Marvelous Marvin Hagler Documentary - The Marvelous One

foreign [Music] foreign [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] Marvin Hagler was born on May 23 1954 in Newark New Jersey to Robert Sims and Ida May Hagler we lived in the ghetto in Newark where the rats were bigger than I was Heckler said in 1967 race riots hit his City with his mother forbidding him to go near the windows bullets shattered through the home and the family was forced to hide under the beds with no one leaving the apartment for three days two years later another race riot broke out convincing hagler's mother to move the family to Brockton Massachusetts Hagler dropped out of school working at a factory to help his mother make ends meet before he was beat up in a street fight with a local boxer named dornell wakefall the fight inspired Hagler to see Construction in the sweet science he began hanging out at the petronelli brothers gym for a few months before telling one of the brothers that he wanted to be a fighter goody and Pat petronelli were childhood friends with brockton's favorite son heavyweight champion Rocky Marciano goodie was a retired Navy veteran while Pat was a former amateur boxer who managed Goody's pro career in 1969 they plan to open a gym with Marciano but the now former heavyweight champion died in a plane crash the gym struggled but the petronellis persevered and Hagler soon became their top student he wasn't anything special at first goodie said but he worked harder than everyone else he was practicing the moves at home in the mirror I tell him to go three rounds he'd go six always it was the extra mile for him it wasn't long before the petronellis knew they had something they entered Hagler and novice division fights but he soon became too good and went straight to the open division for tournaments by 1973 Hagler won the New England Golden Gloves title before making it to the semi-finals of the national Golden Gloves he lost the decision to Dale Grant a defeat that left him feeling dejected he hurt me Hagler admitted he closed one of my eyes in the first round and I was boxing with half vision but you better believe I stung him a couple of times too I just needed a little more time and I'm sure I would have knocked him out hegler continued to learn quickly winning the 1973 National AAU Title by scoring an upset over Navy Champion Russell Fickling he was named the outstanding fighter of the tournament and seemed to be a sure bet to make the Olympics in three years not wanting to wait that long Hagler decided to turn pro I'm working as a machinist Apprentice Hagler said and I'm too old you can't eat trophies I didn't have any money and I needed to work Hagler turned Pro in May of 1973. goody was the trainer while Pat worked as his manager the brothers booked him on the fight cards of Boston promoter Sam Silverman or Hagler won 14 straight fights before he was given the first of many write-ups in the Boston Globe one writer described him as a new kind of American dilemma the greatest Prospect to come out of New England in several years yet his impressive performances were going unnoticed Keep On Truckin was heigler's only reply to his lack of recognition in August of 1974 Hagler faced his biggest test going up against The Undefeated 1972 gold medalist Sugar Ray seals hegler was a 3-1 Underdog but administered a beating to the favored seals Hagler closed seals his left eye by the second round and won an easy decision three months later the two rematched in seals as native Seattle the pet were surprised that seals wanted a return belt so soon but agreed to the fight Heckler floored seals in the early going with the referee ruling it as a slip seals got up and fought inspired outboxing Hagler in some exchanges before losing steam in the late rounds hagler's strong finish allowed him to earn a draw the first blemish on his record but even seals his own supporters felt that Hagler deserved the decision Hagler began calling out contenders like Tony Licata and Vinnie curto as well as WBC middleweight champion Rodrigo Valdez but hagner still wasn't making enough money from boxing and had a job offer set up with the city of Brockton to work in the water department on the day he was to report the city withdrew their job offer I needed work and I was qualified Hagler said I took all the tests and filled in the papers but I didn't get the job Hagler continued to supplement his income with the petronelli's construction business priding himself on being the best cement worker in Massachusetts the man would say to some guy you think you can work but see you keep up with Hagler Marvin said meanwhile in the ring Hagler faced an unexpectedly tough test from Detroit's Jimmy the sugar demon Owens Owens was an eccentric figure he entered the ring dressed like a voodoo priest wearing Shades and smoking a pipe his style was awkward but Hagler won a split decision with some believing Owen stole the fight for the rematch a month later Owens was installed as a 7-5 favorite the fight was even for the first five rounds with Hagler starting to dominate in the sixth a round in which Owens began repeatedly holding Hagler by the neck after four stern warnings the referee had enough and disqualified Owens I didn't want it to end like that hegler said I had him going this time I wanted to knock him out on December 20th 1975 Hagler faced Johnny mad Baldwin a bronze medalist at the 1968 Olympics when haglus promoter Sam Silverman made the fight Hall of Fame trainer Angelo Dundee called to warn him your man Hagler is going to get knocked out but Hagler once again upset the experts winning a tough but unanimous decision in January of 1976 Hagler made the first of several trips to the Spectrum in Philadelphia to face some of the city's notoriously tough contenders first up was Bobby Boogaloo Watts the fifth ranked middleweight in the world the fight started with a fast pace Hagler opened a cut on Watts's left eyebrow and scored heavily in the opening rounds by the sixth round Watts was in survival mode holding Hagler excessively which Drew disapproval from the crowd but the majority decision was announced in favor of watts and the fans showed their disapproval by throwing pennies into the ring we heard about Philadelphia decisions goody petronelli said but we never expected anything like this less than two months later Hagler returned to the Spectrum as a replacement for Vinnie curto who was scheduled to face Willie the worm Monroe working behind a jab that scored bullseyes all evening Monroe bloodied up hagler's nose and lumped up his face in route to a 10-round decision victory Hagler blamed his poor performance on the fact that he had bronchitis but accepted that Monroe was the better man that night it was a tough decision to accept Hagler said but an honest one I can see a great future ahead of me but I still have a few things to learn Monroe's trainer George Benson commended Hagler for not quitting he had opportunities all through the fight and no one would have blamed him Benton said but he's one tough kid he's going to be outstanding Hagler rebounded winning two more ballots before returning to the Spectrum six months later to face Eugene Cyclone Hart needing a victory to re-establish himself as a rising star Hagler batted heart throughout Mickey's opponent quit after the eighth round the impressive performance led to Hagler being shut out of televised events he was not invited to Don King's lucrative United States boxing championships nor was he invited to Don elbomb's middleweight tournament hagler's team continued to call for ballots with local favors like Vinnie curto and Jackie Smith both of whom shrewdly avoided money-making bouts with Hagler former heavyweight champion Joe Frazier warned Hagler that he had three strikes against him he was a southpaw he was black and he could punch maybe I should have been born a right-handed [ __ ] Heckler replied but Frasier's words were becoming prophetic Hagler had no choice but to set his sights back on the middleweights of Philadelphia that's where the action is hegler said that's where I can learn in February of 1977 Hagler received a rematch against Willie the worm Monroe Hagler had dreams of facing the only opponent that legitimately defeated him I wanted it so bad Hagler said I could taste it [Music] thank you [Music] thank you [Music] thank you [Music] with the impressive performance Fighters now refuse to face him outright or Price themselves out in June of 1977 Hagler appeared on the same fight card as Olympic hero Sugar Ray Leonard Leonard earned over twelve thousand dollars for his third fight while hagler's biggest payday to date was thirty five hundred dollars insiders blamed its management team seeing the petronelli brothers as outsiders with no money and even less connections one of their prized heavyweights Dino Dennis felt the same way and defected to someone else who offered more of both we couldn't compete with these people money-wise patronelli said we told Marvin All That Glitters isn't gold Hagler listened and remained loyal promoter Sam Silverman died and was replaced by rip Valenti who immediately promised bigger fights on the horizon Valencia began paying opponent's double and sometimes triple to face the avoided Hagler the petronellis later hired an attorney named Steve Wainwright who was prepared to go to Federal Court to bring suit against boxing's sanctioning bodies who were depriving hegler of a shot at the title meanwhile inside the ring Hagler continued his ascents in August of 1977 he faced Willie the Warren Monroe in a rubber match hegler once again wanted to prove that their first fight was a fluke because of his bronchitis I wanted Monroe to remember my name for the rest of his life Hagler said to Monroe from Monroe to 159 for Hagler [Applause] oh the worm walked into her left hook in trouble and grabs a hold of marvelous Marv Hagler 130 to go in round two [Applause] he got a good right in there but boy did he hit his head on the on the turnbuckle he's up that's it about his stop then I'm glad Tommy Reed jumped in oh Lord and He unload ing out on his neck Bobby when he I'm fighting the 24th of next month in Boston and all I want to say I know that video is here in the house and Vinnie cuddle I'm going to destroy you I'm going to destroy you hey after several years of back and forth Vinnie curdo finally signed to face Hagler in September of 1977. curta was so frightened at the prospect of