Leonard vs Hagler 30th Year Anniversary Fight: Who Really Won The Super Fight?
Posted: 06 Apr 2017, 04:32
It all started in 1982. November of 1982 to be exact. The great Sugar Ray Leonard had a nationally media announcement in a squared ring at Baltimore Civic Center, the place of his first professional boxing match in which he received $40,000. At 26, and 5 years later, at the height and peak of his fabulous prime, Leonard suffered a detached retina early in the year and had to postpone a mandatory world title defense of his undisputed welterweight crown against number one contender fellow American Roger Stafford in Buffalo, NY.
Once he operated his left eye, Sugar Ray, already a multimillionaire who made a fortune in his win matches against greats like Wilfred Benitez, Roberto Duran and Thomas Hearns, made preparations for his upcoming future in boxing. Will he retire from the ring or not? That was the $64,000 dollar question by many. A flair for the dramatics and suspense, only Leonard, like McDonald's restaurants, can create that type of intrigue. Why not? He's the CASH COW. He is Sugar Ray! The sport biggest superstar, right?
He invited the late ABC boxing announcer Howard Cossell, media members, and celebrities in an tie affair evening gala and extravaganza. Among the invitees, was the Undisputed World Middleweight Champion, Marvelous Marvin Hagler, who at 28, was in his complete prime. The hard-hitting bald champion from Brockton, MA via Newark, NJ was the antithesis of Leonard. The other side of the coin. As a champion for 2 years, was waiting for the money and recognition that only a fight with Sugar Ray could he generate. He came up THE HARD WAY. THE ROUGH WAY. Fighting in opponents' backyards and contenders that nobody wanted to fight. Three years before 1982, he got screwed by the judges of his chance for the title in a fight that he clearly won against champion Vito Antuofermo. It was ironic that the fight happened when Leonard became champion for the first time against Benitez. Then, he took matters into his own hands knocking out every single opponent in his way with the exception of contender Marcos Geraldo and traveled to London, England to kick Antuofermo's successor ass of Alan Minter in 4 quick savage rounds. After the blood bath, Hagler was greeted in the middle of the ring with beer bottles thrown at him and his handlers. Even His crowning moment was a nightmare? Now, as a champion for 2 years, he couldn't get a lucrative challenge. Hearns was supposed to fight him in May of 1982, but postponed it because of injury in his right hand. Now, he got to depend of Leonard's intriguing announcement. Sugar Ray took the mic and told the crowd that a fight with that man (Hagler), could be one of the biggest fights ever. Talking about some serious money? It was the inevitable. The fight everyone wanted to see. It didn't need any hype. Just a signature from both men. Unfortunately, Sugar Ray said that it would never happen. Marvelous left the center disappointed of the decision. No fight.
Well, five years went by and Marvelous was still the middleweight champion. He was champion for 7 years with 12 title defenses in his belt, including wins over Duran and Hearns. He hasn't lost a fight in 11 years. The Las time he lost was against tough Willie Monroe in March of 1976. He whooped Monroe twice after that. He had an undefeated streak of 37 fights!
After the 3 rounds of mayhem with Hearns and a hard fight with contender John Mugabi of Uganda, Marvelous was the best pound per pound boxer in the world. He became a superstar after the epic fight with Hearns. He did it THE HARD WAY. THE ONLY WAY.
Never thought that Sugar Ray would comeback to the ring, he was contemplating retirement. He made his money and was a millionaire, even without a big fight with Leonard. But, something was not complete. He got to beat Leonard to get the recognition as the best fighter of the 80s decade. His surprised wish came. Sometimes dreams come to those who wait like the saying goes, right? Sugar Ray challenged him.
After one fight in 5 years, Leonard comes back to the ring believing that he could beat Marvelous. He came back in '84 against unknown Kevin Howard. Even though he won by knockout, he was embarrassed when Howard dropped him. He retired after the fight saying he didn't had it anymore.
But, why he have it now? Critics at the time said that he was crazy. That Leonard, without a tune up fight at middleweight and only fought once in 5 years would be destroyed by the monster. After all, it happened and it was still an anticipated mega fight in which Marvelous had all the right to thank Sugar Ray for collecting $20 million dollars after all was said and done. Right? The ONLY THING was that he had to concede THE CASH COW LEONARD a bigger ring, thumb less gloves and 12 rounds for the undisputed middleweight championship of the world. The ONLY THING that Leonard conceded was less money. After all said and done, he made $13 million anyway. Was this fight was for the money, or for the glory? Was it better in 1982 or for the night of April 6, 1987? You make the call. A 4 to 1 underdog, Leonard still had his fans to believe that he could do it.
The fight was finally made. It was called "The Superfight". Was it really? Or could have been better five years earlier? No matter what, after watching it on replay, it was still a great fight, but with a controversial decision. Sugar Ray pulled THE UPSET OF THE DECADE, BECAME THE FIGHTER OF THE DECADE and elevated his status as one of all time greatest boxers ever. Marvelous became a legendary fighter of the middleweights. But, delusional and disappointed of the judges, took his bags and moved to Italy for good. He NEVER CAME BACK TO THE RING! Sugar Ray? Retired and came back. The more he did it, the more ridiculous it became.
