This is Rummy's Corner.
Over the last 20 years I've spent a lot of time participating in online boxing forums
dating back to the late 1990s.
One thing I've noticed is when it comes to boxing history, is a lot of the same topics
frequently surface.
Whether it's debating who's the best P4P boxer of all time, or whether it's arguing over
the top 10 boxers from a given weight class, or even speculation over rematches that never
happened.
What would have happened if George Foreman got an immediate rematch with Muhammad Ali,
or if Mike Tyson got an immediate rematch with Buster Douglas, or more recently, what
would have happened if Lennox Lewis had a return bout against Vitali Klitschko.
And of course, there are other varieties of hypothetical match-ups, a popular one being
who would have won between prime versions of Ali and Tyson.
Another common debate involves the who really won variety.
This topic often arises when we have historically significant match-ups that resulted in close
and somewhat controversial decisions.
The textbook example of this is the classic middleweight showdown between Marvelous Marvin
Hagler and Sugar Ray Leonard.
During all my time participating on online boxing forums - the debate over whether Hagler
deserved to win against Leonard is one subject that continues to produce spirited debate
to this very day - more than 30 years later.
So did Hagler deserve the victory against Leonard?
I myself haven't taken the time to score the fight in a number of years, so let's take
a quick look back at the action on round-by-round basis.
It was April 6, 1987, at Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas, Nevada - reigning WBC middleweight
world champion Marvelous Marvin Hagler put his championship on the line against former
two-division world champion Sugar Ray Leonard.
The action began with both boxers exhibiting mutual respect, as Hagler began things out
of an orthodox stance.
Ray was using a lot of lateral movement, and he clearly wanted to keep Hagler on the outside.
Leonard was the busier fighter, and he was landing some quick jabs and short fast combinations.
Leonard tied Hagler up when he got too close, and Hagler was having difficulty getting into
punching range.
This was a clear round for Leonard, and all 3 of the official judges scored it as such.
In round 2, Hagler was again fighting orthodox, and Leonard resumed using outstanding lateral
movement.
Hagler landed a nice left hook, but Marvin was still having problems discovering his
range.
Hagler was busier this round, but Leonard was still outworking him.
Leonard was also still effectively smothering Hagler on the inside.
Leonard was also landing some isolated looping shots and he continued landing some nice short
speedy combinations.
This was a closer round, and you can make a case for Hagler in this round, but I think
it's a stretch.
I scored the 2nd round for Leonard, and all 3 of the official judges agreed.
Hagler began the 3rd fighting southpaw, and he immediately began closing the distance
better than he had been.
But Sugar Ray's superior hand speed and quicker feet were serving him well.
Ray was still doing a great job smothering Hagler when he got too close, and Leonard
was also starting to land some sneaky rights as he continued putting his punches together
well in short combinations.
I scored round 3 for Leonard, as did Dave Morretti and Jose Guerra.
Lou Filippo scored this round for Hagler, but in my opinion - if Hagler won any rounds
to this point, I think his best case was round 2.
Hagler was closing the gap more effectively in round 4, and this enabled him to be more
active on offense.
Through the first 2 minutes of the round, Marvin was doing the better work, and Leonard
was mostly fighting defensively while throwing far fewer punches than he had been.
But later in the round, Leonard landed a nice flashy bolo punch to the body, and Leonard
also put together a really nice combination as the 4th was drawing towards its end.
This was a very close round, where Ray did the flashier work in the final minute, but
I thought Hagler did the better work throughout the round.
I scored round 4 for Marvelous Marvin Hagler.
Lou Filippo also scored the round for Hagler, but Moretti and Guerra both had it for Leonard.
In round 5 Leonard was starting to find ways to land more right hands, and Hagler was using
his jab more effectively to work inside to mid range or closer.
Leonard was landing sharper punches this round than in the previous round, and he was also
more active.
But Hagler was landing a lot of nice clubbing shots, and Marvin was roughing Leonard up
a couple of times during the final minute of the round.
This was another very close round, but on the whole I thought Hagler was more effective.
All 3 judges also scored this round for Hagler, but I think you could make a case for Ray
in round 5.
Leonard started becoming a bit more stationary in round 6, and Hagler wisely began investing
more energy on attacking the body.
Even though Leonard seemed less mobile, he was sitting on his punches more and started
landing harder shots with more consistency.
Leonard was also making Hagler miss more even though he was using less lateral movement.
Sugar Ray ended the round with a sweet combination.
I scored round 6 for Sugar Ray Leonard, and all 3 of the official judges did so as well.
So at the halfway point in the contest, Filippo had it dead even at 57 apiece, whereas judges
Morretti and Guerra both had it 59-55 for Leonard.
I myself had it 58-56 for Leonard, but on the official scorecards, Hagler had dug himself
into a deep hole at the midway point.
Hagler opened the 7th with a nice hook, and Leonard tied him up.
Ray had a nice combination early, and then Hagler started finding more ways to work on
the inside.
Leonard was fighting more flat-footed, but he still kept his cool while putting together
some fast flurries.
Hagler was operating with mean intensity, and he was landing some very solid blows.
This was another fairly close round, but I scored this one for Marvin Hagler, as did
judges Filippo and Moretti.
Guerra scored the round for Leonard.
Hagler came out for the 8th jabbing with authority, as Ray continued firing off some speedy combinations
whenever he could.
Hagler continued working behind a solid jab, and this helped create openings where Hagler
was landing some fierce short combinations of his own.
Leonard adjusted by making more use of the ring space, as he resumed using lateral movement
the way he had earlier.
The 8th round saw some good back and forth action, with both boxers having some moments.
