Again in 1987, Sugar Ray Leonard and Marvelous Marvin Hagler threw down in a highly-anticipated middleweight title struggle in Las Vegas, an excellent spectacle that captured the eye of the whole sports activities world. The result, which noticed the challenger and massive underdog prevail by twelve spherical cut up choice, remains to be hotly debated to at the present time. The match modified the course of each fighters’ careers, as Hagler, sure he had been robbed and sick of by no means getting the respect he deserved, hung up his gloves for good. Leonard, who had first retired again in 1982, would go on to extra large fights and win world titles in each the tremendous middleweight and lightweight heavyweight divisions.
However what if I instructed you that the colossal superfight of 1987 between these two superstars may have, and will have, taken place at a a lot earlier date? As unimaginable because the occasion was, let’s be sincere: the precise struggle by way of drama, depth, motion and its respective ring performances failed to actually match the hype. The rationale for that’s easy: whereas each Leonard and Hagler have been nonetheless formidable, neither was anyplace near being at their finest going into that legacy-defining conflict.
The truth is, in 1987 there have been way more questions relating to these two fighters than there have been superlatives. Whereas Hagler was simply 32 and hadn’t misplaced a struggle in eleven years, some questioned if his expertise have been eroding, a reality seemingly borne out by his grueling battle with John Mugabi in 1986. All of the powerful fights and all of the grinding years of coaching had taken their toll. In the meantime Leonard had fought solely as soon as in 5 years and his inactivity prompted many to be involved for his welfare as he stepped as much as tackle the largest and baddest problem of his profession. However rewind 5 years and the scenario was very totally different. At that time you’d have been hard-pressed to search out anybody who didn’t regard Leonard and Hager because the primary and two fighters, pound-for-pound, in all of boxing.
Even earlier than the Massachusetts native obtained his paws on the middleweight belt, there was a robust consensus that Hagler was one of the best fighter within the division, the uncrowned king. After being blatantly robbed in his first world title alternative towards Vito Antuofermo in 1979, Hagler lastly captured the undisputed middleweight title in 1980 from Alan Minter in an authoritative show. From there on, Hagler used his menacing and bruising model to batter the opposition into submission and few wished any a part of the middleweight king within the early ’80s. Because the boogeyman of the 160-pound division, Hagler wanted a worthy challenger who would elevate his title and produce the large payday he so justly warranted. The plain selection was the person who was the sport’s greatest attraction, Sugar Ray Leonard.
Considered the famous person inheritor to Muhammad Ali, Ray was a media favourite and a scores hit on nationwide tv. He was marketable, had a smile that lit up a room, and quick fists that put butts within the seats and he had already defeated the likes of Roberto Duran, Thomas Hearns and Wilfred Benitez in thrilling, excessive profile bouts. Earlier to that, because the undisputed welterweight champion, Leonard’s star energy was on par with that of superstars in different sports activities corresponding to Magic Johnson, Wayne Gretzky or Bo Jackson.
That was the proper time for a Hagler vs Leonard superfight. Each have been established sights, exuding main crossover attraction, and each have been smack dab in the course of their primes, to not point out the 2 main faces of the game. If there was ever a time when Hagler vs Leonard ought to have occurred, it was then. And each males knew it. All the time the one to placed on a present, Leonard held a black-tie gala on November 9, 1982 on the Baltimore Civic Heart the place 1000’s attended, together with Hagler, who had come anticipating to listen to his soon-to-be antagonist announce that Sugar Ray vs Marvelous Marvin was on. As a substitute, Leonard addressed the gang and on the finish declared, “A struggle with this nice man, with this nice champion, could be one of many biggest fights in historical past. Sadly, it’ll by no means occur.”
