Marvin Hagler Vs Sugar Ray Leonard

[christian71 3,187]

On this day in boxing history.............6th April 1987

 

Marvin Hagler vs Sugar Ray Leonard for the WBC World Middleweight Championship.

 

At the time of this fight "Marvelous" Marvin Hagler was a 16 year professional with a record of 62 wins 2 losses and 2 draws with 52 of those wins coming by way of stoppage. There was question marks over the losses and draws that Hagler had on his record at this stage as many people thought that he had won those fights. In his early days he would struggle to find opponents so he ended up fighting many times in his opponents home town. He eventually climbed up the ranks and challenged Vito Antuofermo for his World Middleweight Title, the fight ended up in a points draw but the decision was very controversial and disputed by many. Hagler never looked back after that fight as he went on to beat Alan Minter for his WBC and WBA Middleweight Titles in London. He then went on to win his next 12 fights between 1981 and 1986 in a run that included a unification fight win where he took away Wilford Scypion's IBF Middleweight Title, a 15 round points win over the then 3 weight World Champion Roberto Durán and a high profile 3rd round stoppage win against 2 weight World Champion Thomas "hitman" Hearns in a fight regarded as one of the greatest fights of alltime and won The Ring magazine award for fight of the year. Hagler had become the most dominant fighter of the 80's, with the wins over Duran and Hearns there was only one name missing from his resume that he had missed out on and that mans name was Sugar Ray Leonard.....

 

After winning the 1976 Olympic Light Welterweight Gold Medal, Sugar Ray Leonard made his pro debut in 1977. He shot up the ranks winning his first 27 fights, beating the highly regarded Wilfred Benitez for his WBC Welterweight World Championship along the way. Leonard went on to lose his perfect record and his World Title to the former undisputed Lightweight Champion Roberto Durán in his 2nd defence of his title on the scorecards in a fight where Leonard opted to brawl with Durán rather than follow the advice of his trainer Angelo Dundee who urged his fighter to use his movement and box. A rematch was made 5 months later and Sugar Ray didnt make the same mistake twice as he used his superior speed and movement to outbox and confuse his opponent leading to a bizarre end to to fight as Durán turned his back on his opponent and said to the referee "No Mas" as he quit the fight in round 8.Leonard went on to successfully defend his Title against Larry Bonds before moving up to Light Middle Weight to dethrown WBA Champion Ayub Kalule. His next move was to return to Welterweight for a unification fight against WBA Champion Thomas Hearns who was unbeaten at the time with stoppages in 30 of his 32 fights, the fight was a classic as Sugar Ray came from behind to force a stoppage in the 14th round of the 15 round contest that won The Ring Magazine fight of the year award. Leonard defended his titles against Bruce Finch then he announced his retirement. The retirement was short lived as he came back 2 years later to beat Kevin Howard in 9 rounds and once again announced his retirement in 1984. His decision to come back for the Hagler fight was made after he watched Hagler struggle to beat John "The Beast" Mugabi before eventually stopping him in 11 rounds. Leonard believed the Middleweight Champion had slowed and now was the time for him to step forward and beat him. Could Leonard who had only the one fight in 5 years dethrown the King of the Middleweights....

 

Hagler was a huge betting favorite for the fight billed as "The Super Fight" at Caesars Palace. Most fans and boxing experts didnt give him a chance. As the fight began Hagler decided to fight in the orthodox stance rather than his usual southpaw stance, this was a bad move as Leonard used his speed and movement to outbox him in the first 2 rounds, even when Hagler switched back to his regular stance he was still second best in the early rounds. Sugar Ray started to slow in the mid rounds as Hagler forced his way back into the fight putting the challenger under pressure with good work on the inside. Both fighters showed big signs of fatigue in this fight but it made it into an entertaining fight as Leonard landed the sharper punches and Hagler pressing the action. Apart from the early rounds which Sugar Ray clearly won the mid and late rounds were close and difficult to score. The general feeling was that the challenger may have done just enough to win but it was a close call. The scores were read out after the annoucement that there was a Split Decision....Judge Dave Moretti scored it 115113 for Leonard, judge Lou Filippo had it 115113 for Hagler. Judge Jose Guerra scored the fight 118110 for Leonard...... Sugar Ray Leonard had defied the odds and done the impossible by coming out of retirement to beat the man many consider to be the greatest Middleweight of all time.

