Sugar Ray Robinson was, for a long time, my favorite boxer, merely because I sat on Dad’s lap as a little boy and watched him ”reign in the ring” during the 1950s decade. Dad said he was a “true boxer” and not “just a fighter.”
Years later, during the 1980s, Roberto Duran, Thomas “The Hitman” Hearns, and Sugar Ray Leonard were the MIDDLE-WEIGHT GREATS, and by then Dad was the age that I am now. He proclaimed that “Robinson was better than any of the three, even the new “Sugar Ray” Leonard! So, being the loyal son that I was, I agreed with him, at least when he was around!
But, I changed my allegiance when I finally started noticing a boxer that some of the boys in my English classes talked about during our “5 minutes to discuss important things” before and after classes each day: a 5’—10” New Jersey-born (more than 50 amateur victories) boxer named MARVIN HAGLER, who finished his career with an unbelievable professional record of 52 knockouts during a 62 wins—3 losses—2 draws career.
He became the undisputed Middleweight Champion in 1980 and followed that with 12 successful title defenses, finally losing his title to a split decision—controversial—loss to Sugar Ray Leonard in 1987.
Hagler’s title defense in 1985 against Thomas Hearns, billed as “The War,” lasted only three rounds and was “brutal,” even according to longtime ring-side viewers and officials. I concur. It was almost hard to watch, but I still looked at clips from it from time-to-time for many years after the event. One student at our school came to class after the bout with his head shaved, and I knew why he had done it without asking. He just grinned!
Some of his “victories” include the following: June, 1977, Roy Jones, TKO—September, 1980, Alan Minter, TKO—June, 1981, Vito Antoufermo, TKO—November, 1983, Roberto Duran, decision after 15 rounds—October, 1984, Mustafa Hamsho, KO—April, 1985, Thomas Hearns, KO—March, 1986, John Mugabi, KO—April, 1987, Ray Leonard, controversial 12 round “split decision” loss. Many, many observers, including several judges, said “Hagler won.” (I thought so!)
Marvin Hagler retired after this loss (supposedly $19 million richer), because Leonard refused to give him a REMATCH! (Rhetorical Question: Why do you think Leonard refused?) Hagler did, a year or so later, say that he had left the ring in disgust after what he thought was an unfair decision, but he also said he was glad that he still had his health and could pursue other important things!
This boxer, in public, often seemed “brooding” and “scornful,” but that was just an image, according to people who really knew him. He often stated that “if they cut my bald head open, they will find one big boxing glove. That’s all I am. I live it.”
He fought as a “southpaw” and was known as being “relentless and vicious” in the ring—and also “fighting with the ‘proverbial chip on his shoulder,’ thinking that he was never really ‘given his due.’” He once went to court to legally change his name officially to “Marvelous,” when he wasn’t announced in the ring by this nickname!
Promoter Bob Arum, who knew Marvin well, however, said that “He was certainly one of the greatest Middleweights ever but also one of the greatest people that I have ever been around and promoted. He was a ‘real man,’ loyal and fantastic!”
(Marvelous Marvin Hagler recently passed on at age 66.) To close—1985, outdoors, Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas, ringing of opening bell—Hagler and Hearns traded unrelenting punches for three solid minutes in an opening round many, if not most, observers consider the best in boxing history! Hagler stopped Hearns in the 3rd Round with a flurry of powerful punches, even as blood “streamed” out of a large gash on his own forehead, which had made him afraid the referee was going to stop the fight and gave him even more reason to unleash the winning barrage of blows. He had retained his title against one of the great punchers of all time.
“MARVELOUS” was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame and the World Boxing Hall of Fame in 1983.
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