I scored the 8th round for Hagler, as did judges Moretti and Filippo, with Guerra once
again being the lone judge awarding the round to Leonard.
Leonard landed a flashy combination early in round 9, but before long, Hagler really
started working Ray over against the ropes as he landed one big clubbing shot after another.
It was a vicious assault from Marvelous Marvin, but Sugar Ray was taking the punches well.
Leonard absorbed the punishment, and in the midst of the attack, Leonard started firing
back with a stellar display of speed and quickness.
The 9th round had a lot of intense exchanges where the two prizefighters were frequently
trading toe-to-toe.
It was an awesome exhibit of heart and determination from both boxers, but Hagler was the one consistently
landing the more damaging blows.
I scored round 9 for Hagler, as did judges Moretti and Filippo, whereas Guerra scored
the round for Leonard.
Ray came out for the 10th dancing on his toes while sticking and moving.
Hagler landed some chopping shots to the body, and was doing a good job catching up to Leonard.
But any time Hagler started working effectively, Leonard almost always came back with some
flashy firepower of his own.
The 10th round was extremely competitive and at times scrappy.
Hagler was still landing the more hurtful shots, but Leonard was taking them well and
unleashing some blistering shots of his own.
The 10th round was extremely close, but I thought Hagler edged it.
Fillipo also scored the round for Hagler, while Moretti and Guerra both scored it for
Leonard.
Leonard continued boxing well in round 11, and Hagler resumed pressing forward while
landing the more taxing shots.
Hagler began landing some short punishing shots, and Leonard retaliated well.
Hagler and Leonard both continued exhibiting admirable heart and determination, but Leonard
was in command of the action and consistently outboxing the champions.
I scored the 11th round for Sugar Ray Leonard, as did all 3 of the official judges.
So going into the 12th and final round, Guerra had it a blowout for Leonard, Moretti had
Leonard up 3 points, and Filippo had Hagler up 3 points.
So unbeknownst to the two combatants inside the squared circle, as well as the millions
watching around the world - Hagler would have needed a knockout, or at least a couple of
knockdowns, to secure a victory in the eyes of the judges.
In the 12th and final round, Ray's strategy was clear - box and move!
And Hagler was chasing after him and doing everything he could to try and find his punching
range.
Ray was showboating a lot this round, and he showed a lot of flash with a dazzling display
of speed and finesse, but I thought Hagler edged it with better overall work.
But Ray did had his moments, and Leonard kind of stole the show, even if I thought Hagler
was doing the better work.
Leonard had succeeded in overcoming the odds and defying expectations.
I thought Hagler edged it - JUST - but you can make a case either way in this round,
the same as so many rounds before this.
In a bit of a twist, Filippo scored this round for Leonard, whereas Moretti and Guerra both
scored it for Hagler.
So as far as the official judges scoring the fight were concerned, Lou Filippo had it 115-113
for Marvelous Marvin Hagler, Dave Moretti had it 115-113 for Sugar Ray Leonard, and
Jose Guerra had it 118-110 for Leonard.
I myself had the same final score as Filippo, although it's interesting to note we came
about the score differently.
The only scorecard here that I have issue with is Guerra.
118-110 for Leonard - for me, that scorecard in no way, shape, or form is reflective of
the action that unfolded inside the ring on the fateful night in Vegas.
I thought Hagler edged it, but I can't say he was robbed.
Leonard fought an outstanding fight.
Sugar Ray had the perfect strategy going in to give himself his best chance to win, and
he executed it in sensational fashion.
This was no robbery.
Let me throw all of my cards on the table here in the name of full disclosure.
I first became interested in boxing after seeing Rocky III as a kid, and I remember
asking my father who the heavyweight champion was at that time, and he informed me that
it was Larry Holmes - The Easton Assassin!
My father, however, explained to me that even though Holmes was the heavyweight champion,
that the best boxer at that time was actually a middleweight.
I remember being fascinated as a young child when my Dad explained the concept of P4P for
the first time.
To be sure, my father was a Hagler fan, and like my love for the New York Yankees, I too
became a Hagler fan just like my old man.
The first boxing match I ever remember watching was Hagler vs Hearns, and the excitement that
fight provided is what ultimately started a love for boxing that led to the creation
of this channel.
And my love for boxing to this day always reminds me of my formative years as a boxing
fan with my Dad - whom I miss dearly since he passed over 8 years ago now.
Here at Rummy's Corner, I strive to objective when it comes to analyzing fights - but I
confess, try as I might, Hagler was my first favorite boxer ever.
So as much as I try to be unbiased in my analysis here - deep down, my inner child self wants
to scream at the top of my lungs - HAGLER WAS ROBBED!
But if I'm being honest now, even though I maintain this bout was a judging nightmare
to score, with so many super close competitive rounds - I admit, it's probably easier for
me to find 2 rounds to flip Leonard's way, than it is for me to flip 2 rounds in Hagler's
favor.
So the possibility certainly exists where perhaps I'm subconsciously giving Hagler every
benefit of the doubt here.
At the end of the day, this was no robbery.
What Sugar Ray Leonard did on this night was something very special - and even if the decision
didn't go his way, it was still a sublime effort from the great Sugar Ray.
The fact that boxing fans are still debating this result more than 30 years after the match-up
is one of the things I love most about boxing forums - a place where we can find like-minded
individuals to discuss a shared love of the sweet science!
And so the debate continues!
How did you score the epic middleweight championship contest between Marvelous Marvin Hagler and
Sugar Ray Leonard?
Please share your thoughts in the comments section.
Thanks for watching everyone, hope you enjoyed, and have a wonderful night!
This is Rummy's Corner.