fighting Hagler that he flew to Seattle a day before the bout was scheduled to take place in Boston once there he called promoter rip Valencia and told him he couldn't fight panicking Valenti tried bribing curdle with more money but the fighter refused reporters stated that curdle was another victim of the Marvin Hagler fight paralysis a disease spreading across the middleweight division in November of 1977 Carlos monzon had vacated the middleweight Crown hegler faced off against The Undefeated Mike Colbert with the winner presumably to get a shot at the new middleweight King Rodrigo Valdez but the soap opera continued for Hagler as promoter Bob Aram had other plans we never guaranteed that to the winner arm said instead Valdez will fight Hugo Koro Vito Anna firmo or Tony chiavarini rival promoter Rick Valenti protested by enlisting the aid of the Massachusetts state boxing commission the commission declared that the belt between Hagler and Colbert would be contested for the Massachusetts World middleweight championship in about scheduled for 15 rounds the fight with Colbert was close hagner pressed his opponent in the early rounds but in the middle rounds he stopped pursuing along the Slick boxing Colbert back into the fight in the 11th the tide turned with Hagler Landing a heavy combination breaking Colbert's jaw and stopping him in the 12th Hagler returned to the treadmill of taking on any willing opponents while he waited for his title shot he stopped contenders Kevin Finnegan and Doug demmings before Champion Valdez fell victim to Hugo Koro in an upset Coral then became the latest title holder to avoid facing Hagler now seen as the uncrowned champion Hagler went back to Philadelphia this go around taking on bad Benny Briscoe the fight was dubbed as the battle of the baldies although Hagler later admitted that he felt stuck with the style I don't really like being bald Hagler said it gets chilly in the ring without any hair Briscoe was now 35 years old and described by one reporter as quote being washed up so many times he has become boxing's most valuable piece of Driftwood the fight itself confirmed that Briscoe was the past while hagner was the future as the younger man seemed to always be one step ahead of his older Foe and winning a one-sided decision Hagler remained busy taking out the durable Willie Warren three months later a month earlier Warren had lost a non-title decision to Champion Hugo Koro about that many judged him as the winner in February of 1979 Hagler faced Sugar Ray seals for the third time if Hagler won he was promised a title shot from the winner of the Hugo Koro veto Anna firmo fight hegler however had heard it all before he worried that he was becoming another Jersey Joe Walcott or Archie Moore fighters who were advanced in age by the time receive their title shots I don't want to die in a gym Hagler said I don't want to be like Walcott who didn't get a shot until he was 35 and then how long could he stay there Hagler wasted no time against seals stopping him in the first round but the title shot once again remained elusive as an injury to Koro postponed his bout with Angelo firmo once again forced to wait Hagler bided his time taking out Journeymen until finally Vito one of firmo gave him a shot at the middleweight title Hagler controlled the early rounds cutting into a firmo's left eye in the third and his nose in the sixth but by the middle rounds Hagler seemed to tire and add to a firmo's aggression earned him some rounds and to a firmo had a strong 13th round but Hagler took the final two one reporter described antoa firmo's face as someone who looked as if he shaved with a window fan despite Hagler clearly winning the final round one judge scored it for antoa firmo and the other two scored it even the majority of viewers saw a clear win for Hagler but the bout was declared to draw Hagler demanded an immediate rematch but four months later into a firmo elected to face Alan Mentor instead losing his title by decision now back on the waiting list Hagler vowed to come back meaner but three months later he uncharacteristically missed weight for about against lucif hamani weighing in at a pound and a half over the agreed amounts hegler blamed the excess pounds on indulging on a plate of Portland Maine's famous home fries before the bout two months later Hagler signed to face Marcos Geraldo but his opponent wasn't allowed to leave his native Mexico instead Bobby Watts was brought in as a replacement this gave Hagler the opportunity to erase the only unavenged loss on his record there is nothing ordinary about Marvin Hagler the boxer there's a great deal of craftsmanship that shows now you have a reputation as being a big banger but to study the style and technique you're a boxer sure I figured that I'm both and matter of fact I think what it is is I just adapt to my opponent and whatever my opponent does I try to put it in that right perspective maybe if he's a runner then I have to Bob and weave and maybe go after them uh maybe if you can see if he's coming in I can change up automatically like this and start the Box uh I feel it though that I am very well gifted with the boxing ability and I just try to put it all to sense and show the people that I am a good skilled fighter you know and uh just trying to look the best I can you can't afford at this point with the possibility of another title opportunity in front of you a mistake in other words you've got to have a good fight I'm sure everybody'd be curious is what did Marvin Hagler do last night and how did you spend the morning before you came to the bout today well I just ate um breakfast or whatever and I'm still trying to relax um can't wait really for the fight to uh get on the way um at the time um when I fought Bobby Watts was back in 76 it was my first big fight fighting a contender well now I am the number one Contender and I feel as though that I have fought some of the best contenders in the world all the fighters that I've fought recently for the last four years have been contenders so now it's nothing new to me and I'm gonna go in here and if he makes a mistake like I say it can't go one and it can just it can go just 10 Rounds well every Contender quote that has appeared on the scene you've literally beaten everybody there is to beat except the chat well I have to keep winning and I have to keep looking impressive and looking good uh behind you know this game is so funny one loss and it can put you way back you know and you work so hard really trying to accomplish what you want in life and to keep in the Limelight one thing that I'm very happy about is that I'm finally starting to get the recognition now that I deserve people all over now are starting to recognize me so it feels good when people say how you feeling champ you know and a lot of people felt as though that I won that fight and I thank them for it and I just want to show them next time that it will be different and there is more to your profession than just chasing the dollar there's more to it than money sure like I said it's that title means more to me the money I think by Heckler appeared to hurt watch another right hand by Heckler watch this down just about the halfway point of the second round what's hurt my right hand and then down by a right hand now let's see if Bobby watts can run himself out of trouble times past his legs have been suspect when he's been hurt his recuperative powers are about to be tested right here as Hackler puts him down and two right hands it appeared to do most of the damage watch cannot sit on the ropes of Hagler he's got to get himself out of the open don't believe he can survive if he sits back in there like we're facing himself doesn't want to get too wild remember the Bell can save you on the main room [Applause] watch trying to survive the round now beginning to apparently stabilize a little bit he tries to lead Hackler away from him coming off the Rope a half a minute to go watch hurt by a left hand he's in trouble again [Applause] [Music] 20 seconds to go it's been all Hackler in this round [Applause] what is going to make it through number two down but the Bell can save you under main room [Applause] lights over after knocking Watts down Hagler pleaded for his opponent to get back up I wasn't through with them Heckler said I didn't want to hurt the guy but I've been trying to avenge that loss for four years and I didn't want to feel jipped less than a month later hegler faced Geraldo getting a tougher than expected battle but winning a unanimous decision after the bout Hagler married Bertha Walker he came into the marriage with one son Marvin Jr from her previous relationship while Bertha had two children of her own which Hagler adopted now officially a family man Hagler received his second shot at the middleweight title traveling to the Wembley Arena to take on middleweight champion Alan mincher I'm not going to try to win the title this time Hagler said I'm going to take it there is no easy talk this time there was only work destruction and destroy that is my only talk the petronellis anticipated a tough battle from mentor speculating that the bout may go down in history as one of the best middleweight fights in modern times Hagler was certainly facing the most hostile crowd in his career as the English fans booed both the national anthem and Hagler during the introduction but Hagler wasn't intimidated he didn't want a repeat of the antoa firmo fight he would not leave the decision in the hands of the judges [Applause] Andrew is a clever box he will have to be that agla is a good boxer and a superior puncher both hands we have 55 seconds into round one [Applause] bless God had scored again with a shot chopping right that hurt mentioned a minute five seconds into the round briefly Venture appeared hurt a minute five seconds into the round from a short shopping Hagler right but minute during the last half of this round has been boxing effectively and there a good left 10 seconds to go in round one round that promises a good action fight went back live find a satellite from London England round two just underway Alan mentioned to the left Marvin Hagler to the right the first round in the early going dominated by Hagler and the late going dominated by [ __ ] as minute began to box more successfully keep pegler off and yet scored with his own jazz [Applause] himself open with this tactic Hagler scored with a good quick combination [Applause] blood pouring