Aust. bid to stage fight
NZPA-AAP Sydney The Australian fight promoter, Bill Mordey, yesterday revealed details of an audacious $5 million to the awesome American boxer. Sugar Ray Leonard, to defend his W.B.C. super middleweight title against the No. 1 contender, Sydney’s Jeff “Hit Man” Harding, in Australia early next year. Three Sydney businessmen, whom Mr Mordey declined to name, are providing the financial backing. Should Leonard accept the offer, the fight would be held in February at an outdoor venue, probably Sydney’s Parramatta Stadium. One of the sporting world’s biggest drawcards, Leonard would be certain of attracting a large gate. Mr Mordey estimates his last fight grossed about $5O million. However, given his reluctance to fight on a regular basis in recent years, there appears little likelihood of Leonard accepting the lucrative offer. Last month’s stunning victory against Canada’s Donnie Lalonde, which gave Leonard both the W.B.C. super middleweight and light heavyweight belts, was only his third fight in almost seven years.
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Press, 30 December 1988, Page 20
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163Aust. bid to stage fight Press, 30 December 1988, Page 20
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