonard also raises money for Children’s Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA) and other children’s charities through his annual “Big Fighters, Big Cause” Charity Boxing Night.
Leonard’s keynote address brought to you by CARFAX is part of four exciting days of NIADA Accelerate 2023 Convention & Expo’s education, networking, keynote speakers and fun running, June 19th through the 22nd. For information and to register visit niada.com/convention.