out of mentor's nose now pouring out magic fighting feverishly trying to get to Hagler and hurt him the blood going into mentor's mouth you saw him wipe off his nose just now with his Club pitcher susceptible to cuts well this one is a bloody nose and may indeed be a cut under God oh a rightly scored against Mitch Hagler looking very very good very shocked 35 seconds left in round two Mentor wants to mix it up Slug It Out but haglin give him a little chance which is exactly what Mentor is doing and the crowd is responding [Applause] we are coming to the end of round two we're back live in London England Stanford has defeated Oklahoma in college football 31-14 but this is the middleweight championship fight and Marvin Hagler is off to a rousing start he had a big second round though Mentor is fighting back or was determined let you say hackless scoring well with his left remember Patrick can fight either way Southpaw or riding he has the ability thus to confuse an opponent if he can make it work sometimes the fighter gets mixed up trying to change from one stance to another seconds into round three the mentor knows bloodied in the second round blood gushing thought again the right blade that's the second time there are cuts under both meant her eyes now that susceptibility to the cut that we referred to as blood all over the left God [Applause] Bender is ready to go it's only the third round and Hagler is all over fighting without his mouthpiece now he's not been able to make his own fight now the referee barristown has the corner man the fight stopped it's over that quickly the middleweight champion of the world is Marvin Hagler that quickly he fought his Spike when [ __ ] tried to mix it up he had no chance at all now buckles are being thrown into the ring and beer cans and the corner people are trying to protect Marvin Hagley chaos ensued as Hagler and his team followed the British police to a room on the far side of the Arena security remained with them in the room for 30 minutes before they felt it was safe for the new Champion to come out it didn't bother me all that much Heckler said I came to get the title and I got it returning home Hagler was greeted with a hero's welcome at Brockton city hall while the local high school band played the national anthem Hagler gave a speech telling fans that Rocky Marciano had put Brockton on the map and that he was going to keep it there they said it couldn't be done Hagler said they said I'd never get there they said I couldn't do it with my trainers that we were too small that it would never work all of the road work all of the boxing all of the tough times have all paid off hagler's dream of becoming a world champion had come true now it was time to become a legend in January of 1981 Hagler defended his title in front of his hometown crowd at the Boston Garden demolishing the 30-0 full gensio obamaias in eight one-sided rounds five months later Hagler faced veto antoa firmo in a rematch his Camp hired former foe Benny Briscoe as a sparring partner to simulate and to a formal style of leading with his head hagler's sparring sessions with Briscoe became a self-fulfilling prophecy as his head collided with Anto thermos in the first round and round has opened the forehead right below the hairline of veto antipromo and it was Anthony firmo who instigated the butt himself 45 seconds into the first round it can have an effect it is a nasty cut a nasty cut it cuts right at the top of the forehead nothing to do with his surgery however there is a lot of blood right below the hairline a veto antiferma the real question is whether the blood is getting into antifermo's eyes the butt the cut is not a dangerous cut it's whether the blood blinds at the promo and to this minute you can't really say that it would that it affected him Freddie proud is saying stop the fight no fight Freddie Brown is telling his man not to fight Freddy Brown is saying no fight that is Panama Lewis in the ring crowd is buoying [Applause] Freddie Brown and the at the fremo camp is trying to tell the official that Hagler butted him they're going over to Walter buyers who's the chairman of the Massachusetts boxing commission to plead their case and maybe to try to get some extra time for Hagler what again shows this time under the eye actually a veto at the promo goes after him hits him with his combinations this has nothing to do with a butt in the first round another right hand scores against that deferral who now leans in on Marvin Hackler the champion uh Fido is totally defenseless at this point and he's got another cut right under the uh the the left eye and now the cut from the forehead again showing blood foreign about halfway through round two sticking that right hand in the face of a bloodied veto antifremo who comes back now with combinations to the head and body but not very effectively once again at the promo with two right hands and a left hand by Hagler as he has at the furlough against the ropes at the promo spins away [Applause] and we come to the end of round two to indicate this is a bloody fight but Larry folks is wearing a bib Lobster bib round three in the meantime see what a job Freddie Brown has done that time by Hagler antiferma also has a cut underneath the left eye may not be a pretty scene but it is the job it seems attack and there is a left hand that puts Anthony down a left half of the forehead by mcsai didn't seem to hurt him seem to stun him more than it did hurt him he didn't seem to know where he was for a moment that is only the third time in the career revito antifremo that he has been knocked down twice in his last fight [Applause] and again bled showing from the scalp of veto antifermo showing more in this round actually than it did in the last round Hagler just kind of measuring his man this fight is beginning to resemble a fight I saw many years ago the second Sugar Ray Robinson facility right acilio's left eye he looked like a gargoyle it was closed early on but you saw that right hand by Marvin Hagler and antifremo now is cut under the right eye being beaten to the punch at all times [Applause] [Music] you just won't stay on the outside he must get on the inside and the blood really showing actually from under the right eye of antifermo even more than the cut from the butt and now Anthony Thermo comes back a little bit antifermo fighting on guts there's no question and the most blood now ironically on at the promo shows from the right side of his face which was not the side of his face that was damaged early on after a fermo takes so many punches just to get one to two win look like another headbutt but now Anthony seemed to deliberately but him and now Hagler gets the warning and more blood shows from now the right brow of veto antifermo [Applause] and a wrongful and again Freddie Brown says the fight is over and Davey Pearl says the fight should go on yeah I heard him say disqualify him meaning Hagler disqualify Hagler leave it up to the fighter at this point [Applause] and now you heard David Pearl said he quits you know after the permit like it [Applause] [Music] and it is a fight once again there was controversy coming into the fight there was controversy after the fight how did you see what happened in the first round well you see in the first round that the promo come straight at me with his head that was his own fault he know that he's uh uh vulnerable to cuts and everything like that seemed like he would have tried to keep away or whatever instead of ramming straight on with his head you're not suggesting that he did it deliberately he was just leading with his head no he was and in that first fight that's what he done here but I'm glad that we had a great referee today that was very aware of everything and he watched the butts he watched the Holdings and everything so I felt very confident there at least I had a good referee in there and I just wanted to I really wasn't loosing up yet I was just starting to put things together what did you think of all of the fuhrer that was going on in his quarter with Freddie brown brown apparently wanted the fight stopped on a technicality and meanwhile he was giving it to fremo a chance to heal sure well you know I think that they did come in with some of that stuff on top of his head I don't know what they were using but it's kind of dangerous to another fighter because that stuff gets in my eyes and what you did I went back to my corner and he wiped it out of my eyes it's kind of bear it blinds a fighter once the fight continued were you deliberately going for that cut it did not appear to be in a dangerous place I was just putting my punches together would you see me just starting loosen up putting my combinations together I felt like I was a little tight in the beginning but I knew that this guy wasn't the same fighter that I fought back there in 79 because he was much too easy and he he gave me I moved had a little bit more distance like I said after that fight there without the promo the first time I went back to school what did Anthony fremo say to you at the end first of all I just want to say that Anthony Verma helped me by my mother right there a house and I want to say thank because it's her birthday June 17th and that house will be hers what did he say to you at the end well he wants another rematch or whatever like that hey it's not fair way how things have to end that way but hey in this game everything counts so uh the way they took it from me in the drawer either where do you go from here is ham show it seems to be the only middleweight who has earned a clear shot at you if we can make big money the way that I want to make the money a million dollars or more I know that gladly we'll take the fight yeah what about all the welterweights that seem like they can't wait to get a shot at you Sugar Ray Leonard Tommy Hearns Wilfredo Benitez that's good if I was a weak Champion they would have been on top of me sooner but I'm a strong Champion I just want to concentrate on this division bringing respect back to the middleweight Division and if Sugar Ray Leonard or Tommy Hearns want to move up into my Division come on fella because I'm looking for a big payday hagler's team now began discussing a three-fight deal with Bob arum one of which would include a ballot with Sugar Ray Leonard in October of 1981 Hagler cut up the tough Mustafa Hampshire stopping him in 11 one-sided rounds in March of 1982 Hagler signed to face Mickey Goodwin of the