Again in 1987, Sugar Ray Leonard and Marvelous Marvin Hagler threw down in a highly-anticipated middleweight title combat in Las Vegas, a wonderful spectacle that captured the eye of the whole sports activities world. The end result, which noticed the challenger and large underdog prevail by twelve spherical break up choice, remains to be hotly debated to at the present time. The match modified the course of each fighters’ careers, as Hagler, sure he had been robbed and sick of by no means getting the respect he deserved, hung up his gloves for good. Leonard, who had first retired again in 1982, would go on to extra large fights and win world titles in each the tremendous middleweight and lightweight heavyweight divisions.
However what if I informed you that the colossal superfight of 1987 between these two superstars might have, and will have, taken place at a a lot earlier date? As unimaginable because the occasion was, let’s be sincere: the precise combat 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 have been nonetheless formidable, neither was anyplace near being at their finest going into that legacy-defining conflict.
In actual fact, in 1987 there have been much more questions relating to these two fighters than there have been superlatives. Whereas Hagler was simply 32 and hadn’t misplaced a combat in eleven years, some puzzled if his expertise have been eroding, a truth seemingly borne out by his grueling battle with John Mugabi in 1986. All of the robust 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 most important 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 bought his paws on the middleweight belt, there was a robust consensus that Hagler was one of the best fighter within the division, the uncrowned king. After being blatantly robbed in his first world title alternative towards Vito Antuofermo in 1979, Hagler lastly captured the undisputed middleweight title in 1980 from Alan Minter in an authoritative show. From there on, Hagler used his menacing and bruising fashion 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 massive payday he so justly warranted. The apparent selection was the person who was the sport’s largest attraction, Sugar Ray Leonard.
Considered the famous person 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 right time for a Hagler vs Leonard superfight. Each have been established sights, exuding main crossover attraction, and each have been smack dab in the midst of their primes, to not point out the 2 main faces of the game. If there was ever a time when Hagler vs Leonard ought to have occurred, it was then. And each males knew it. All the time the one to placed on a present, Leonard held a black-tie gala on November 9, 1982 on the Baltimore Civic Heart the place 1000’s attended, together with Hagler, who had come anticipating to listen to his soon-to-be antagonist announce that Sugar Ray vs Marvelous Marvin was on. As an alternative, Leonard addressed the gang and on the finish declared, “A combat with this nice man, with this nice champion, could be one of many biggest fights in historical past. Sadly, it’ll by no means occur.”
A bewildered Hagler was greater than a bit pissed off for being led on and he left Baltimore nonetheless looking for that main combat that may exhibit how nice he was, whereas Leonard, attributable to a indifferent retina harm, retired. What a disgrace. However what would have occurred if Leonard had made the other 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 degree of hype. Extra to the purpose, it could have resulted in a significantly better combat. Simply think about what might need unfolded in a conflict between Sugar Ray and Marvelous Marvin when each have been close to their respective peaks. I get giddy simply fascinated about it.
You’ve got 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 mandatory. As well as, Ray was a consummate performer, a boxer who liked to place a present on for the followers. And within the reverse nook is Marvelous Marvin, the larger man and the southpaw and swap hitter, with energy in both hand, a lethal jab, heavy physique assault, a granite chin and unimaginable conditioning. How would a battle between Sugar Ray and Marvelous Marvin have unfolded in 1983? We’ll by no means know, however right here’s my take.
To start with, this match is scheduled for fifteen rounds, not twelve, and is for the undisputed middleweight championship, with no catchweights and all of Hagler’s belts on the road. I envision Ray using the identical primary strategy 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 point, it was adapting to foes with pace and agility, who used the ring and saved their distance from his energy. Given Leonard’s talent and astonishing pace, I see Ray sticking and shifting and giving Hagler some main issues.
However that mentioned, I additionally suppose peak Hagler could 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 sooner tempo and urgent Leonard, taking some fast counters within the course of but additionally catching Ray with well timed hooks and heavy straight lefts. I don’t see any knockdowns, nor both man’s stamina waning, although I can see Hagler’s physique punching and inside combating sapping some power 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 measurement and power are telling.
At any time when you will have a matchup between an excellent, pure middleweight of their prime going up towards an excellent, pure welterweight of their prime, with each being nearly equal skill-wise, the benefit typically swings within the course of the larger man. With each combating at their highest degree, and with the momentum shifting all through, I’ve to select Hagler to do exactly sufficient to prevail over Leonard in a 15 spherical traditional.
And for those who suppose the 1987 combat was one thing, I’ve little question the 1983 battle would have wiped the ground with it. In my humble opinion, a 1983 Sugar Ray Leonard vs Marvelous Marvin Hagler superfight is the all-time biggest “What If” match-up in boxing historical past, topping all the opposite superb clashes that combat 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 are able to do is dream about what might need been. However what a dream it’s. — James Simpson II
