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Boxing Legend Sugar Ray Leonard Reveals a Hyperventilating Golf Experience: ‘God, I Don’t Call You Often, but Please Don’t Let Me Miss the Ball’

Published 12/06/2021, 12:29 PM EST

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Playing golf with big names can bring with it some anxiety. Regardless, one may put their best foot forward and leave the rest to a higher power above. Legendary boxer, Sugar Ray Leonard was in a similar situation once, or maybe a little more, as he experienced the nerves, in front of the President of the United States of America.

In an interview with GOLF.com, the American boxing legend narrated this hilarious, yet fascinating, story. Part of ‘The Four Kings’, he is an Olympic gold medalist in the light welterweight category. Acknowledging his legacy, in 2016, a magazine voted for him as the greatest fighter alive. Moreover, prominent journalist Howard Cosell popularly called him the ‘new Muhammed Ali.’

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What playing golf in front of the president did to Sugar Ray Leonard

The three-time winner of the Fighter of the Year award is also a novice golfer. And in a major flex, he has teed it up with former US president, Bill Clinton. However, when questioned on his once in a lifetime experience, here’s what he said, “When I teed off, I was hyperventilating. I said, ‘God, I don’t call you often, but please don’t let me miss the ball.'”

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Further, the reporter asked him whether the 42nd president played things ‘pretty loose’, referring to his reputation as a golfer. Leonard replied in the affirmative and elucidated with an example from when he asked him whether mulligans were allowed. In reply, he said, “Absolutely, Champ.”

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The 18-handicap golfer went on to discuss whether golf and boxing have any similarities. Interestingly, he said, “Optimism, tunnel-vision focus and, of course, you gotta keep your head down.”

Moreover, he opened up about the hardest part of golf, and we’re no strangers to this. He said, “It’s so strange. As a boxer, I could hit a guy who’s moving real quick. But if you plant a little white ball in front of me, just sitting there, I might miss the damn thing.”

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Written by:

Ishita Bhargava

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Ishita Bhargava is a Golf content writer at Essentially Sports. Currently pursuing her undergraduate degree from the Shri Ram College of Commerce, she has a keen interest in sports and fitness. When not playing or watching a sports event, Ishita can be seen spending time with her pets or binge-watching.
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