A bewildered Hagler was greater than somewhat pissed off for being led on and he left Baltimore nonetheless in search of that main struggle that might exhibit how nice he was, whereas Leonard, as a result of a indifferent retina damage, retired. What a disgrace. However what would have occurred if Leonard had made the other pronouncement in Baltimore? If as a substitute he declared, “Fortuitously, it’s going to occur!” and Hagler vs Leonard was instantly set for early in ’83? Marvin was 28-years-old; Ray was 26. As big an attraction as Sugar Ray vs Marvelous was in 1987, a battle in 1983 would have topped any stage of hype. Extra to the purpose, it could have resulted in a significantly better struggle. Simply think about what might need unfolded in a conflict between Sugar Ray and Marvelous Marvin when each have been close to their respective peaks. I get giddy simply fascinated with it.
You might have in a single nook the orthodox Ray along with his lightning-quick jabs, nimble motion, underrated energy, superior flurries, to not point out his killer intuition and willingness to enter the trenches if obligatory. As well as, Ray was a consummate performer, a boxer who beloved to place a present on for the followers. And within the reverse nook is Marvelous Marvin, the larger man and the southpaw and swap hitter, with energy in both hand, a lethal jab, heavy physique assault, a granite chin and unimaginable conditioning. How would a battle between Sugar Ray and Marvelous Marvin have unfolded in 1983? We’ll by no means know, however right here’s my take.
To begin with, this match is scheduled for fifteen rounds, not twelve, and is for the undisputed middleweight championship, with no catchweights and all of Hagler’s belts on the road. I envision Ray using the identical primary method we noticed in ’87, however the big distinction being that in ’83 he’s at his apex. I see Leonard utilizing loads of motion and a few fancy footwork to throw Hagler off and keep away from the larger man’s energy, just like how he boxed Roberto Duran within the well-known “No Mas” rematch. If Marvin had a weak spot, it was adapting to foes with pace and agility, who used the ring and saved their distance from his energy. Given Leonard’s talent and astonishing pace, I see Ray sticking and transferring and giving Hagler some main issues.
However that mentioned, I additionally suppose peak Hagler could be way more assertive and certain of himself than was the case in ’87 when he fought the primary 4 rounds tentatively and from the orthodox stance. I see Marvin setting a sooner tempo and urgent Leonard, taking some fast counters within the course of but additionally catching Ray with well timed hooks and heavy straight lefts. I don’t see any knockdowns, nor both man’s stamina waning, although I can see Hagler’s physique punching and inside preventing sapping some vitality out of the lighter Leonard. Because the bout progresses, Hagler has rising success in cornering Leonard and forcing exchanges on the within and it’s in these moments when Marvin’s benefits in measurement and energy are telling.
Every time you’ve gotten a matchup between an awesome, pure middleweight of their prime going up towards an awesome, pure welterweight of their prime, with each being nearly equal skill-wise, the benefit usually swings within the path of the larger man. With each preventing at their highest stage, and with the momentum shifting all through, I’ve to select Hagler to just do sufficient to prevail over Leonard in a 15 spherical traditional.
And in the event you suppose the 1987 struggle was one thing, I’ve little doubt the 1983 battle would have wiped the ground with it. In my humble opinion, a 1983 Sugar Ray Leonard vs Marvelous Marvin Hagler superfight is the all-time biggest “What If” match-up in boxing historical past, topping all the opposite superb clashes that struggle freaks want they might by some means return in time and make occur, corresponding to Jack Dempsey vs Harry Wills in 1925; Jake LaMotta vs Rocky Graziano in 1950; Roberto Duran vs Alexis Arguello in 1978; Sugar Ray Leonard vs Aaron Pryor in 1982; Mike Tyson vs Evander Holyfield in 1991; Lennox Lewis vs Riddick Bowe in 1993, and Floyd Mayweather vs Manny Pacquiao in 2010.
The boxing gods giveth and the boxing gods taketh away and for no matter purpose, they determined Marvelous Marvin Hagler vs Sugar Ray Leonard in 1983 couldn’t be ours. All we will do is dream about what might need been. However what a dream it’s. — James Simpson II