Kronk gym who was replaced by stablemate caveman Lee at the last minute patronelli was suspicious of the substitution I think they were waiting to Spring Lee on us all along petronelli said but the caveman lasted only 67 seconds meanwhile the super fight was Sugar Ray Leonard appeared as if it were never going to happen Leonard underwent eye surgery so hagler's team turned its attention to Thomas Hearns the two were slated to meet in May of 1982 but Hearns injured his pinky finger and pulled out of the fight rescheduling it for a month later disco around Hagler pulled out of the negotiations when Hearns insisted on changing the venue from Windsor Ontario to the silver dome in Pontiac Michigan the sanctioning bodies then forced Hagler to give fulgencio obamajias a rematch Hagler took out obamaiah's quicker this time ending things in the fifth in February of 1983 Hagler faced what many believed to be his toughest challenge since he won the title taking on England's Tony subson Hagler was masterful winning every round and stopping Simpson in the sixth three months later Hagler faced Wilford scipion in a fight that was postponed for two weeks when Hagler suffered a minor knee injury and training there was speculation that Hagler had not taken the fight seriously enough and needed the extra time to get in shape meanwhile the WBA and WBC refused to sanction the bout the fight became the first championship bout to be sanctioned under the newly formed United States boxing Association International later to become the ibf hegler demolish scipion in four rounds warning the sanctioning bodies that they would look silly if they stripped him of the middleweight belts in November of 1983 Hagler received his highest profile fight to date as a rejuvenated Roberto Duran stepped up in weight class to challenge him but Hagler felt that even when he defeated Duran the critics would respond by saying he beat an old washed-up fighter nonetheless Hagler was set to receive his biggest payday to date and was in phased by Durant's reputation as a boxing folk hero he's the hands of stone Hagler asked well I'm the Jackhammer do you know what a jackhammer does to Stone we're halfway through the opening round a bit of a right hand by Durant on the chin of Hagler was his glancing blow hagler's never been down as an amateur or professional last time Duran was down was nine years ago was down twice in his career as a pro both left hooks by Esteban De Jesus oddly in the first rounds of those bouts with Durant coming back and winning he's been blocked by Hagler but one or two have gotten in that one was blocked a crowd erupts every time Durant throws something and in the last few seconds he had a right hand block that he missed with a right but get there were cheers from the crowd oh [Applause] left to the stomach by Durant his Hagler missed and was out of position so the legend still has the cute moves those went to take advantage and as we said at the top if there's a way that Duran would win this fight I think it would be that way just slip the straight left by Hagler it's his defensive skills that I think will make this fight for him Moran with the left of the head Hagler with a right to the head of Durand Duran with a short right hand of the face of Hagler another right hand by Durant to the head of Haggis with a big left hand that rocked the land the round with the right upper top and now Duran has gotten Hagler into a major exchange here in round three and this is where Roberta wants him uh at close range especially on the ropes you'll notice that Hagler just spun away from the ropes he doesn't want to be there and now Duran coming forward apparently he feels after that exchange that he can fight inside with Hagler and now hagler's starting to throw some faints at Duran and trying to show him a little movement and so far Durant while Hagler hasn't landed much Brands going for all those faints right hand by Duran Hagler with a lift to the body that backed up the round for an instance a big SWAT of a left hand by kind of a jab that deck cage manly in the first round and indeed now Hagler is starting to get his jab on track and I guess that's the most important weapon for him in this fight if he can land it uh he'll be very effective we're halfway through the fourth the red with the right hand and Hagler didn't even move [Applause] a right to the body by Durant but he paid the price Hagler counted with a left hook to the Head lers starting to throw some combinations that's been absent so far from both fighters in the first three and a half rounds all right less than 30 seconds to go in the rounds the question Hagler reverted back to the boxing style here in round four after getting into a couple of toe-to-toe exchanges with Duran in round three I think by and large he was more effective because of it in the workouts every day Hagler fought several rounds right-handed to be uh sharp to be able to show Duran that he can go both ways and Hagler with a right hook from the Lefty stance rattled Roberto Duran and he landed a good uppercut just before that so he's starting to get the hand speed on Liberty and Hagley looks a little looser here in round five and after round three you'll note uh goody patronelli said you look tight out there that right hand by Durant was blocked by Hagler we point that out because he should not be misled by the cheers of the crowd good tiger with a right hand Durant with a right hand Hagler comes back with a straight left to the Head Duran with a whack at the right hand on the side of hagler's head [Applause] Grant is finding Hagler a relatively elusive Target also not like Davey Moore or Pepino Cuevas when he fashioned those two big comeback wins Hackler a much better defensive fighter than those two men foreign [Applause] and that was right on the chin of Hagler but he's not hurt and there's the Bell don't be the end of the fifth round I left hand by Hagler Duran shakes his head no I'm not hurt a couple of Jabs there by Hackler had put Durant off balance and wide open for the shot Duran with a right hand after he was hit by a right by Hagler so we're getting some toe-to-toe stuff here I think when Hagler switches to righty he is much more effective against Grand and there he does it now he can land often in the writing stance there's a good jab by Hagler a good right by Hagler this is the way he needs to be in this fight Hagler with a left hook to the Head Hagler switches to Lefty goes to righty and they're in the center of the Ring now Duran not for the able to make full connections as much as Hager Hagler here applying some pressure he's got into another gear and his hacker on the inside not Duran who's dominating the action as many people thought how do you know dig again now throwing shots and he is catching Duran Duran still coming forward big right that was his best part less than a minute to go now and Duran is starting to feel some of that power from hagran himself has avoided being hit really fluffed by him and now Hagler turns to righty and watch how effective he is when he turns to this stance he made a pivot move and brought that left hook to the head he just did it twice hagler's Corner knows that Marvin is especially effective in the Orthodox stance and they welcome him switching to the righty Style oh because of the hagler's ability to punch in bunches hard jab there by Hager yet another one a calorie right hand by Duran and a little extracurricular activity that Hagler did not like other right hand blocked by Hagley Hagler with a pre-punch combination on the head of Duran [Applause] Hagler slipping the Jabs and pounding the body of Roberto Duran then he came upstairs with some uppercuts and that brought an ooh and an off of a crowd Right Hook by Durant by Hagrid I think Duran is slowing down discernably here in round 10. and a right hand by Durant just when he was backing up Hagler walked right into it foreign [Applause] gives him a mean look Durant is punching more on the inside working the body a little bit it may be too late but he's certainly picked up the pace on the inside what we expected early from him underneath the eye the left eye of Hagler they go toe-to-toe here are the 12. Duran monkey has it dropped his hands to a side Tiger's protecting his left eye to have some of the earmarks of the first down affirmo fight Marvin tiring a little bit and perhaps letting Duran back in this fight and of course that swelling under the left eye a factor now Duran with the lead right he follows up with another right hand and hagler's got a problem with swelling underneath his left eye this is reminiscent at this point of the daisy Moore fight when Moore went inside and Durant and Durant connected with right hands this is Durant's best round ER with the left hand and uppercut Voice through his chin as if to say come on hit me Hagler with the left hand Roberto with the right and this is what it's all about two Champions going toe-to-toe Sharp Shooting for that left eye of Marvin Hagler as swelling underneath on the cheekbone we're into the 14th Hagler comes out winging and he came out right handed and was effective again I'm puzzled by the fact that he won't fight right-handed more often look at him go to the body of Duran good uppercuts by Hagler in the first 20 seconds of this round Hagler has been a tremendous Force here Duran backing up looking to get some punching room there's that a lot of punching he's come back strongly I see blood I think that the hagglers got a cut yes it's around this left eye hagler's cut but here in round 14 despite the snaring it's been Hackler on the inside dominating the action as you see him doing right there Hagler with a strong right hook to the Head Agway knows he's cut he's had an exceptional round but they're gonna have to work out that eye during the one minute break before the final round and I think that's the best place for him to be take away the power of Duran and work him on the inside by Hagler on the chin of Duran but Durant is okay so okay sneered again and heck get close enough trying to get some punching room but it's all Hagler down the stretch takes a right hand from Duran Hagman not taking any chances here and he wallets around with the left hand Durant with his back to the Rope takes a right hook to the head of Roberto Duran 20 odd seconds to go in the fight Left Hand by hydro and Roberto Duran drilled Hagler with his own right 15 seconds to go two Warriors two Champions going the full 15 