European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - May 15, 1986, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Thursday May 15, 1986 the stars and stripes Page 19 commentary is Gar Ray s comeback talk sounds sour sugar Ray Leonard s ii Oriley Mike Trainer sounded As if he were trying to dissolve the headlines. His celebrated client an Hob boxing analyst for four years had talked about changing from his Lusendo in id boxing trunks again but Only in a comeback confrontation with marvelous Marvin Hagler for the world middleweight  re trying,".Trainer said to put out the  Bui when sugar Ray himself was on the Telephone from his Maryland gym he splashed ail on the fire that has been smouldering in him Ever since surgery an a detached Relina in 1982 invented he then welterweight Champion from challenging Hagler for the middleweight title i be always wanted Hagler. Need this Man sugar Ray was saying. Feel very confident. Technically i can beat this Man. But 1 can t do anything until 1 hear from Marvin. H s of to  no it s not just up to Hagler it s up to boxing itself. Except for a ninth round knockout of Kevin Howard two years ago that persuaded him to end a cautious comeback Leonard has t had a fight in More than four years. Now he s asking if not demanding that boxing authorities Sanction him As a legitimate Chal Lenger for the middleweight title without even a Lune about.  i Don t think Hal s a problem he said. The Aba and the wac know 1 represented them so Well in the past. I be proven  As proven As Leonard was in his two 1980 bouts Wilh Roberto Duran and in his 1981 classic with Thomas Hearns. He has t proven himself Laily. Box ing authorities should judge him on what he s done lately. And he s done nothing lately except spar occasionally with scan o Sullivan the Canadian welterweight with an 11-0 record. Granted Leonard is not just anole or sparring partner. But he s an Unrun cd inactive Boxer. He has to prove he s sugar Ray again nol Suc Aryl Ray. Dave Anderson in talking about a Hagth Romil Leonnrd sounds like a wrestler who wants to do his act just one More Lime after a four year Nap. If boxing  s were to Sanction him As a Lilly challenger it would be no differ ent from a wrestling promoter advertising u championship match featuring a one and Only comeback appearance by say. Bruno Sammartino. In a one and Only comeback appearance maybe Leonard would be As Good As Ever. Maybe he would dethrone Hagler As middleweight Champion. But far All his sparring maybe Leonard has misjudged the amount of rust on his reflexes. If he were to Box badly or worse if he were to suffer another detached Retina boxing authorities would be condemned. And so would boxing itself for All his talk about having proven himself Leonard has proven Only that the Gerry Cooney syn drome is contagious. Except for Hagler boxing s two biggest attractions now Leonard and Cooney have been virtually inactive the last four years. But cach s marquee value is based on what he once did not on what he s done lately. At cast the International boxing federation ordered Coo nay to prove himself against a ranked contender in order to qualify to Challenge Michael Spinks for its heavyweight title. And when Muhammad a returned from his More than 2m-Ycar exile in 1970, he proved himself by Stop Ping Jerry Quarry in the third round and Oscar Bona Vonu in the i5lh round before challenging Joe Frazier in 1971 for the title. Now Leonard should be required to prove himself. 1 two.  ago remember Leonard wis knocked Down by Howard in the fourth round of their bout in Worcester mass. He recovered to Stop the Journeyman. Philadelphia welterweight in Llie ninth. Mirulo. In incr he had an announcement i be retired for a my Leonard said. No sense finding myself. I just had inc feeling it was t there. By it 1 mean my Confidence. I could nol master like i wanted to. I was reluctant to hit and get hit. I m not going to push it. No sense taking any Chance i be never been hit with n punch like  now Leonard is willing to expose himself to Hagar s punches which have knocked out 52 opponents in the middleweight Champion s 62-2-2 record. Four years ago. The detached Retina surgery cancelled negotiations for a Hagler Leonard bout. Two years ago negotiations resumed until Leonard retired again. Two months ago Leonard was in his to Tuxedo at ringside when Hagler retained his title with an i in round knockout of John Mugabi. In recent years