After being ducked for years by the top fighters of the middleweight ranks, the great Marvin Hagler, 26, had his first shot at the World Middleweight Crown owned by Vito Antuofermo, an Italian from Brooklyn, NY.
It was an exciting contest going the distance in 15 rounds at the Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, NV. Hagler was outboxing Vito for the first seven rounds. But after round seven, Vito took the fight to Marvin. Hagler, the baldheaded middleweigth from Brockton, MA was considered as the better fighter and also the favorite to win the fight by oddsmakers. He was a complete boxer. But I believe that he UNDERSTIMATED something in Antuofermo: Heart and determination. By the end of 15 rounds, Vito's face was bloodied. Probably his own family did not recognized him after the fight. But, like a real champion, he just kept on coming and made it interesting and the crowd loved it. Vito was energized by the crowd.
Who won the fight?
Was the decision by the judges right?
Was Hagler snubbed?
The fight was on a Friday night of November 30, 1979. It was the first fight of the Leonard vs Benitez card I believe. The fight ended in a draw. But I believe that Hagler should have had the decision. Did Marvin coasted a little? Did he slow down since he thought he had the fight under control? I don't know. But we gotta give credit were its due in Antuofermo. It was probably Vito's best performance of his whole entire boxing career. At least his gutsiest performance. Both were terrific.
The fight was called by ABC Sports Howard Cossell. That was a long time. How time flies, ain't it?
Hagler vs Antuofermo I: 35 Years Later
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elmersalsa
- Heavyweight
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Re: Hagler vs Antuofermo I: 35 Years Later
By irony I watched this fight two nights ago.I don't think hagler coasted,or Vito just made it interesting.I think Vito rattled hagler over the last 8 ,hurt him.in places and genuinely surprised him by the ferocity of his comeback and infighting.I think a draw was a fair result although hagler could have got it by a couple.he didn't "take"" the title .
Re: Hagler vs Antuofermo I: 35 Years Later
Just out of interest why did u start this thread when there's already one on this fight on these pages next to this thread? I'm seeing a lot of this since I came vack ,there were three concurrent threads on foreman Frazier last week
Re: Hagler vs Antuofermo I: 35 Years Later
Hagler won that fight 11-3-1, but at points, Vito did make it interesting.And it was Las Vegas, so enough said.