Sugar Ray Leonard can add another successful comeback to his resume.
The Hall of Fame boxer avoided elimination from “Dancing with the Stars” on Tuesday.
Leonard’s appearance on DWTS is the latest move aimed at reacquainting himself with today’s generation of fans of boxing and entertainment.
Two months ago the Hall of Famer drew a crowd when he made his debut in the Bob Hope Celebrity Golf Classic in Palm Springs.
Just prior to the four days of golf Leonard announced the June 2011 release of his official autobiography and had just been named honorary mayor of the Southern California beach community of Pacific Palisades where he lives with his wife and children.
Last weekend Leonard served as the Grand Marshal and Honorary Starter for the Auto Club 400 on the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series stop in Fontana, CA, where he waved the green flag at the start/finish line.
And during Tuesday’s ‘elimination’ episode Leonard and his partner Anna Trebunskaya were the first couple to avoid elimination. On Monday Leonard and Trebunskaya received a 20 out of a possible 30 for their version of the jive.
“I’ve had several comebacks in my boxing career,” Leonard said during a clip on the show. “But this will be my biggest…on Dancing with the Stars.”
Trebunskaya seems to have her hands full.
“Ray has to work so hard to stay in the competition,” she said during a clip on the show. “He has to bring that determination and defiance to the dance floor.”
Leonard will be joined by professional wrestler Chris Jericho, Reality star Kendra Wilkinson, actor Ralph Macchio, rapper Romeo, professional football player Hines Ward, Disney star Chelsea Kane, and actress Kirstie Alley.
TV host Wendy Williams and her partner Tony Dovolani were eliminated. The show resumes next week.
Wilkinson survived the elimination spotlight even though she couldn’t find her way through a cloud of smoke that opened her dance routine. And Alley not only avoided the elimination spotlight and elimination but also received a higher score than Leonard, this despite falling on partner Maksim Chmerkovskiy like a meteor.
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