I learned that I had character defects, that I was allergic to alcohol and drugs, and that I had an obsession with all the bad stuff. But thank God that I woke and that I had good people around me to support me. There's not much more I can say about it. You have to want to be a better person.

Sugar Ray Leonard

Categorized in : People Character Support

You have to know you can win. You have to think you can win. You have to feel you can win.

Sugar Ray Leonard

inspirational-sports winning running

Within our dreams and aspirations we find our opportunities.

Sugar Ray Leonard

wise dream graduation

People can do more than they ever believe they can do. Physically, mentally, academically. You have to be pushed. It hurts. But it's worth it, and it's a great thing.

Sugar Ray Leonard

hurt believe people

Success is attaining your dream while helping others to benefit from that dream materializing.

Sugar Ray Leonard

benefits helping-others dream

I've always believed that you can be whatever you want to be if you are willing to sacrifice and dedicate yourself.

Sugar Ray Leonard

sacrifice want sports

I consider myself blessed. I consider you blessed. We've all been blessed with God-given talents. Mine just happens to be beating people up.

Sugar Ray Leonard

boxing blessed sports

My toughest fight was myself. For me to disclose and let things out was not easy because we don't want to seem weak or like we are different, but I learned that it's okay.

Sugar Ray Leonard

different fighting want

You don't play boxing. You really don't. You play golf, you play tennis, but you don't play boxing.

Sugar Ray Leonard

boxing play golf

I learned how to sumon,

Sugar Ray Leonard

deep-within knowing years

When I was 15 or 16 and I started climbing up the ladder of success in amateur boxing, a reporter asked me, "What do you want to be?" I think he was expecting me to say, "A champion." I said, "I want to be special." I don't know why I said that, but I didn't just want to be a fighter. I wanted to have an impact with people, particularly kids.

Sugar Ray Leonard

impact kids thinking

Spread your love and fly.

Sugar Ray Leonard

misinterpretation spread

I wouldnt change anything because the mistakes and the hurt are as important as all the great fights. They made me who I am today.

Sugar Ray Leonard

fighting hurt mistake

I saw Todd Bridges talk about being abused on Oprah. Something that he said, or an expression that he made that gave me that little boost I needed to be open about it and to talk about it as transparently as I did. When I told my wife, she couldn't believe it. She was petrified, because it's such a no-no, taboo, a hands-off subject. But I'd have to say hearing Todd Bridges on Oprah was my watershed moment.

Sugar Ray Leonard

expression believe hands

Inactivity is the biggest sin in boxing.

Sugar Ray Leonard

boxing sin motivational

I've never believed in tying myself up in a long-range contract, and I've been very outspoken on that subject.

Sugar Ray Leonard

range outspoken long

When we got back to the U.S., I wanted to kiss the ground after seeing what people in other countries are denied or don't have.

Sugar Ray Leonard

kissing sports country

If I hadn't had the talent, the networks wouldn't have televised my fights. No one has made me; I made myself. I paid my dues

Sugar Ray Leonard

perseverance success sports

When I'm not in training. I'll walk around the streets at 153, but it's not solid; it's my socializing weight.

Sugar Ray Leonard

training weight sports

Everything you want to know about a fighter is in his eyes. The look in his eyes tells the truth.

Sugar Ray Leonard

eye want looks

Generally, the more weight you put on, the less effective you are.

Sugar Ray Leonard

fighter weight sports