rounds hands of stone turned out to be a formidable pole and he rocks hagra with a right hand Hardware with the left as we head for the Bell [Music] of the judges judge guide to guide your press scores 144 142. judge yasaka Yoshida scores 146 145. judge only obasan scores 144 143 for the winner by unit of his decision and still Italy champion of the world Wireless Ireland heckler congratulations to uh Marvin Hagler who wins by a unanimous decision but it was close by Point margins of two one and one you have a problem with your left eye tell me how that developed well that's probably for my old Stitch I slipped and fell in the bathroom in my home what was this that was uh before about two two fights before that's just the whole cut there I felt very good I just couldn't get off with the speed the way I wanted I would have knocked this guy out but I needed to work I was in good shape so uh I figured as long as I keep the jab I couldn't get it going the way I really wanted to because he's a little quicker but uh next time I fight around I'll knock him out he made for me you know but then afterwards you don't have to knock about my trainer said just beat him you're beating them just beat them the first two rounds that came back to size three the question does linger though why didn't you knock him out well you know like I said even though the man is three-time world champion you got to give me a little credit there too you know nobody's ever knocked you right now so you really don't go for it but uh next time I had him go in there I think in the last round but uh a little bit more I know what I have to do next time in terms strength how did you feel against him oh I felt very strong uh you know I didn't you know real loser you know he wasn't getting I just beat me to the punch a couple times but uh he wouldn't come at me the way how we planned so I had to change up that's what a mark of a good fighter that you can still change up in the inside a lot of Fighters came and uh they're throwing off stride you were very effective as a right righty against him yeah it was very effective so that's why I went that way uh he kept ducking under the uh the right jab so uh he's duck under to my left hook my right hand had left uppercut half hook so that's what was effective for him so I kept using it he caught you a lot with the right hands did he ever rock you no I never was hurt in the fight uh the last round I think the puff in the eye just started to you know puff up I want to get to him before he closed anything but uh you know he could knock me out anything you know I told him he's gonna hit me with that rainbow I just want to thank everybody who has helped me to to make it all the way to this day you know the uh Peter Phillips the Rick valentis even the Spectrum guys uh uh Russell post and I'd like to thank my mom let my my kids and my my wife for all the support and these two guys a happy birthday present for goody and Pat petronella I turn on your corner about that Nick on your left eye about the swelling you came out on the 15 and you were awesome as if to say I'm not going to take any chances you must out punch them four to five till I had to I had to come out like that to make it successful I don't like being here you know I don't want to leave it into the judge's hands and uh so even though I had to put everything together I just had to keep them tired and keep pumping them okay Marvin there's lots of fans out there look at these Point totals and they see that you won by two points by one point and by one point will you give Duran another shot sure well you know if the money's right and everything sure you know enjoy the big attraction next time I put him out though he won't go 15. congratulations on your eighth defense you are a standard of Excellence at 160 pounds don't nobody say I can't go 15 anymore all right all right Marvelous Marvin Hagler congratulations to the petronellis as well after the close call with Duran height began for a super fight with Thomas Hearns hegler stopped the hard-hitting Juan Rodan in March of 1984. he suffered his first official knockdown in the bout but most viewers wrote it off as a slip meanwhile Hearns shocked the boxing World by knocking out Roberto Duran in two rounds Sugar Ray Leonard also teased return I've been hearing that for three years Hagler said Leonard made good on his comeback coming to hagler's gym to train for his return fight against Kevin Howard Leonard's plan was to sell two fights at once the bout with Howard which would be followed by a super fight with Hagler but Leonard looked shaky against Howard getting floored and later reneging on his plans to step in the ring with Hagler frustrated Hagler took out his anger on Mustafa hamsho stopping the normally durable Challenger in three rounds with Leonard now out of the running the stage was set for a super fight against Thomas Hearns the Hearns is best defense is his offense because that's the only way the high he knows how to fight uh in my way I had to make my defense my best offense so and though that I have both ways because once I get him in trouble I can change it around Thomas don't have that ability I'm here to show the world that I have the ability to punch and power to get in and knock out Miller ways divisions I have that power I have my mind focus on one thing and that's to destroy him that is to knock him out if I have the opportunity if it's there I'm going to take it I think that this fight here will put me in the position for her to make greatness and uh be put me one step closer to Greatness and wishes to win the four titles that's what I feel War that's what's on my mind I don't see the fight going turn around I've been feeding the faith and I've been starving the dog so there's no doubt in my mind that I can't win this fight or that I won't knock Thomas Hearns out all right Pat let's go so the two come to Midway with Richard Steele instructions in a dress room I'm just cautioning You Now obey my command at all times Shake hand good luck to both for you let's go very simple instructions and finally it's Hagler against Hearns the cameras don't have to go eloquent Simplicity by Richard's field let's go he knows they know [Applause] staring at each other through the national anthem to stare down of course so customary before these fights and here we go round one Hagler right off the bat attempting to get inside he'd love to be able to pin Hearns on the ropes if he can a more aggressive start by Hagler look at him right for the body Marvin Hagler only wants the body and he bangs Marvin oh the right hand hits him with an uppercut Hagler he's on his heart Hagler his son Hearns got inside hit him with a right uppercut Marvin ties him up Marvin Hagler is still hurt so is Hagler coming out like a ball with a good left by Hagler but hers didn't Flinch Marvin going for the body wild first round wow what a shock and it was Hadler who initiated it not Thomas hurts comes back another right that one's done hers [Applause] left eye again Tommy trying to come inside the hands low blow by Hearns pegler's still looking for the body right by Hagler good right got in he has Hearns where he'd love to keep him on the robes but Tommy comes off easily another good right by Hearns Haggler is now shaking those right hands off though Al he was stung a little early and he's normally a slow starter he's also bleeding Hagler is cut Hagler is cut Bridge of the nose banging the body well he is taking shots he blocks that right Hearns tries to the middle of the uppercut and Hagler ties him up with a minute to go in a wild first round [Applause] Ed with a good left hand there's blood all over Marvin hagler's face can't tell where it's coming from I thought it started from the bridge of the nose originally the blood all over the face of that are hearing round one Handler has him on the road Hackler working on him Hagler Relentless but hers trying to box his way out half a minute to go in round one how far can this one go that's very far at this pace this is where Hagler wants him but Hearns Connor punching off those ropes fairly effectively tremendous first round Hagler heading into the roll working on him but hearn's uppercutting again Hagler bloody a tremendous motivational first round as Hearns gets hurt Hearns got stunned Hackman was stunned early in the round great first round incredible perhaps one of the best in middleweight history well the first round lived up to all the Heights and then from round two now oh the club Left Hand by Hagler they said this fight would be determined on heart and the good Shin right now that's exactly what it's being determined on both men have been hurt you can throw that you can throw this strategy out the window right now they are yelling keep boxing commie from his corner and that is looks like what he's going to try and do in this fight Burns off balance off balances excuse me Al Hagler turns righty I think this could be a key moment in this fight for the first time switching gets in with a left hand this round sort of the way people anticipated the first round yeah another right hand stun turns the crowd of course emphatic over every punch that's thrown [Applause] angler despite that least disadvantages has been able to get into Hearns more solo I don't think most people expect it for one simple reason good left hook by Hagler he took the best Hearns could offer and he did come in he's getting through that right hand even though he's getting hit with it halfway through round two hecklers fought most of this round as a righty now he switches Southpaw and lands not as effective as a right as I thought but now it's a southbound the jab lands well and right Jab that's a good height of fluid and moving trying to get inside again the cut opens up over hagglers for it and the blood begins to trickle down working inside now up top half a minute to go in round two off 111 training with him Hangar comes back to the right or left and another right he has Hearns in trouble in the ropes Tommy trying to punch his way off the ropes Hagler wants to keep him there goes to the body Hagler throws low blows Marvin Hagler wants to turn this into an alley war and he's done another low blow Richard Steele may take points away soon but will it matter but very much Unbound end of round two again Stewart telling Hearns the box as you say though Hagler turning it into a street fight well he turns righty he wants it to be a street fight listen Marvin