'Demolition' Doug Demmings

[Rover]

Another quality thread.

[Rover]

Thanks Mr. Rover,

After Sugar Ray Sealed defetated Doug Demmings, CBS-TV tried to get a Ray Seales vs. Marvin Hagler III bout
for early-February 1978, and in Seattle, Washington.

But "The Hagler Camp" said,,,,,'NO' to a Pacific West Coast 15-Round bout for the USBA Middleweight Championship.


'Demolition' Doug Demmings lay idle for 5-Months, and then came back to tangle with Marvin Hagler on CBS-TV.

Friday Night - April 7, 1978

The Olympic Auditorium - Los Angeles, California

#13 - Doug Demmings ~ 22-2-0 {7 KO's} ~ Age; 26 years, 11 months ~ Height; 5' 10 1/2"
vs.
#7 - Marvin Hagler ~ 38-2-1 {31 KO's} ~ Age; 23 years, 11 months ~ Height; 5' 9 1/2"

Some discrepancy about Marvin Hagler's age.....

The Fight;

Doug Demmings was the forward-pressing aggresor in Round 1, but Marvin Hagler landed the sharper punches.

Round 2, Hagler landed some good punches and moved Doug around a bit with his 'two-fisted' attack. But Doug
bloodied Marvin nose with a good right uppercut, and left hook. Doug took a right hand to eleft eye, which caused
him to blink, but he fought back with heart.

Round 3, Doug was able to land a few good punches, and held Marvin 'Even' during the Round.

Marvins strength took over in Rounds 4, 5 and 6 - as he was able to push Dough backwards.

Wasn't that Hagler's first nationally televised bout?

[Rover]

Not sure,

I think Marvin was on several other highlight reels, where they showed a couple of Rounds in other
bouts.

Demolition Doug never fully recoved from that pounding from Marvin.

Career wise, it was not a good move.

I mean the first full fight that was shown.

[Rover]

I'll have to check,,,,,,

But I think both Angelo Dundee and Gil Clancy announced 'two' of Marvin's previous bouts.

'Demolition' Doug Demmings admitted that he 'foolishly' accepted the bout with Marvin Hagler
for a mere $6000 fight purse in April 1978.

What would've been a reasonable one?

[Rover]

Probably $10,000 for a bout where he was a 6-1 Underdog,,,,,,,against Marvin Hagler.

Doug Demmings was offered $11,500 to fight WBC/WBA Middleweight Champion - Rodrigo Valdes in a
CBS-TV - 10-Round 'non-title' bout in Rome, Italy for early-February 1978.

Foolishly turned it down......after first agreeing to the bout.

Doug Demmings,

"At first it sounded like a good bout to take (with Rodrigo Valdes), but then I was talked out of it. My Manager
said if I could put together '2' good wins, I could then Challenge for the Middleweight Championship in the
Summer of 1978, and for more money instead of taking the 'non-title bout'. In 1978 - I was supposed to fight
in early-February, and then in mid-March. But suddenly, the bouts didn't come through for one reason or another."

"By the end of March, I had no fights lined up. So when the bout with Marvin Hagler was offered, I had to
take it. I asked for $10,000 - but they only offered me $5000. They finally upped it to $6000. I knew it would
be a tough fight, but I thought I could out-box him, because he was so predictable with his style, and he clubbed
with his punches."

Dumb manager.

[Rover]

True,

Not sure what they were thinking, when they turned down a nice pay-day ($11,500) and in Rome, Italy
with expenses covered.

Whether Doug Demmings would have performed well against Middleweight Champion - Rodrigo Valdes is
not a question, as the National Television Exposure would have been worth it's 'Weight-in Gold'.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

January 22, 1978

Minnesota Middleweight - 'Demolition' Doug Demmings has signed to battle World Middleweight Champion
Rodrigo Valdes for a '10-Round Non-Title Bout' scheduled for Saturday, February 11, 1978.

The 'non-title' affair will take place in Rome, Italy - and the 'fight contract' weight has been posted at 162 lbs.

The 26 year-old Minnesota Middleweight, has a record of 22-2-0 {7 KO's}, and is currently listed as the
#13 World-Ranked Middleweight. In Demmings most recent outing (December 2, 1977) he went 15-Rounds in
a losing effort for the USBA Middleweight Championship, by getting out-pointed by Top 10 World-Ranked Sugar Ray Seales.

The bout is to be broadcast by CBS-TV, who purchased the rights to broadcast the bout for $65,000.

* Rodrigo Valdes is to receive a fight purse $53,500.
* Doug Demmings will receive a fight purse of $11,500 plus expenses.

Alton Bowman, a representative for Doug Demmings, stated that his fighter will be more than prepared to tangle
with the Middleweight Champion. "The Champion is looking at this bout as a tune-up. We are looking at this bout as
an opportunity. After we 'upset' Rodrigo Valdes, he will have to give us a Championship bout."

So Demmings signed the contract and then reneged?

[Rover]

Yes,

He signed on January 22, 1978 -

'3' Airline Tickets (Pre-Paid by CBS-TV) were for Monday, February 6, 1978.

Doug Demmings and 'two associates' were supposed to arrive in Rome, Italy -
5-Days before the bout.

On Saturday, February 4th - Doug Demmings pulled out, citing 'personal issues'.

Doug had an $11,500 'fight purse guaranteee', which would have been his largest
fight purse.

In the contract, was an option clause, 'that if he won, he would get an immediate title bout
within 90-days'.

Pulling out, made absolutely no sense.

Did CBS seek compensation for the tickets or threaten (or undertake) legal action?

[Rover]

No action taken,,,,,,

CBS-TV just cancelled the Rodrigo Valdes 'non-title bout'.

And 2-Months later, Doug Demmings got the CBS offer to fight Marvin Hagler (April 1978).

Just a 'bad managerial move'.

Doug would have lost to Rodrigo Valdes anyway, but at least he would have gotten some TV Exposure,
and parlayed that into a couple of decent bouts against softer Top 20 opponents.

CBS was very kind to Doug--far more than I'd have been.

[Rover]

Doug Demming was 'still' a pretty good boxer, despite getting 'battered' by Marvin Hagler.

But, with only 'small fight purse' bouts out there, he went into semi-retirement for the rest of 1978.

He went to Winnipeg, Canada in 1979.

The 27 1/2 year-old Minnesota Middleweight came back after a 10-Month hiatus, and was
flat in getting Decisioned by Toronto Middleweight - Jimmy Gradson, a 9-Bout {8-1-0 ~ 3 KO's}
Preliminary fighter, over 6 uneventful rounds.

Doug Demmings, now 22-4-0.

I thought I did more than enough to earn a 6-Round Draw, but the Winnipeg Judges gave the Decision
to their local fighter.

They were 'grooming' a bunch of Middleweights up in Canada, and they thought my name would be a good
score on their record.

Kind of a bad sign when the best you can say is you think you earned a draw.