Boxing greats ready to talk at the Tavern (From Thurrock Gazette)

Boxing greats ready to talk at the Tavern

7:30am Saturday 11th August 2012 in News

THE Circus Tavern in Purfleet will welcome some of boxing’s biggest legends on Saturday, September 15.

Sugar Ray Leonard, Tim Witherspoon, and Kevin Mitchell, will all be at the venue, in Meads Corner, for a charity do.

American Sugar Ray Leonard won world titles in five weight divisions, named the “Boxer of the Decade” for the 1980s, and was the first man in the sport to earn more than $100 million in purses.

In 1976, Leonard made the U.S. Olympic Team as the light welterweight representative and won gold.

Many consider that team, which included Leon and Michael Spinks, Howard Davis Jr, Leo Randolph, Charles Mooney and John Tate, to be the greatest in Olympic history.

Leonard made his professional debut on February 5, 1977 at the Civic Centre in Baltimore, Maryland, against Luis “The Bull” Vega who he defeated in six rounds.
 

He fought and won his first world title bout against Wilfred Benitez for the WBC Welterweight Championship on November 30, 1979 at Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas.

Fellow American Tim Witherspoon was the two-time heavyweight world champion, and Kevin Mitchell has won British and Commonwealth titles.
 

All three will be answering the audience’s questions, giving their career insights, and posing for pictures at the event, for which there are limited tickets.

Tickets cost £100 and include a three course meal, there will also be a charity raffle live auction, and live entertainment.
 

The event has been organised to raise funds for a little boy called Mitchell Huth, from Hornchurch, who has a rare form of cancer called neuroblastoma, and the charity www.poppyspath.com, another child battling a serious illness.

For more information, including times for the event, email toughtalkevents@aol.com, or call 07830178104.