The Big Fight: My Life in and Out of the Ring

In this unflinching and inspiring autobiography, boxing legend Leonard faces his single greatest competitor: himself. With honesty, humor, and hard-won perspective, Leonard comes to terms with both triumph and struggle--and presents a gripping portrait of remarkable strength, courage, and resilience. nIn his New York Times bestselling memoir, one of America's greatest boxing legends faces his single greatest competitor: himself nChampions come and go, but to be legendary you got to have heart, more heart than the next man, more than anyone in the world. Ray's heart was bigger than all the rest. He would never stop fighting.--Muhammad Ali n nIn Washington, D.C., during the 1970s, a black man could get into the newspapers in one of two ways: crime--or boxing. Sugar Ray Leonard chose to fight. After winning a gold medal at the 1976 Olympics, Ray wanted to call it quits and go to college, but his family's financial needs made him go pro. Boxing history was made. All the while, another, darker Ray--one overwhelmed by depression, rage, drug addiction, sexual abuse, and greed--battled for dominance. In The Big Fight, Ray comes to terms with both these men and shares a brutally honest and remarkably inspiring portrait of the rise, fall, and ultimate redemption of a true fighter--inside and outside the ring.n