every time Rny came Back from doing a Hagler fight he would run More and work out More but then it would go away Trainer said. But after the Mugabi fight it did t go away. It s like Ray says he does t want to come out of retirement but if an Opportunity to fight Marvin Angl or developed he would Hauler who first has is nov. D Date with Thomas i learns in Las vegas was reported to have shrugged no sugar Ray s talk. I m not jumping through hoops Hagler said. Before anybody else does boxing authorities should require sugar Ray to prove he s not us Caryl Ray. By jumping through the hoop of is least one no cd con Lender. Tote How a it tins words before fhe punches do army boxing opening the Holmes Way by Ducky Fox staff writer Darmstadt Germany Larry Holmes in t hanging around the usar eur boxing championships. Only his spirit is. You know Holmes. He s the Guy who fought one Loo Many then blamed the judges. He s the Guy who retired come Back retired came Back retired. Zzz army fighters know his tactics Well. Especially a few of the 65 soldiers who will fight it out starting at 7 . Thursday at the Cambrai Frisch Cavern gym. The four Day tourney continues at . Friday and saturday and climaxes with sunday s 1 . Finals. There s Berlin s Gary nol Gary Grant. Who Hopes to claim the middleweight title he missed last year. " if he judges Are fair Well win said Grant whose nine Man Berlin team arrived with All he boxers wednesday. Well win by knockouts.". Grant thought he won a decision against Bamberg s Pierre Ingram during last year s Usa eur meet in Kaiserslautern. So did just about everyone in the packed Klaber Cavern gym thai s because Grant pounded Ingram for two standing-8 counts. And a bloody yet the judges gave Ingram the semifinal Victory 3-2."i feel i Gal robbed All the Way last year Grant said. You saw it. He was robbed said Berlin coach Samuel Richardson who threatened to yank his team last year. The final slant on Grants Tomb came after the meet. Even though All army coach Kenny Adams nominated Grant for his team the Washington sports office left him off ats to a 6 1 Gemmill Lewi or. Bam Holder that weight Kay Mercer right is Hack to Ihram More of the Sura i As he did against Heilbronn s Gregory Ell Ericc in last year s finals Haven t seen too Many names Back but Mercer especially should t have much Competition. Hell walk Nihro Ujah the Tournai  and West the gunner from new York ally with the chipped tooth Grin the Man who exploded in the Usa Keur finals last i wanted a Chance said Grant 23, who started boxing in his Hometown of Washington . "1 wanted All army and i would like a shot at an International  a couple of v corps boxers Carlton West and Ray Mercer got exactly what Grant wants. Spang Ahtam Light heavy weight West and Baum older heavyweight Mercer won Usa eur last year advanced to All army and fought against International boxers in Sweden last Winter they re probably a lock Grunt said. I Wilh jogging sweat. I m gelling lir cd. Be been buying a Long Lime and 1 like it. Dili it s time to step  West insists hell defer if lie s chosen for All army. For now though Wisl is Back. No question. No doubt in my mind i la u in , West predicted no prob Lem winning Usa eur last year. Jack Wilson the defending us Arlhur Light flyweight Champ from Glessen is an other v corps Boxer figuring to repeal. My chances arc very Strong Saivii Wil son a 23-year-old from Landover. Mil., because i worked a whole lot Over the past year and during All army. 1 have i lot of experience a lot of Good  another lock for v corps Well nol like West and Mercer. A know i have to work harder than Boih of them Wilson said. I m a lighter weight and they la be coming after me. They la try to Lake me Oul Quick but i won l let thai  hell win  assured v carps coach John Lilly of Baum older. If we Don t lose our Heads Well win five championships Oul of the 11 weight  Lilly likes the chances of a couple of new Comers Light middleweight Shannon land Berg of Hanau and Light welterweight an Thony Jesse of wild Flucken. Landburg said his Road will be no Brce a. I Don t Lake nobody  Jesse might. Of course i la  said the All army Veteran. I train Loo  Larry Holmes guaranteed a few victories in his Lime too year sparking v corps to its lie with Vii corps Tor team titles he s another Guy who pulled a Holmes act. This is it said West 25, As he dripped am sports radio Basic Luau Aba playoffs Milwaukee Bucks Al Boston celtics 2 in. Friday