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The former champion asked a court for protection from Daniel Leonard. Sugar Ray Leonard built his legendary boxing career on composure in the most brutal settings, but the former world champion is now facing a deeply personal fight inside his own family.
Leonard filed a request for a restraining order against his youngest son, Daniel Leonard, after an alleged confrontation at the boxing icon’s Pacific Palisades home and a later arrest for allegedly violating a court order. In the filing, obtained by The California Post, Leonard made a series of disturbing claims about Daniel’s alleged addiction, behavior and impact on the family.
“My son Daniel Leonard has been a drug addict for seven or eight years at least,” Leonard wrote in a handwritten declaration. “His behavior has gotten worse over the years!
“He has overdosed four times. They had to bring him back to life two times at the hospital! He has stolen extreme amounts of money valuable items! He […] steals every day for years!”
The 68-year-old boxing great asked the court to order Daniel to stay 100 yards away from him, his wife Bernadette, his home, job and vehicle. He also requested that Daniel move out of the family’s Pacific Palisades residence.
Leonard describes altercation at family home
The restraining order request followed two incidents Leonard said happened in May. According to the filing, the first took place on May 19 at Leonard’s home.
“We had a physical altercation where he pushed me and got ugly!” Leonard wrote. “The police officers were needed at that moment! The police officers came and [Daniel] was escorted off our property because of where things were headed.”
Leonard said he was given a temporary restraining order after that encounter. The following morning, Daniel allegedly returned to the property and was arrested for violating the order.
Los Angeles County jail records show Daniel was taken into custody around 6:45 a.m. on May 20 and released on May 22. A hearing related to the alleged restraining order violation is scheduled for June 25.
The Los Angeles Police Department told TMZ that officers responded to the 1500 block of Amalfi Drive in West Los Angeles after receiving a report of a restraining order violation at a private residence. Security personnel reportedly contacted authorities after Daniel allegedly tried exterior door handles before officers found him near a pool house.
Court grants temporary protection
A judge granted part of Leonard’s request, ordering Daniel to stay at least 100 yards away from Leonard and Bernadette and to move out of the home. The judge said “additional facts” were needed for the order to include Leonard’s adult daughter Camille as a protected party.
The temporary order is set to remain in place until June 15, when a hearing is scheduled to consider whether it should be extended. Leonard’s filing made clear the emotional weight behind the legal move.
“I love my son but he has become a danger not only himself but to his family!” Leonard wrote. “My wife is extremely afraid along with me daughter Camille!”
He added: “His behavior has gotten worse every day. We haven’t had a day of peace in 9 years which is the reality of his addiction! Scared for my family!”
Leonard, one of boxing’s most celebrated champions, finished his professional career with a 36-3-1 record and world titles across multiple weight divisions. He later became one of the sport’s most recognizable figures outside the ring.
Daniel is the youngest of Leonard’s four children. The former champion shares Daniel and Camille with Bernadette, whom he married in 1993, and has two older sons, Ray Charles Jr. and Jarrel, with ex-wife Juanita Wilkinson.
Source: marca.com