Sugar Ray Leonard believes the future of Sussex boxing is in safe hands.

The six-time world champion told more than 350 guests at the Grand Hotel, Brighton on Saturday night: "Boxing will come back stronger again.

"The reason why it will come back is because of the talent that I saw in this ring tonight.

"These young boys and men have talent. These will be the future world champions.

"Boxing is a sport for young men. It can do them good.

Boxing is the sport that got me off the streets, the sport that took me away from drugs, alcohol and gangs"

Despite making millions from his professional career, Leonard revealed that he was not paid a penny for the achievement he values the most.

The American said: "My greatest moment was winning the gold medal in the Montreal Olympics in 1976.

"That had been my dream and my ultimate goal. Ever since I had been 14 years old I had been dreaming about being the Olympic champion and that meant the world to me.

"It meant so much to me because it wasn't about money, it was about representing myself and representing my country. It meant everything to me."

Leonard witnessed four amateur bouts, in which stocky Hove lightweight Ben Murphy stole the show with a unanimous points victory over the tough Lewis Cope from Durham.

Murphy, who is trained by ex-British heavyweight champion Scott Welch who also promoted the show, is expected to join the pro ranks later this year and Leonard enthralled the crowd with a wealth of tales from some of his past professional battles against the likes of Thomas Hitman' Hearns, Roberto Hands of Stone' Duran and Marvelous' Marvin Hagler.

In their heyday they were known as the Fab Four and Leonard beat each of them to cement his place as the ultimate fighter of that era with his grace, poise and power.

Still looking lean and fit at 50 years old, he followed the amateur boxing, an appearance from the X-Factor's Chico and then an auction before entering the ring to answer questions.

Visibly tiring and clutching a can of Red Bull, he spoke lucidly and intelligently about his career and revealed he still trains every day.

However, he will not be making any more comebacks - even if old rival Hearns would love him to.

Leonard said: "Thomas is a friend of mine and he still calls me. He says Ray, So how much do you weigh?' "I say, Why' and he replies, Come on man, let's do it one more time'.

"I told him I'm fifty, a grandfather and I don't want to get hurt anymore but he just said, Come on, we'll do just body shot!"

Leonard, who currently hosts The Contender series on ITV, said his best ever performance was the infamous second fight against Duran when he avenged his 1980 WBC welterweight title defeat five months after losing on points.

Duran lost his temper, said No mas' and turned his back in the world title rematch after eight rounds after being mercilessly toyed with by Leonard.

Leonard said: "What I did to him was psychological warfare.

Everything I did was to try and blow a fuse in his head - and it worked."

He may not box anymore but this Leonard return to the ring was a success.

Sugar Ray Leonard appears at the Effingham Park Hotel, Copthorne, tonight as part of his British tour.

Like Saturday, the show will also feature a number of amateur bouts as well as a question and answer session.