Hagler vs Duran: 40th Year Anniversary

[elmersalsa]

Tonight is the 40th year anniversary of the classic Marvelous Marvin Hagler vs Roberto Duran for Marvelous' World Middleweight Crown.

A rejuvenated Duran at age 32 gave Marvelous all he could handle. Duran of Panama was ahead in two scorecards until the 12th round. Marvelous, 29, of Brockton, MA, had to win the last 3 rounds and like a great champion, kept his title by decision.

Duran broke his right hand and was tired for the last 3 rounds. Marvelous was criticized a lot for not stopping the aging WBA World Jr Middleweight Champion.

It was also Marvelous first super fight and multi-million dollar payday.

Duran got a lot of credit in defeat and became the moral winner. No shame to go up in weight and to challenge one of the probably top 3 greatest middleweight boxers of all-time. And also had the credit for being the first of the Leonard-Hearns-Benitez and himself quartet to ever challenge the feared champion.

It was a classic battle between two great champions. The decade of the 80s will always be remembered for unforgettable fights of an unforgettable decade.

[elmersalsa]

I can't believe that has been 40 years ago today. Wow!

[Ezzard]

Amazing how well Duran did in that fight.

Right after the final bell he went to where Ray Leonard was sitting ringside, leaned over the ropes, and said, "You can beat him."

[goose 5]

Watching on CCTV I had it 8-6-1. On the television replay, 10-4-1.

[jwfg]

Hagler took it easy on him.

[Joson]

I remember being very surprised that the fight was so close. Before the bout, I was convinced that Roberto was well past his peak, in addition to carrying too much weight. I expected Hagler to win easily and decisively.

Boy, was I wrong. In a major way too.

That Duran could give such a close fight against Hagler is testimony to just how great Roberto had been a few years earlier, during his lightweight years. Amazing.

[goose 5]

Same here. I figured Hagler would stop him in about 6 rounds.

[Redback Rasta]

Hagler took it easy on him. :OhYes:

Why? To get Ray interested?

[Ezzard]

I think Duran took it easy on Marv...

[jwfg]

Hagler took it easy on him.

Why? To get Ray interested?

Just my opinion.

[elmersalsa]

The great Roberto Duran! Top 5 in my book pound per pound boxers of all-time.

Six years later, being considered washed up, wins the WBC World Middleweight Championship against Iran "The Blade" Barkley in a slugfest for the ages? Amazing.

I don't care what anybody says, Roberto Duran, the Hands of Stone, is a top 5 all-time pound per pound great boxer.

[jwfg]

The great Roberto Duran! Top 5 in my book pound per pound boxers of all-time.

Six years later, being considered washed up, wins the WBC World Middleweight Championship against Iran "The Blade" Barkley in a slugfest for the ages? Amazing.

I don't care what anybody says, Roberto Duran, the Hands of Stone, is a top 5 all-time pound per pound great boxer.

Quitters don't make my top five.

[Seamus]

Hagler showed Duran too much respect in the fight, and because he never looked to have him in any trouble, it's not considered one of his better performances. As for Duran, it was a remarkable performance when you look at his age and the weight class he started at. I thought the scoring was heavily biased in Duran's favor, since it was obvious he was being given any close rounds. When I watched it live I had it 147-141 for Hagler and then a few yrs ago I scored it 146-140.

[Ezzard]

Always thought that Hagler was fresher and bigger... Once Duran solved Hagler as a boxer and began to have the better of it that then Marvin upped his workrate to a level where Duran could not go due to his physical limitations.

[elmersalsa]

The great Roberto Duran! Top 5 in my book pound per pound boxers of all-time.

Six years later, being considered washed up, wins the WBC World Middleweight Championship against Iran "The Blade" Barkley in a slugfest for the ages? Amazing.

I don't care what anybody says, Roberto Duran, the Hands of Stone, is a top 5 all-time pound per pound great boxer.

Quitters don't make my top five.

That's your opinion, not mine. And after all that, he won two more titles in weight classes that were not his. How about that? And washed up to say the least.

[elmersalsa]

Always thought that Hagler was fresher and bigger... Once Duran solved Hagler as a boxer and began to have the better of it that then Marvin upped his workrate to a level where Duran could not go due to his physical limitations.

Yes. Plus the weight was too much for him. Duran in an interview said that his hands got tired and sore. And also broke his right hand.

[Ezzard]

The great Roberto Duran! Top 5 in my book pound per pound boxers of all-time.

Six years later, being considered washed up, wins the WBC World Middleweight Championship against Iran "The Blade" Barkley in a slugfest for the ages? Amazing.

I don't care what anybody says, Roberto Duran, the Hands of Stone, is a top 5 all-time pound per pound great boxer.

Quitters don't make my top five.

So no Ray Robinson then? Sam Langford? Willie Pep? Chavez?

[Ambling Alp II]

Maybe he should amend it to guys that quit twice,

[jwfg]

Maybe he should amend it to guys that quit twice,

That's the one.

[Ezzard]

So no Langford or Pep or Chavez.

[Jaywheel]

No room left when you already have Meldrick Taylor, Pascual Perez and Laguna you know.

[Ambling Alp II]

So no Langford or Pep or Chavez.

Does anyone really have Chavez in their top 10?
I actually don't have Pep in my top 10, but he is borderline. He really only quit once against Saddler. Don't think anyone thinks he quit in the one where he had a dislocated shoulder.
Did Langford flat out quit multiple times in his career?

Quitting has to be a big negative against a fighter.
Always cracked me up that the "tough guys" like Liston, Duran, and Chavez quit against "pretty boys" like Ali, Leonard and DLH.