Marvin Hagler's Big 5: 'Duel of Legends' feud with Sugar Ray Leonard

Marvin Hagler's Big 5: 'Duel of Legends' feud with Sugar Ray Leonard

In 1987, professional middleweight boxing legend Marvin Hagler was 33 years old. He was in superb shape after winning the world title 7 years earlier. Marvelous recorded a remarkable 12 consecutive defenses after brutally snatching the belts from Great Britain's Alan Minter. 11 of those wins have come by knockout, and many are already wondering what would have to happen for him to be stripped of his world title.

On April 6, 1987, in his boxing favorite, Caesars Palace, Marvin received another worthy opponent. At the time, Sugar Ray Leonard was 30 years old and in great shape. The American has 35 matches in the professional ring. His only loss in those was to Roberto Duran, who Hagler knocked out earlier in his career. In the very next match with Duran, Leonard returns for the defeat. The big difference is that the fights between the two are in the welterweight division. At the same time, Marvin fights in the middleweight division. Before 1987, Sugar Ray was world champion, but not at middleweight.

The match is titled "The Super Fight". And there's definitely a reason. Haggle starts with his usual aggressive style. His movement is spinning forward, and Leonard is stuck against the ropes several times. Sugar Ray is very aware of how important the end of each round is and in the last 30 seconds of each round he becomes more aggressive. His goal is to steal the judge's vote.

The match is extremely equal, spectacular and long. The two complete the 12-round format. The judges are divided. One picks up a win for Leonard by a slim margin, one awards an advantage to Marvelous, and one is adamant about Sugar Ray's success. Hagler's middleweight reign ends after a 1-2 vote, although the fans disagree.

This turns out to be the last match in the professional ring for Marvin. He wants a rematch, but Leonard refuses to box. For the 3rd out of 5 times. About 14 months after the encounter and Marvelous retired from professional sports. After 66 wins. Unfortunately, in 2021 he left the world of the living. At 66...

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