And after 30 years and counting, people still ask, " Who really won that fight?" Marvelous Marvin or Sugar Ray?
Once he operated his left eye, Sugar Ray, already a multimillionaire who made a fortune in his win matches against greats like Wilfred Benitez, Roberto Duran and Thomas Hearns, made preparations for his upcoming future in boxing. Will he retire from the ring or not? That was the $64,000 dollar question by many. A flair for the dramatics and suspense, only Leonard, like McDonald's restaurants, can create that type of intrigue. Why not? He's the CASH COW. He is Sugar Ray! The sport biggest superstar, right?
He invited the late ABC boxing announcer Howard Cossell, media members, and celebrities in an tie affair evening gala and extravaganza. Among the invitees, was the Undisputed World Middleweight Champion, Marvelous Marvin Hagler, who at 28, was in his complete prime. The hard-hitting bald champion from Brockton, MA via Newark, NJ was the antithesis of Leonard. The other side of the coin. As a champion for 2 years, was waiting for the money and recognition that only a fight with Sugar Ray could he generate. He came up THE HARD WAY. THE ROUGH WAY. Fighting in opponents' backyards and contenders that nobody wanted to fight. Three years before 1982, he got screwed by the judges of his chance for the title in a fight that he clearly won against champion Vito Antuofermo. It was ironic that the fight happened when Leonard became champion for the first time against Benitez. Then, he took matters into his own hands knocking out every single opponent in his way with the exception of contender Marcos Geraldo and traveled to London, England to kick Antuofermo's successor ass of Alan Minter in 4 quick savage rounds. After the blood bath, Hagler was greeted in the middle of the ring with beer bottles thrown at him and his handlers. Even His crowning moment was a nightmare? Now, as a champion for 2 years, he couldn't get a lucrative challenge. Hearns was supposed to fight him in May of 1982, but postponed it because of injury in his right hand. Now, he got to depend of Leonard's intriguing announcement. Sugar Ray took the mic and told the crowd that a fight with that man (Hagler), could be one of the biggest fights ever. Talking about some serious money? It was the inevitable. The fight everyone wanted to see. It didn't need any hype. Just a signature from both men. Unfortunately, Sugar Ray said that it would never happen. Marvelous left the center disappointed of the decision. No fight.
Well, five years went by and Marvelous was still the middleweight champion. He was champion for 7 years with 12 title defenses in his belt, including wins over Duran and Hearns. He hasn't lost a fight in 11 years. The Las time he lost was against tough Willie Monroe in March of 1976. He whooped Monroe twice after that. He had an undefeated streak of 37 fights!
After the 3 rounds of mayhem with Hearns and a hard fight with contender John Mugabi of Uganda, Marvelous was the best pound per pound boxer in the world. He became a superstar after the epic fight with Hearns. He did it THE HARD WAY. THE ONLY WAY.
Never thought that Sugar Ray would comeback to the ring, he was contemplating retirement. He made his money and was a millionaire, even without a big fight with Leonard. But, something was not complete. He got to beat Leonard to get the recognition as the best fighter of the 80s decade. His surprised wish came. Sometimes dreams come to those who wait like the saying goes, right? Sugar Ray challenged him.
After one fight in 5 years, Leonard comes back to the ring believing that he could beat Marvelous. He came back in '84 against unknown Kevin Howard. Even though he won by knockout, he was embarrassed when Howard dropped him. He retired after the fight saying he didn't had it anymore.
But, why he have it now? Critics at the time said that he was crazy. That Leonard, without a tune up fight at middleweight and only fought once in 5 years would be destroyed by the monster. After all, it happened and it was still an anticipated mega fight in which Marvelous had all the right to thank Sugar Ray for collecting $20 million dollars after all was said and done. Right? The ONLY THING was that he had to concede THE CASH COW LEONARD a bigger ring, thumb less gloves and 12 rounds for the undisputed middleweight championship of the world. The ONLY THING that Leonard conceded was less money. After all said and done, he made $13 million anyway. Was this fight was for the money, or for the glory? Was it better in 1982 or for the night of April 6, 1987? You make the call. A 4 to 1 underdog, Leonard still had his fans to believe that he could do it.
The fight was finally made. It was called "The Superfight". Was it really? Or could have been better five years earlier? No matter what, after watching it on replay, it was still a great fight, but with a controversial decision. Sugar Ray pulled THE UPSET OF THE DECADE, BECAME THE FIGHTER OF THE DECADE and elevated his status as one of all time greatest boxers ever. Marvelous became a legendary fighter of the middleweights. But, delusional and disappointed of the judges, took his bags and moved to Italy for good. He NEVER CAME BACK TO THE RING! Sugar Ray? Retired and came back. The more he did it, the more ridiculous it became.
And after 30 years and counting, people still ask, " Who really won that fight?" Marvelous Marvin or Sugar Ray?
He certainly did tame Hagler. 