Ex-champ makes the rounds

Former boxing champ Sugar Ray Leonard toured Children's Hospital and visited with young patients yesterday afternoon. As host of "The Contender," Leonard is in town for tonight's championship bout between Jaidon Codrington and Sakio Bika at the TD Banknorth Garden. The slugfest, broadcast live at 10 on ESPN, will determine the winner of the reality show. Leonard headed off to the hospital after the weigh-in at the Garden that drew local pros, former world welterweight champ Tony DeMarco, and "Irish" Micky Ward. Among those expected at the Garden for tonight's fight are Patriots Matt Light, Wes Welker, Matt Casel, and Dan Koppen.

After his concert at the Roxy tomorrow night, Grammy winner John Legend will head to a fund-raiser at Mantra for the documentary "The Souls of Black Girls," made by his friend, director-producer Daphne Valerius. "It's nearly complete and just needs a bit more work so that it can be released," said Lisa Simmons of Roxbury-based Color Film Collaborative, a screening and benefit sponsor. The film features interviews with actresses Regina King and Jada Pinkett Smith, rapper/activist Chuck D, and Gwen Ifill, moderator of "Washington Week" on PBS.

There's good news for Boston guys: Jessica Simpson thinks you're hot. "Boston has cute boys. I need a Boston man," Simpson tells "Extra" correspondent Tanika Ray in an interview that airs tonight. "A Boston man is closest to a Southern man." It's not clear what prompted Simpson's declaration. At Macy's in New York promoting her fashion line, Simpson was chatting with Ray about various subjects - including the Red Sox - before the cameras were rolling. Just as the interview begins, the pop singer announced her fondness for the Men of Beantown. Her links to local guys seem to be limited to costarring in "Employee of the Month" with Arlington native Dane Cook, which prompted chatter in the tabloids about them being an off-screen item, and dating singer John Mayer, who briefly attended Berklee College. Then again, trying to find logic in a Simpson quote could be futile. The ex-Mrs. Nick Lachey once said she thought Chicken of the Sea tuna was actually poultry.

David Wade has landed at WBZ-TV (Channel 4), where he'll co-anchor the early morning and noon newscasts with Paula Ebben. Wade, who grew up in Somerville, was at Channel 25, the local Fox affiliate, for about nine years before leaving the station this summer. Wade's wife, TV reporter Bianca de la Garza , left Channel 25 a short time later, prompting speculation that the duo might land at a Boston station together. Since then, de la Garza has taken a gig as a freelance anchor and reporter with Channel 5.

Six months and $6 million later, the new and improved Strand Theatre is set to reopen. The venerable hall, closed since April, will play host to a benefit for Boston's homeless Nov. 16, and Natalie Merchant is headlining. The "Give US Your Poor Concert" will also feature Mighty Sam McClain and Greek tenor Mario Frangoulis, as well as an exhibit of photos shot by Lynn Blodgett, the CEO of Affiliated Computer Services. Mayor Tom Menino has pledged to rehab the 88-year-old Strand, making it a "showcase" again. While there's a ton of work still to do, Melodi Greene of the city's arts office said $6 million bought a new electrical system, box office, dressing rooms, and windows.

The writers' strike isn't just a West Coast thing. A protracted strike could be a big problem for the Bay State. While it's unlikely that two films due to start shooting this month will be affected, it's anyone's guess what will be filmed in the Hub going forward. Warner Bros., for example, is scouting locations for "Against All Enemies," based on the book by Richard Clarke, but if the script isn't done already, don't expect to see the director, Robert Redford, walking around Harvard. The two films already set to shoot are "The Box" with Cameron Diaz, and "The Lonely Maiden" with Christopher Walken, William H. Macy, and Morgan Freeman.

Governor Deval Patrick and his wife, Diane, spent their "date night" at the opening of the Boston Lyric Opera's "La Bohème" as guests of their neighbors, BLO board member Tom Gill and his wife, Jody. The governor cut out from a pre-show dinner at Aujourd'hui a little early so that he could meet the performers, including sopranos Alyson Cambridge and Kimwana Donor. Others at the Shubert Theatre included architect Graham Gund and his wife, Ann, and arts patrons Hod and Cassandra Irvine.

Celts stars past and present turned out for the Shamrock Foundation's "Teaming Up for Kids" swanky soiree last night. In addition to captain Paul Pierce and his new running mates Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett, we spotted old-timers Bill Walton, JoJo White, M.L. Carr, and Bob Cousy at the InterContinental Boston Hotel. (The C's Shamrock Foundation benefits kids, partnering with Children's Hospital Boston, Horizons for Homeless Children, the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, and Perkins School for the Blind.) Among those schmoozing before the sit-down dinner got rolling were - not surprisingly - owners Wyc Grousbeck, Steve Pagliuca, and Bob Epstein - along with limited partner Jim Pallotta, developer Steve Karp, Boston Culinary biggie Joe O'Donnell, nightlife nabob Ed Kane, and ESPN's Steve Levy. Comic Lenny Clarke told us he's looking forward to a successful season. "I was at the opener," Clarke said, "and I haven't felt that sort of electricity since Bird, Parish, and McHale." Walton is also optimistic, though he resists calling KG, Allen, and Pierce "The Big Three." Walton, who won a ring with the original Big Three, said: "It's laziness on our part that we can't come up with something else."

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