Hagler has been rough inside he's throwing some low blows he has thrown some elbows of course don't push but you know what now the right is getting there but it's not hurting Hagler we've got our answer I think to some extent Tommy has been has been hard-pressed to hurt him with that right stunned him early but not in the last round of two very early Adam's son has him cut but it was Hagler doing the damage in round two and now just as we thought might happen Tommy Hearns was Hurley so he is boxing now he has good boxing skills he did this against Sugar Ray can Hagler get to him in this posture some people thought as he again becomes off balance some thought that if if Hearne stayed outside and stayed on his bicycle will become a dull fight with Marvin chasing him but Marvin has been able to Corner him and when Marvin gets him in the corner he is roughhousing him well again Handler is all bloodied time is called by Richard Steele to send Hagler over to the ring doctor he's calling the ring doctor inside where to go the last thing in the world Hagler wants is the fight to be stopped the doctor looks at it that comes packley with a wild left hand it has to be impeding with the right eye yeah tremendous right Hearns appears rubbery he agreed that way in the second round you know Richard Steele is breaking these Fighters very quickly that's uncharacteristic of him it's hurting Hagler because he wants to work inside [Applause] Kearns is smiling but he's taking shots another right hand heard turns his back Patron on the right earns in deep trouble again turns this down in the third round and on his back and he's not going to beat the count I don't believe Tommy Hearns tries to get up and he they've got to stop this fight does he get up he can't continue it's Hagler full of blood blood no doubt impeding his vision stopping under the third round after Hearns almost ended it on a first round knockout it didn't go very far but it was a beauty and Tommy Hearns predicted a knockout in the third instead it is Marvin Hagler and we certainly hope Tommy Hearns will be all right he is still wobbly what a shot instead of Hearns initiating wild early action it is this man who believed me has gained any Redemption he needed from the loss to Roberto Duran [Applause] we're happy to see that Tommy's all right and a lot of congratulations moving around and a lot of water as well Marvin you Marvin you took the action to Tommy right away you went right for his body he looked like he stunned you momentarily with the right and the first did that right hurt you just made me madder okay I told you I was going to eat them up like Pac-Man I figured once I get through the right hand then it was all mine you know because I think the first big on what you tried yeah try to put me away out there and I think that's when I got the cut there but I wanted to show the world I am the greatest now well you are the greatest middleweight there's no doubt about that you went right for the body was that your plan immediately the way we planned I want to thank all my spawn Partners especially I want to thank God for giving me the strength and the courage and uh and and the confidence to go in here and to know that I I was the one I was the champion but I had to fight like a challenger that fight I think took tremendous courage on your part for this reason you walked right in against the cannon you're willing to take the right hand to knock him out you got it I figure I had to take punches out to get some but I told you he was going to get some to him this was in some ways not like the Marvin Hagler we've often seen not the ring technician you were like you bombed that's it that's what I felt I felt as though when every one of my fights I've been fighting I improved and I put it all together in this fight the petronelli's here I guess you've got to be just thrilled with this it probably your biggest moment the greatest there's this guy does he now that we take care of the the you know the Wise Guys the hurt man to hit man I want to say uh to all the people out there who spent that money I hope that you got your money's worth because Tommy's a hell of a fighter and I think I put all my all out here but uh the better man won tonight you have talked about going after monzone's record um is it still on your mind and I guess this just fuels you getting that record might put you in that class of the greatest middleweight definitely uh I'm still at the monzon's record but I don't think that I'll have a a big uh media hype as I did with this one so I'm going to continue this is one of my toughest fights Marvin congratulations thank you hegler had his sights on breaking Carlos monzon's record of 14 middleweight title defenses he was scheduled to make his 12th defense against John the Beast Mugabe a feared knockout artist but the fight was postponed after hegler's sparring partner Zach Hewitt head-butted him breaking his nose the fight was rescheduled but another sparring partner Bobby Patterson knocked Hagler down as barring a combination of a left hook high on the head and hagler's poor balance good work Heckler said from the canvas as he got up and knocked Patterson's headgear off later in the round but reporters saw the knockdown as signs of Hagler slipping [Applause] and he's fighting on the dark style it's a surprise right off the bat [Music] feel the tension in the crowd High anticipation watch Marvelous Marvin Hagler in the dangerous puncher John Mugabe that takes that participate him because I know he's more comfortable as a sales book under a minute ago what you're thinking about that the fact that we mentioned earlier that he has been very effective fighting Orthodox in recent fights what is it have to do with this particular matchup against Mugabe well I I think that they really thought they could follow him with God be up because he's been working against South Wars all along and all of a sudden he gets out and hag was another southbourne Agave so far has shown good discipline in points yes he has [Applause] wild swinging right by Hagler Miss and he paid for it with punches back to the body an overhand right landed on the Dome of haggard Tim haglin's feeling those punches believe me final seconds of round one solid left by Mugabe pops Hagler coming in the front fence is on and Mugabe is not getting the worst of it at the moment he is not he has not backed up a step and he looks very relaxed and this is a walk agler knows he's in a fight solid Jabs by Handler in the gym the coffee looked awkward he looked off balanced I haven't seen it in the fight as yet Jim a minute to go round two scheduled for 12. a left lands from the gummy and a right every punch is a bomb the right that time picked off by hanger but he had his own glove knocked into his face to the right hand four left hook before attended I don't think Marvelous Marvin has seen anything like this what combination that time of the champion look at the steam coming off Marvin hagler's head under the 32nd Mark we go it is still cool here in Las Vegas [Applause] and left of the year of the champion from Mugabe a good right hand to the party he's allowing Mugabe to get set in which is not a good idea now we move we'll try to surprise him with that left hook [Applause] right hand by mogaby damn it didn't land it was blocked but it's still not Marvin back about five feet hands up and that power just glued him back and Marvin landed a good right hook Hagler working the body with two shots he has Hagler backing up Tim [Applause] under a minute to go in round number three the 31 year old Champion some people wondering about his age but he always trains so superbly never out of shape never been a factor for him again that left hand of Bagless is a little wide not throwing that straight thought down the middle and again when he can slide to his right Tim that's when he's affected who's that right jib stay away from those campus they should tell Mugabe in this corner to move to his left he's making he's making Agave beach now two solid white Jabs by Hagler sliding to the right from Jeremy now it's up to Montgomery to move the other way [Applause] coming to the end of round number three okay [Applause] good combination by hanger piston like Jack missed with a big left hook then that could have ended up yeah solid jab Agave not leading Harris Hagler just keeps the Pace on under a minute to go round four that was mugabe's feet got tangled him he was able to hit with a couple of counter punches angler blocking effectively all right has shown he can take a punch how many is the question he throws punches from on all the dog's angles he's always dangerous under the 30-second Mark we go round number four scheduled for 12. that's that punch I thought he was setting up for he landed and landed he landed it and Hagler keeps coming forward humping that jab there's a right counter back from Mugabe foreign [Applause] Agave comes up quickly this round and that gets Marvin's attention I think it was the blue trunks that came out quickly Tim and the five or six good solid punches [Applause] round five scheduled for 12. as that quick left hook of mugabe's but again hagler's moving towards right taking a lot of that power away Tommy you mentioned that Marvin's gonna get that left-hand through there but so far since the fight stopped I've noticed that he's been throwing his left hand very wide that's about the straightest funny quilt well what Hagler and his daughter is looping he's looping his left hand he's not shooting Australia Pan the first left hand I'll see you are looking after tonight just a minute ago a test of physical strength now and had to have a good combination and he can't move that move I'll be back I got him what punishment this mugabi steak and then he's still there foreign [Applause] lead by Hagler keeping the pressure on it he cuddle left counter another left counter from Mugabe and Heather won't move back a test of Wills finally will probably driven back to the ropes two consecutive right hands finally the legs of the Bevy starting to show a little where Heather keeps the pressure on the months of preparation the conditioning Hagler showing here as he fires one punch after another still on his feet Jim we talk about a guy with an iron Shin Mugabe has it worth it uppercut from Hagler better not punch himself out better not punch himself out some tough customer takes another shot with some good shots still Tim finally they clench along the