Marvelous Marvin Hagler (he legally changed his name so that everyone has to call him "Marvelous") held the World Middleweight Boxing Championship from 1980-87, successfully defending the crown 12 times, 11 by knockout. On April 6, 1987, he lost a controversial split decision to Sugar Ray Leonard. Hagler's supporters contend that he landed the more punishing blows, that he controlled the fight and that Leonard "stole" some rounds by throwing flashy but ineffective combinations in the waning seconds; Leonard's advocates argue that he successfully followed his game plan of avoiding a big "bomb" by Hagler and that he "out-fought and out-thought" the defending champion.
Leonard retired after the Hagler fight but--like many boxers--he came out of retirement several times; he won his first three fights after beating Hagler but then he lost a 12 round unanimous decision to Terry Norris in 1991 and he was knocked out in five rounds by Hector "Macho" Camacho in 1997 before hanging up his gloves for good.
Hagler took a much different path than Leonard--and most other boxers. He asked Leonard's camp for a rematch but Leonard refused so Hagler, who was never knocked out and whose only losses came by decision, announced his retirement--and he never came back. He has spent the last two decades working as an actor and a boxing commentator and devoting time to charitable work, most notably with the Laureus World Sports Academy.
Hagler retired with a record of 62 wins (52 by knockout), 3 losses and two draws.
Check out these four videos of "The War," when Hagler defended his World Middleweight title against Tommy "Hitman" Hearns on April 15, 1985.
First, Al Michaels and the late, great Curt Gowdy set the stage by explaining who these two great champions faced prior to their epic showdown:
Here is the first round, still considered to be the greatest in boxing history:
The second round starts off slowly but ends with a bang:
Michaels summed up round three perfectly: "It's Hagler, full of blood...It didn't go very far but it was a beauty!"
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2 comments:
unbelievable...the fact that it was on abc shows how much things have changed. boxing is a disgrace now. thank you for that.
anymous reggie
hagler great fighter good you doing boxing on this hagler beat leornard boxing needed leonard at the time so they werent going to let him lose. hagler landed more effective blows it was close but i thought hagler ran leornard, ran alot i was 3 at the time i seen the fight years later of course and came to my conclusion. i dont remeber fight at 3 david to let you know lol. but yeah hagler was underated his whole career 12 defenses 11 by knockout hearns was a great victory put him on the mainstream map hardcore boxing fans know he won of top 5 middleweights all time monzon robinson hagler harry greb stanley kethel bernard hopkins. you can argue top 10 fighters all time he was great though. i think he lives in europe now with his new wife he acting i think he come on friday night fights i see you watch everything sports like me. the 80's was the greatest boxing era.
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