I was working for a local Philadelphia airline at the time Sugar Ray Leonard was set to fight Kevin Howard on May 11, 1984 in Worcester, Massachusetts. I wanted to see Ray train, so I flew up standby to Boston a week or so before the fight, rented a car and drove to Worcester to the hotel Sugar was training in.
He was in good spirits and looked more muscular than he had 2 years earlier in Buffalo. After sparring, he spent time on the heavy and speed bag, and finished with a fun jumping rope exhibition. Afterwards, he walked around signing autographs, but I passed on trying to get one because I never really cared about them.
On the way to Worcester, I stopped in a hotel to use the bathroom. I somehow found myself in a stairwell with no door handle. Fortunately I had a credit car in my wallet, and slid it up the space between the door and the wall to lift the lock to free myself. Otherwise I may have died in the place!
Overall, it as fun time and I got to see Sugar Ray train again, this time in a much better mood. I enjoyed one of the perks of the airline business that day, getting to see my favorite fighter up close and personal.
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