Sugar Ray Leonard Reveals Abuse by Coach in His Book Essay Example

healing. He said that he felt he would never be free until he revealed the story, despite how much it still hurt. Writing with Michael Arkush, he had originally settled on a version of the story wherein the coach stopped prior to actual contact. Leonard had felt that was already painful enough to share.

But apparently, after watching the celebrity Todd Bridges share on Oprah about how he had been sexually abused when he was a kid, he realized he had to unveil the entire story. He also shared other parts of his life in the book, including his cocaine use, having fathered a child as a 17-year-old, and growing up in a home with domestic violence and alcohol abuse. The book will be published in June. Throughout his career of boxing, Leonard had garnered titles for five weight divisions, and was known as one of the greatest fighters in the sport. Leonard expressed his disinterest of commenting through his publisher, saying that publicity for the book will begin in June and he will likely comment then. The people who had been close to him during his title bouts were caught by surprise when they learned what the book contained.

Dave Jacobs, Leaonard’s first trainer when he was still an amateur, commented, “This is the first time I’ve heard of that,” despite his having known Leonard since the boxer was a kid. “I feel sorry for him,” he said, supposedly for having to bring the burden around with him.