BoxRec

One of the biggest showdown's in boxing history. What a great contest, what an amazing performance by Leonard (whether you thought he won or lost, still amazing).

Watched it again recently, and contrary to what I thought as a youngster, I thought Leonard won it clearly.

What surprised me were how solid many of Leonards shots were, and how hesitant and slow Hagler looked. Leonard did look tired by the end, but really didn't look in much danger of being stopped.

With hindsight, Leonard was a lot fresher than Hagler, with a lot less miles on the clock, and Marvin struggled with someone who could move as well as Leonard.

9th round for me is the greatest round in boxing history.

Is that the one where Leonard rallies from a tough spell and really drills Hagler?

jamesmcdonnell wrote:Is that the one where Leonard rallies from a tough spell and really drills Hagler?

Yep.

Yes, fine round, didn't remember it being the 9th particularly.

Hagler may have complained about Leonard shoeshining after the bout, but Ray had sprays of sweat flying off that big bald bastard's head throughout the bout, and he hit hard enough to stop Hagler giving him the bum's rush.

Leonard's punch power was often underrated, but he was a crisp hitter who when he needed to could ice an opponent.

Yes the ninth was electrifying to watch. I always made Ray a winner, but I've got mates who will swear Hagler won to their dying day.

Maxboxing's Lee Groves made a good point recently: Ray cleary won the first four rounds, so to win, Hagler had to take 7 of the next 8 rounds - and surely he didn't?

I think a lot of people got emotional about that fight.

Hagler was a blue collar champion who had to do everything the hard way, overcoming several setbacks to become a long reigning champ who exemplified everything noble about the sport, and who dominated the division in a brutal fashion which was unseen again above welterweight until Tyson ripped through the heavyweight division.

Ray was the golden boy of the Montreal Olympics who though a fine fighter, was perceived as the fancy dan who had everything easy, and whose talent rode roughshod through the sport, in a precursor to, and model for the successful career of DeLaHoya.

I think a lot of people, myself included at the time, wanted Hagler to punish Leonard for his perceived flashness and lack of respect for the sport. The fact Leonard won the fight on his own terms, and to a degree humiliated the great hagler, and his refusal to give him a rematch (which I still deplore to this day, as it was a huge return match which would have made both a fortune and would have been good for the division,) and even worse that he retired immediately afterward thus splitting the belts, made it a very bitter pill to swallow.

With hindsight, I recognise now what an exceptional talent Leonard was, and admire his guts for taking a fight few thought he could win, and the toughness he displayed in many fights in the ring.

Hagler for me, failed to dominate any portion of the fight, whenever he did try to, Leonard always found a way to chip back into the round, and those which Hagler won were close rounds.

I think I gave it by something like 3 rounds to Leonard when I scored it recently.

The 9th was KO magazines round of the year and rightly so. There might have been better rounds but because of the significance of the fight and who was involved it was round of the year alright.

Just looked like Hagler was finally catching up with Leonard but the way Sugar Ray punched (not held or spoiled) his way out of that corner was breath-taking and he hurt Hagler in the process.

The Hagler team made a terrible mistake when they complained about the UK's Harry Gibbs being picked as a judge for the Leonard fight (maybe still bitter over what happened in the Minter fight?). Gibbs was eventually replaced by Jose J. Guerra who scored the fight 110-118 to Leonard.

Harry Gibbs watched the fight on TV and scored it for Hagler.

How ironic.

Incidently, I score the fight to Ray - but I scored the 9th to Hagler.

I have had a disagreement with someone (I think it was Terrence) on here about this, but definately the best version of this fight is the USA version with Gill Clancy on commentary. Christ he seems like he is going to bust a blood vessell. He starts off by every Southpaw Hagler attack by going "yep, now Hagler will get him... there is now way Leonard will last the course he is holding now early in the fight".... "Leonard cannot handle Southpaws"... "Oh Hagler is finding the range now, now he's warmed up" etc.

By the end he is calling Leonard the "Miracle Man" and practically willing him to last the course.

Although Dickie Davies's tash and paint stripe hair and Jim Watt looking older than he does now makes for entertaining viewing.

Leonard clearly won in my book -- both the 9th and the entire fight.

I was a big Marv fan but I seem to remember scoring it 116-114 Leonard.

Was gutted Hagler got psyched out and tried to box orthodox for the first two rounds - which I seem to remember he gave away.

I scored it a draw, but admitadly i'm a huge Hagler fan, so that can influence scoring from tv.
Everyone seems to blame the fact that Hagler came out orthadox for the first few rounds, and this played into Leonards style.

I loved watching this fight when it was first aired in the UK, I was soooo excited by the build up (I was 8 years old!) and I thought Leonard won back then and I still do today, having watched the fight many times since... Whether you liked it or not, Leonards work was the more eye catching and Hagler was too slow getting into the fight.

i soooooo wanted hagler to win but the fact that i cant give it to him despite my prejudice against ray proves that ray was the better man on the night. and y'know? deep deep down, no matter what he says, marvin hagler knows it too and that hurts him very very much to this day and probably always will. give it up marvelous. ray won the fight. (it even hurts me to admit it)

Quite interesting reading how many of you are saying you thought Leonard won the fight. I always thought I was in a minority with that opinion.

I got into boxing around 85 so when the fight was announced Leonard was a like a fighter from the past to me and I figured he had no chance against Hagler who I adored. But even then I thought Leonard nicked it.