The Jim Murray Memorial Foundation (JMMF) will honor Sugar Ray Leonard, one of the legendary sports icons of the 20th century whose very name epitomizes boxing and conjures the image of a champion, with its “Great Ones” award at the Tenth Anniversary “Tribute to Living Legends of Sports and Media” on Thursday, October 30, 2008, at the Beverly Hilton Hotel, Beverly Hills, CA.

Leonard’s name has been synonymous with boxing greatness since the early 1970’s having a career that includes three National Golden Gloves titles, two Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) championships and the 1975 Pan-American Games crown, not to mention winning a Gold Medal in boxing at the 1976 Olympic games.

After turning pro in 1977, Leonard won world titles in the welterweight, junior middleweight, super middleweight, and light heavyweight divisions. He was the first boxer to win world titles in five different weight classes, a record that stands to this day.

Leonard's sincere, charismatic personality coupled with his ring experience led to a successful career as a television broadcaster for NBC, ABC, HBO and ESPN. Leonard was host and mentor for the second and third seasons of the critically acclaimed series, "The Contender", on ESPN.

For many years, Leonard has been the international chairman of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation Walk for a Cure and Ray recently began his own foundation, The Sugar Ray Leonard Foundation, which exclusively benefits the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation Southern California chapter.

He also participates in a variety of national and international causes benefiting children's charities. He has four children and lives in Southern California with his wife Bernadette.

“We are so pleased to honor Sugar Ray Leonard this year with the ‘Great Ones’ award,” said Linda McCoy-Murray, President/Founder of the JMMF. “His reputation in both his sport as well as the community around him most certainly qualifies him as a Great One!”

The 2008 JMMF scholarship winners are Kyle Austin, Syracuse University; Kyle Goon, University of Maryland; Ryan Haney, Trinity College-Hartford; Alex Herbach, University of Southern California; Bill Oram, University of Montana; Michael Sanserino, Indiana University; and Mark Viera, Penn State University. The Jim Murray Memorial Foundation was established in 1998 by McCoy-Murray. As of 2008, the JMMF has awarded 63 journalism scholarships totaling $332,500.00.

For more information on the October 30 awards dinner, please email info@jimmurrayfoundation.org or visit the Jim Murray Memorial Foundation website at www.jimmurrayfoundation.org.

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