23 years later the Hagler/Leonard debate still rages

On April 6th 1987 middleweight champion of the world Marvin Hagler took on Sugar Ray Leonard in Las Vegas. Coming into the fight the favourite having gone on a 11 year undefeated streak, many thought Marvin Hagler would blow Sugar Ray Leonard away. Leonard was smaller than Hagler, hadn’t fought in 3 years and had fought once in the previous 5 years.

There was no love lost between Hagler and Leonard, Hagler had been waiting for this fight for a long time and saw it as his opportunity to finally cross over into the big time. Although he finally made the cross over without Leonard he resented Leonard for denying him the chance.

Of 50 people polled, only 4 chose Leonard as the winner but by the end of the fight they as well as the rest of the world were forced to eat humble pie as Leonard picked up a split decision win and Hagler’s middleweight crown.

Everyone has an opinion on the fight, I personally think Hagler won while many others pick Leonard but this is testament to how close the fight actually was.

Early in the fight it was obvious what Leonard’s tactics were as he looked to stick and move and not get caught in a fire fight with the bigger, stronger Hagler. His trainer Angelo Dundee could be heard shouting stick and move and he made Hagler, who was fighting in the orthodox stance, miss as he did so. When Hagler was able to get close to the slick Leonard, he would tie his man up. It looked like Leonard was trying to frustrate Hagler like he did Duran but Hagler was mentally stronger and in the 3rd he switched back to southpaw and began to find more joy landing punches especially to the body.

In the fifth round Hagler really did damage as he caught Leonard with a left hand and then an uppercut when Leonard tried to clinch. Backing him up onto the ropes, Hagler had finally dragged him into the war that his cap in the run up to the fight promised it would be. Hagler was finally able to catch up with Leonard as he continued attacking Leonard’s body and thus continued slowing him down.

If these previous rounds were the best for Hagler then the 9th was the best in the fight so far as he again backed him up onto the ropes, sat on Leonard’s chest and whipped vicious punches to Leonard’s body and head but Leonard was not out of the fight and he fired back furious flurries.

Like early in the fight Leonard seemed content with avoiding Hagler then stealing rounds with eye catching flurries. Coming into the 12th his corner seemed to think he had the fight in the bag whilst in Hagler’s corner they urged their man to take the last round in style and that’s what he set out to do.

He stalked Leonard throwing hard, meaningful blows but Leonard continued to avoid Hagler and even taunted the champion by raising his hands in victory.

Scores of 118-110 (Leonard), 115 – 113 (Hagler) and 115 – 113(Leonard) saw Hagler defeated for the first time in 37 bouts and so incensed was Hagler that he never fought again.

As I said, an argument could be made for either man as the winner, Leonard threw the eye catching flurries and looked busier in some rounds whilst Hagler threw the harder punches and pressed the fight with his aggression. As the fight was so close, I or anybody that has seen the fight can not agree with the 118 – 110 scorecard in Leonard’s favour. Speaking after, Hagler said, if there is any doubt then the champion should get the benefit and I agree. The fight was so close that you can not say either man won it clearly.

It is a debate that will continue to rage in the sport like the Ali’s ‘phantom punch’ or the long count in the Tyson/Douglas fight. But what is clear is that on this day 23 years ago two of the greatest boxers of their era went head to head in a great fight so Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao take note!

You can view the fight here and judge for yourself

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