ropes first time Agave attempted to grab hanger and Mugabe fires back he lands a laptop Agave is tie-in now what a round style well now he's not Myron is what he does he keeps switching up and uh he's trying to confuse Mugabe Mugabe and he's fighting one minute as left-handed switch up and go right hand and I think that's kind of thought him up that's why uh Mugabe is standing back in them crops in that stand pagla seems to be much better off in this fight oh a good straight left by Hagler and a right hook there they go again Toe to Toe round seven left from Hadley combination from the champion foreign [Applause] Hagler having his way with the right Jab I's hands a little lower As Time wears on Uganda unbeaten in 26 fights Hagler was very confident now Tim he's smiling at Mugabe [Applause] well Mickey dub said win or lose he said Mugabe would come out a much more popular fighter no doubt about that this young man can fight and he has an attraction he is strong and there's a solid right hand for Mugabe and Hagler didn't blink well Hagler again had switched to the Orthodox style I think he had better stay Southport than he's doing a good job with that right Jim why should he switch off yeah I agree with you today I think Hagler his best work is on with the softball position he's getting uh but got me all the work that he possibly can stand in the left hand position Tommy you landed some real good shots in your fight against Marvin Hagler it must be a little frustrating to not see him respond react that's what's happening to Mugabe [Music] is still putting up a good fight he's still trying he haven't quit yet round nine scheduled for 12. and there's a right hand from the Challenger mcgavi that scored [Applause] Nation from Bugatti [Applause] Some solid punches right hands right down the pipe [Applause] there it is again we gotta bring something behind it left with that right hand he just can't shoot that right hand and inspect the right hand to do a damage this time we shoot that right hand Marvin Hagman is countable over the shot I mean he doesn't have the balance he can't come back with the left hook well that's something you got to learn and training a time to get towards it what he's doing seems like big left hook by hacking right why shots [Applause] chopping uppercut from Hagler you know Hammer doesn't get the credit for being as good an inside fighter as he is and he's showing us why right now hanger pressuring Mugabe but gobby landed some terrific shots to him he has to be discouraged because Marvin did not take a backward step he's backing up Mugabe finally well Hagler is concentrating on back and we're gonna put the pressure on and seemed like Mugabe has fallen apart he don't like it downstairs he's trying to keep his hands down the low to try to block those but all he done is set himself up because some good shots to the Head short chopping punches by Handler who just pulls his way forward and keeps firing well that seems to be the ticket inside for haglin and mugabe's punches seem to be lacking a lot of snap now Tim finally in the 10th round the pace of the assault from the champion starting to show on Bugatti Obama didn't like that body shot I was a good of that book to the body under the 32nd Mark in round 10. the lake starting the show a little sagging under Mugabe he's tired now Tim but he still throws bombs and around 10. certainly got lots of encouragement the Mickey duck George Francis and even father Tony now Tim they made father Tony the lead they said if you want to listen to me listen to the father [Applause] I think it's just a matter of Mugabe being tired he's never been to the 11th round ever in his life and he's never taken this kind of punishment at all well he's really tired now well that's the key the key is the punishment that's why he's tired [Applause] uppercut inside by the Challenger Tim as I said earlier he'll be dangerous while he's falling down and Marvin is doing good job on him now Tim just taking apart with short little punches brings two over the top just for good measure and he's got him here he's got him finally goes down and the 11th round he's more dead tired than anything else and it's all over he's just exhausted from the continual assault Marvelous Marvin hegler retains his Undisputed middleweight championship of the world with an 11th round knockout over a game an exciting Challenge from John Mugabe thanks for Tommy Hearns for joining us at ringside 129 of the 11th round Marvelous Marvin hegler racks up his 12th consecutive title defense pushes his record up to 62 victories against just two losses and two drops 52 Knockouts the Mugabe fight was described as a showreel of suffering pain and endurance Hagler struggled with thoughts of retirement as his wife was unhappy with their long separations talks of a rematch with Hearns went nowhere the sanctioning bodies resumed their Shenanigans as the WBA stripped Hagler of his title for failing to face their number one Contender Harold Graham but over a year after his bout against Mugabe Hagler was enticed back into the ring by a comeback in Sugar Ray Leonard and 12 million dollars I've been waiting I tell you for a long time and like I said I think that this is my time this is my ERA this is my day for me to shine doing something I always felt I could do it's no surprise to me sounds a little cocky doesn't it but that's me I mean I feel that good I feel that confident about my progress and about my conditioning I'm going to stop them I don't know which round is going to be in I'm going to stop him he won't out strength me I mean again people say well Ray you know you're a little guy I'm 30 years old I'm an old not old but I'm a much older guy so I carry my way fine you better sit there and get your popcorn early I told you your beers and whatever and sit tight because this fight don't necessarily have to go 12 rounds [Applause] [Music] [Laughter] to win the first round and gain marvelous marvelous respect let's see if he can do it and here we go need I say Leonard and white and Hagler in blue and Hagler is not boxing as a South Pole I just don't like that at all why he does it I'm living off [Applause] part of the closed door strategy this week in the part of Hagler May well have ended work on this coming out at the beginning of the fight opposite his normal win Sugar Ray Leonard throws the first punch of the fight thank you [Music] for clicking with an open Club by the way speaking of the gloves they are the tabbed variety with the thumbs attached to the body of the gloves punched by Hagler clean Miss Nice combination by Leonard and hagler's talking Tony and smiling at him Edgar said he expected to get hit he just wasn't too concerned about it I'll take anything you can throw a content to cut off the ring and goodbye man now Lynn is boxing South Pole could do a psych job on Marvelous Marvin and now hackless boxing Southport another 30-second Market Round Two good counter punch by Leonard as a lunging Miss by Hagler Hager now Bulls up for the first time in the fight and Leonard punched his way out of that place another combination by Leonard final seconds of round two another Miss by hegler and Leonard Needham pay again at the end of round two times okay okay [Music] oh and Hagler out punched them in that Exchange it's warning to the body it's wide open Tim [Applause] you agreed having Leonard continues to put a lot of miles on those new sneakers good combination by Lena 10 right hand left hook the pressure on a bang rubbermint we tried to tie up like you have to do understand [Applause] [Music] all right yeah a couple that attempting to build a deep second of the fight kicks away punches we've got to land him Leonard that brought the crowd alive many of them to their feet it's a great performance by Sugar Ray Leonard so far Tim great performance under 30 seconds in round four well [Applause] good combination again Leonard timing things perfectly I don't know why hackers laughing Tim the rounds are going in the bank land of the left there Leonard walking away contemptuously shook his head and it didn't hurt [Applause] at the end of round number four and words from hegler he's not happy at all with a showboating a Leonard but he's going to have to find a way to do something about it maybe crap all right okay okay you're welcome okay man okay [Applause] [Music] round number five three limited push him away [Applause] I would say that this is almost a critical round for hanging he's got to make something happen good right hand by Leonard and we're trying to pull him into the corner but Leonard will not go [Applause] right hand uppercut lead in Atlanta by Leonard [Applause] he has lemon on the ropes can't hit him when he's on the Rope so in the corners [Applause] he just missed that combination however didn't miss that one Leonard tried to make him pay but Hager got himself in a defensive position Ray told me that in the Mugabe fight Hagler turned completely around when he missed but magami didn't make him pay he said I'm going to make him pay you see how he jumped on him in yeah hagler's back to Orthodox he just doesn't know what to do I was starting to get arrange a little bit now though [Applause] the conditioning of these two athletes is extraordinary solid right by Hagler he's starting to get the range then they could just say it that one forced Leonard to grab it no question Gil thank you Leonard stops on the ropes for the first time in the fights and here comes a good body points Harry's punching back but Hagler Tim these doesn't belong in there into the round Tim I think this is a key round has to be a key round if Hagler can win this round he's right back in the fight but if Ray wins it it's going to be a long way uphill from home well I felt that Heckler had to make something happen in the fifth round having given the first four to Leonard and he did we scored the last one for Hagler and so did Angelo Dundee you can hear that in the corners good combinations there by Hagler counter punching well better timing trying to cut off the ring is he missing oh and Ray is doing nothing to make him Miss he's just missing Inside by Ray Edgar looking a little arm weary as Ray is right there to be hips and Leonard punches back with his Outlook shop at all Tim let her mess with an overhand right 30 seconds to go down number six Marvelous Marvin Hager looks very very slow chopping right Handler Leonard was counting on the slowness of Hagler he said he lost a lot of