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 end result, which noticed the challenger and massive underdog prevail by twelve spherical cut up resolution, remains to be hotly debated to this present day. 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 huge 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 may have, taken place at a a lot earlier date? As unbelievable because the occasion was, let’s be trustworthy: the precise struggle when it comes to drama, depth, motion and its respective ring performances failed to really match the hype. The explanation for that’s easy: whereas each Leonard and Hagler had been nonetheless formidable, neither was wherever near being at their finest going into that legacy-defining conflict.
The truth is, in 1987 there have been much more questions concerning 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 abilities had 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 induced 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 state of affairs 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 received his paws on the middleweight belt, there was a powerful consensus that Hagler was the very best fighter within the division, the uncrowned king. After being blatantly robbed in his first world title alternative in opposition to 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 needed 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 identify and produce the large payday he so justly warranted. The apparent selection was the person who was the sport’s largest attraction, Sugar Ray Leonard.
Considered the celebrity inheritor to Muhammad Ali, Ray was a media favourite and a rankings 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 similar to Magic Johnson, Wayne Gretzky or Bo Jackson.
That was the proper time for a Hagler vs Leonard superfight. Each had been established points of interest, exuding main crossover enchantment, and each had 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. At all times the one to placed on a present, Leonard held a black-tie gala on November 9, 1982 on the Baltimore Civic Middle the place hundreds 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 an alternative, Leonard addressed the gang and on the finish declared, “A struggle with this nice man, with this nice champion, can 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 looking for that main struggle that may exhibit how nice he was, whereas Leonard, as a consequence of a indifferent retina damage, retired. What a disgrace. However what would have occurred if Leonard had made the alternative pronouncement in Baltimore? If as an alternative he declared, “Luckily, 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 will have resulted in a a lot better struggle. Simply think about what might need unfolded in a conflict between Sugar Ray and Marvelous Marvin when each had been close to their respective peaks. I get giddy simply interested by 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 cherished 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 unbelievable 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.
Initially, 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, much 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 ability and astonishing pace, I see Ray sticking and shifting and giving Hagler some main issues.
However that stated, I additionally assume peak Hagler can be much more assertive and positive 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 quicker 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 growing success in cornering Leonard and forcing exchanges on the within and it’s in these moments when Marvin’s benefits in dimension and power are telling.
At any time when you’ve a matchup between an important, pure middleweight of their prime going up in opposition to an important, pure welterweight of their prime, with each being nearly equal skill-wise, the benefit typically 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 case you assume 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 wonderful clashes that struggle freaks want they might in some way return in time and make occur, similar 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 cause, 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