 

Both fighters showed great heart and character in this contest and even though they had both seen better days they managed to produce a memorable fight. The fight went on to win The Ring magazine fight of the year for 1987. Many fans and boxing experts are split on how they think this fight should have been scored but none are split on how entertaining they found it. Hagler was devastated after the scores were announced, he was convinced he had done enough to win. He announced his retirement shortly after the fight and never stepped inside the ring again. As for Sugar Ray Leonard, he carried on and went on to win titles at Supermiddleweight and Light-Heavyweight.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rmXwEJARuN8

[Blackbriar 8,569]

Great writing about a great fight, Christian, well done mate !

 

Wasn't there a story that Leonard filled his pockets with coins ,at the weigh-in, to appear heavier than he really was,or was that when he moved right up the weights ??

(for what my opinion's worth, Hagler won)

[*The*Field*Marshall* 674]

Very close fight, Hagler fans will argue there man won and Leonard's the same. . I prefer Tommy Hearns! For me I thought Leonard stole it, just. . and perhaps this fight is the perfect example of "a good boxer will beat a good fighter" or in this case "great boxer v great fighter"

 

Great post.

[readie 184]

hagler clearly won the fight by 2 rounds,thats my thoughts

[gnasher16 31,602]

I had Leonard winning by 3 or 4 rounds............thought Hagler was poor in the fight he played right into Leonards hands.

[antg 1,816]

what ever the outcome we can't take away the fact that these were two fantastic boxers. will we ever see the likes again...... i very much doubt it. haggler, hearns, leonard, not to forget the great fighter, roberto duran/

i too thought hagler took it. great times in boxing

[TOMO 29,212]

It's been done a few times on here this one,,,,,I remember watching the fight at the time and believing haggler had won,,, I also watched it again a few years ago,,, and still think he won,,, for me haggler was on the front foot pressing all the time, he was the aggressor .

 

Also Leonard was given the nod with a largest ring,,, and the heaviest gloves were agreed,,, both of these giving Leonard the advantage,,,,,,that said you could argue that hagglers team shouldn't have agreed..

 

I mentioned on a thread a few week ago I have met haggler,, so maybee I'm a little biased

[gnasher16 31,602]

I dont go a bundle on stats.............but if i remember right the stats showed that Hagler threw around 150 more punches throughout the fight with im sure it was something like 37% being scoring punches.............to Leonards 49 % scoring punches.

Hagler was never going to beat him just pushing forward in straight lines.....Leonard won,and deserved the win in my opinion.

[bracken boy 584]

sugar knicked it for me glad he did me and a pal had 50 pound on a sugar on points which made it a great weekend as won a couple of darts events

[s.e.s.k.u 1,893]

Both fighters are legends imo

[*The*Field*Marshall* 674]

Well, which ever way you see you it - it wasn't a Pacquiao v Bradley sort of decision. . I think Leonard deserved it, he was the smaller man and had been out the ring for 3 years. Yes he demanded the biggest ring available and probably waited for 15 rounds to become 12, but I would have done the same!

 

It was a boxing match and Leonard was the better boxer, if there were no rounds Hagler would have eventually steam rolled Leonard, but then it would of been called a fight and not a boxing match.

 

Hagler was the tougher stronger of the two men, but Leonard the more skilled and faster.

 

That's my thoughts, worth nothing. .

[marshman 7,758]

I watched a program about the fight and it said that Leonard waited for Hagler to tire of the game after a hard fight with Mugabi . Then picked his time and fought to a game plan which I think worked . Someone once said Leonard out thought and out fought Hagler!!