My favorite of the glory day middleweights (Hagler, Leonard, Hearns, Duran). This is possibly my favorite big fight of all time:
Yeah as a kid my dad was a huge boxing fan and Marvelous Marvin was his favorite boxer. My first sports memories as a kid was watching him fight...remember seeing him fight Duran and Hearns. My dad always thought the Leonard fight was fixed. RIP indeed.
Heh, my dad as well we debated the Leonard - Hagler fight forever -- I always respected Marvin for retiring near his peak and staying retired.
I have to be honest, at this point the only fight of his that I still vaguely remember watching was vs. Sugar Ray. I can remember him being all over TV though. Having one of the coolest nicknames (and later real names) in boxing history couldn't have hurt. R.I.P.
Hagler fought with a proverbial chip on his shoulder, convinced that boxing fans and promoters alike didn't give him his proper due. He was so upset that he wasn't introduced before a 1982 fight by his nickname of Marvelous that he went to court to legally change his name.
I think that fight really set a high bar for young me for boxing. Like many of y’all, watched it with my dad, just blown away by the skill of both fighters.
It was also so amazing to see two elite champions just throw bombs until one got knocked out -- it's so rare especially in a huge championship fight.
Agreed. I’ve always thought each felt at the top of his powers and that the other just couldn’t withstand the onslaught. I thought Marvin was probably toast judging the energy halfway through round 2, and having seen Hearns put others away.
Some of y'all might enjoy this article on Hagler-Hearns, admittedly from Marvin's perspective. https://www.bbc.com/sport/boxing/32278382 I had forgotten how they did those brutal promotional tours.
"The referee [Richard Steele] took me to the corner and called over the doctor to take a look at the cut on my forehead," says Hagler. "The doctor said to me: 'Can you see?' And I said to the doctor: 'I ain't missing him, am I?'" Awesome article.
I liked the writer describing Hearns as a praying mantis. Just a brutal talent. with his reach and strength. But without those extra two mantis legs, his balance rarely matched that of some of his opponents.
I remember there being a significant amount of press and hype before and after the Leonard and Hagler fight. Hagler guest starred on 227 once.
It was huge, "The Super Fight". Hagler got jobbed. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marvin_Hagler_vs._Sugar_Ray_Leonard
Haven’t been in the hangout in a couple of days and wasn’t aware of his passing. He was/is a true “Legend in Boxing”! I remember watching him fight and being in awe of his power and accuracy, the man rarely missed a shot to his opponent! The Hagler/Hearns fight is as good as it gets as far as I’m concerned! R.I.P. Marvelous!! ....... ....... .......
