One of the greatest fighters of all time will be in Brighton on Saturday.

Sugar Ray Leonard, the first man ever to win world titles at five different weights, will be the star attraction at the Grand Hotel.

Leonard, now 50, ranks alongside Muhammad Ali for his grace, speed, poise and devastating power.

He burst on to the scene as an amateur when he won a gold medal at the 1976 Olympics in Montreal.

After turning professional, he beat all his main rivals and amassed a fortune along the way.

The Eigthies were regarded as a golden era for welterweights and middleweights and Leonard came out on top after legendary battles against Roberto Duran, Thomas Hearns, Wilfred Benitez and Marvin Hagler.

Leonard, who now hosts The Contender television series, had 36 wins, three losses and one draw during a glittering career - 25 of those victories coming by stoppages.

Hove Amateur Boxing Club coach Scott Welch, the former British and Commonwealth heavyweight champion, is promoting the show along with fellow Hove coach Anthony Brown and admits he will be in awe. Welch said: "He is one of the greatest boxers of the era. All the things I remember about growing up watching boxing as a boy involve Sugar Ray Leonard.

"I remember him winning the world title against Wilfred Benitez, fighting Duran twice and, obviously, the fights against Thomas Hearns and Marvin Hagler.

"His hand speed as a fighter and the combinations he would put together were phenomenal.

"I obviously never went on to be like that as a heavyweight but I always tried to take something from every fighter I watched and with Leonard it was what Ali called the shoeshine shuffle', which was a ten-punch combination to the body.

"I picked that up from Leonard and used it in the first round of a fight and the guy went down and never got up.

"On Sunday I am taking Leonard to Hove gym to see some of the boxers and I hope to see that shoeshine shuffle in the flesh."

He added: "It is fantastic to have a legend such as Sugar Ray in the town."

The evening also features amateur boxing including an eagerlyanticipated clash between Novices super-heavyweight champion Neil Baker and rising star Tyson Fury, who is being tipped as a potential medal hope for the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

Also on the bill are Ben Murphy against Lewis Cope (Bishops Auckland), who he beat on points to win the ABA Novices lightweight title in May 2005. Lloyd Ellett faces Josh Leigh from Hampshire.

Tickets for the show are available on 01273 775503.

Boxing manager Barry Hughes is set to make a comeback after 29 months out of the ring.

The Glasgow promoter will feature on the undercard of Edinburgh super-featherweight Alex Arthur's European title defence against Sergio Palomo of Spain at the Kelvin Hall on November 4.

Hughes, a successful businessman, recently took over the management of world featherweight champion Scott Harrison.

Lightweight Hughes said: "Being back in boxing has given me the buzz again and I want to be involved in the ring rather than as a spectator."