Boxer Sugar Ray Leonard to Penn State: I'm sex abuse poster child

[marmar]

STATE COLLEGE, Pennsylvania — Boxing legend Sugar Ray Leonard recounted his own sexual abuse by coaches he trusted, telling a Penn State audience on Monday he hoped to encourage other victims to report abuse to police.

Leonard spoke at a sold-out conference on child sex abuse hosted by Penn State weeks after former assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky, 68, was sentenced to prison for 30 to 60 years for sexually assaulting 10 boys he befriended through his charity for at-risk youth.

Leonard, 56, who retired after winning world boxing titles in five different weight classes, said as a youth he was sexually assaulted by men he trusted as his boxing coaches.

"Trust is a very sacred thing, especially for young people, kids, or a young boxer, so I trusted these people, these individuals who impacted my life," said Leonard said. "They told me everything I wanted to hear, and more." ...................(more)

The complete piece is at: http://xfinity.comcast.net/articles/sports-general/20121009/SPORTS-US-USA-PENNSTATE/

[H2O Man]

1. Recommended.

I never cared much for Ray .... he was a "Golden Boy," and pretty fake, at that. Of course, I respected him as a great fighter. But I am coming to have a new-found respect for him.