Speed final seconds of the sixth round even when Leonard misses but he landed a couple of good solid punches in that Exchange clubs [Music] [Applause] as he did there and he smiles and laughs and Leonard who gives him a brim back oh there we go to Muhammad Ali and a nice combination working on the mind of Hagler The Hanger just keeps plotting ahead like style those in a solid punches those are the solid punches he hasn't been a little trouble man banging in the body uppercut scored at the Bell they don't hear the Bell foreign [Applause] middleweight Championship bounce that has more than lived up to its killing no matter what the outcome now good solid right Chair by Hagler Tim that's almost like a straight right hand when he hits you with it as you pointed out in the first couple of rounds the time out here for something some tape loose on the right glove of Sugar Ray Leonard really trying to load up a nail hacker now guys getting over coffee [Applause] they tried it and he took the left and pushed him back there's those body shots again look how much loving marvelous but he doesn't get disposed he misses he punches again Leonard standing there willing to trade now that's a mistake that is a mistake [Applause] short chopping punches inside scored by Hagler Hagler is breathing very deep now too Tim he's gasping for quit not a one-sided thing here another punch after the Bell by Lennon go ahead okay that's the way you get that the way you got to fight this guy exactly what you're doing yeah you can get a rough him up and they take a few shots all right we took a point how do you feel man I'm gonna brawl this guy keep the pressure on him taking his legs away from him right now and to get him against over again uppercuts are very good this is 10. flashy combinations with only one of the punches landed I was able to escape however the footwork continues to be a highway was just so slow getting whooped when he has lemon on the road let that left hand to the body go right away that was the last punch in the fight Anglers [Applause] all right angler backing up Leonard into the Leonard Corner court right uppercut he's nailing him out him right to the chin that's where he has to put that left hand turn it into difficult he hasn't thrown a punch out of this corner now he does let him bang his way out look at that determination over at Leonard you talk about a champion absolutely gritted his teeth look at him go again in the middle of the ring and Hagler stays there and punches back a right by Leonard what a display Tim do we talk about a champion but he's got that Solid Rock to move and Hagler just keeps methodically moving forward under a minute to go round nine most of the crowd here on its feet trading over there on the far side again Hagler gets the best of it but Leonard just keeps firing [Applause] Tim really trying what a displays Leonard holding on and Hangers tries to be tricky nothing's going to help him though Tim not when he's tired of the way he saw it now angler trying to find openings not throwing enough punches well we said they were gonna have to fight and they're fighting they're both exhausted from this round that's the end of this ninth round an incredible round 52 knockouts on hagler's record at 62 victory sure he didn't expect to see Leonard still here on the 10th round knowing it will be a tough fight Richard Steele continues to one Ray Lennon for holding Tim so after a few warnings you have to do something about it beside warning I don't think we're going to see a point taken away from Peter at least better Hagler was just so slow getting off unbelievable I don't understand why he doesn't fly that left-hand for the bodies wild Miss on it tricks play by Leonard and he paid for it this Hagler tank of it they're both dead tie it now little Hagler is dead to attendance foreign [Applause] foreign [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] let's go eggler moving his hands without a lot of authority but scoring some punches the showboat again from Leonard oh we have to call him the Miracle Man after this time anybody gonna have to lay you off do what he's doing tonight he's a miracle man never been done in boxing history never whether he wins or loses and right now he's winning in my opinion eggler went missing wide open Target as Leonard just lean back away from the punches [Applause] thank you beautiful move by length him he has he has a team [Applause] I can't let that left hand goes in that's he should be throwing that left hand down the pipe just did it wins but that's what he should be doing all along [Applause] Leonard has played with hagler's mind throughout the fight and by being fresh enough here in this 11th round as he looks to his corner at the end of the round [Music] three minutes [Applause] new channel we need it back [Applause] don't stop until he's down they beckon each other out does Hagler feel that it all comes down to this three minutes well you know goodie petronelli in a corner he was talking like it's about a 15 round fight where you started to get him going I mean I would have been a little more emotional if I was in the floor [Applause] well we've done this close to an Irish four card with with Leonard slightly ahead I think Hagler has to realize that the cinnamon is just gonna have to be with Leonard that he's got a feel he's got to knock him out to retain his title but that's not what they tell him in a corner to him they're talking to him like it's a an IBM meeting or something no emotion oh good straight left hand by Hagler and look at Leonard just able to pick up the punches move his head and Escape most of them and hey Leonard flurries against Hagler and now escaped from the corner Ray Leonard is having fun in there right now what a story he's looking at the corner I don't know why [Applause] some Shuffle back from Ray look at Ray Leonard what a cocky kid LS 30 year old cocky kid perhaps fainting weariness if he has a few times earlier in about but also showing that psychologically and physically now he's in control [Applause] gonna be interesting scoring Tim you know you like the plotting guy or they like the Flash Leonard is he on the Rope there'll be no knockout no knockout [Applause] oh my God [Applause] we have a split decision [Applause] Filippo scores the belts 115 Marvin Hagler 113 Ray Leonard JoJo Guerra scores about 118 Leonard 110 haglin [Applause] and kept staying for any scores 115 113. by the winner by a split decision and new now ready for Ray Marvin Marvin I know you're incredibly disappointed what what's your feeling about the decision I beat him and he knows that everybody know I knew it was too close I told you about Vegas no way about it you know Marvin he also said that he had known your right hands you hope it wouldn't go this far well you know I figured I was beating him good you know oh geez now how about the first two rounds Gil and I thought that you really gave away the first couple of rounds by boxing in the Orthodox time I stayed aggressive I took everything he had I've made him fight come on I took the I won the fight well I know you're tremendously disappointed but it was a tremendous show Marvin this was more than anybody ever expected in terms of a great championship fight will you come back will there be more for you Marvin will you consider another fight with this one being so close I don't think I have to talk about it I have to think about it all right Marvin Hagler Hagler went into isolation after the loss his wife Bertha contended that Hagler had lapsed into a self-destructive binge of alcohol and drugs an allegation that forced Hagler to come out of his exile to publicly deny Hagler begged for a rematch with Leonard but after a year of waiting decided to cease all communication it's important to know when it's the end Hagler said I don't go back to the gyms I don't want to smell that smell and get that Feeling Again boxing was always my love but that love is over Hagler moved on with his life making movies in the Philippines in Italy spurning offers of over 15 million to return to the ring he went through a divorce and later the Boston Globe ran a column on his 1991 conviction of assaulting a girlfriend Hagler then moved to Italy and made a new life for himself in the movie industry it was a very smart move the way it turned out Hagler said I just thought it was time to get up and go and change the things in my life these changes allowed Hagler to avoid the mistake so many other Fighters make by returning to the sport with fading skills instead he made movies commercials and traveled to South Africa to visit Nelson Mandela with his new bride K on September 10 2011 Pat petronelli died of a stroke at the age of 89. four months later brother goody died at the age of 88. his family said that he died of a broken heart as both his wife and brother died back to back goody closed the boxing gym three weeks prior to his death the brothers had once described their friendship with Hagler as a triangle of friendship the strongest geometric figure when Hagler had returned from a trip to Africa he gave both of the brothers a steel wired bracelet with five Loops made with hair from an elephant's tail it symbolized Eternal friendship Marvin put it on us and said friends forever goody said on March 15 2021 Hagler passed away peacefully at his home he was 66 years old Marvelous Marvin Hagler and the petronelli brothers embodied the characteristics of the American dream they remained loyal hard-working and determined without any guarantees that it would pay off in the end Hagler became not only one of the greatest middleweights of all time but one of the greatest sports Heroes of the modern era while I never wanted to be an American hero or anything like that Hagler said I wanted to be a champion and that's what I am and that's what I'll be [Music] foreign [Music]

Channel: Rich the Fight Historian

Views: 479,568

Keywords: boxing, marvelous marvin hagler, bobby boogaloo watts, willie the worm monroe, sugar ray leonard, john the beast mugabi, thomas hearns, thomas hitman hearns, juan roldan, mustafa hamsho, roberto duran, hands of stone, tony sibson, alan minter, vito antuofermo, fulgencio obelmejias, doug demmings, bennie briscoe, kevin finnegan, sugar ray seales, middleweight championship, controversy, brockton, Massachusetts, rocky marciano, goody petronelli, pat petronelli, loucif hamani

Id: byFu7YKiCA4

Length: 113min 6sec (6786 seconds)

Published: Tue Jul 18 2023