No. Too many at ringside scored it for Marv for it not to be questioned. Although ‘robbery’ is a stretch.
Some people think that with the way Ray fought, he did not take away the title from the long reigning champ.
I rewatched fairly recently and scored it a draw but can't find my score card notes annoyingly. However I feel I was unhappy with my scoring and in reality Leonard won it by a couple of rounds. It just felt like his fight, fought on his terms. I agree that Hagler showed him too much respect, but he wanted to hit Ray clean but just couldn't! As has been stated those first 4 rounds were crucial and I have always felt Marvin was pacing it like a 15 rounder. I haven't seen it for a while but I think he was also behind vs Duran after 12 but came through in those final 3 rounds, which of course he didn't have vs Ray.
He did similarly with Marcos Geraldo in a 10-rounder. Swept the last three rounds to pull out a competitive decision.
Just rewatched. 1 Leonard 2 Leonard 3 Leonard 4 Leonard 5 Hagler 6 Leonard 7 Hagler 8 Hagler 9 Hagler 10 Hagler 11 Leonard 12 Leonard 7-5 Leonard
thanks for rewatching.We only disagree on the 12th round which I felt Ray took kind of off.The HBO judge who scored for Ray had the 12th for Hagler as well I think
Here's my notes on the round, Hagler landed higher quality punches but also I felt he got stung with a hard one and was overall appearing the more worn down fighter. There were a few close rounds in the fight. I felt like 7, 9 and 12 were close. Rd 12: Ray showboating between rounds, Hagler looks tired, they both are but Leonard seems to be wearing it better. Hagler leads with a jab and a big left, one of his best punches. Leonard dancing again, decent flurry from SRL, good jab Hagler. Good overhand right Hagler. Nice crisp right from Hagler. Leonard exchanging. Great left overhand from Hagler. Leonard ate it no problem. Good corner flurry from Leonard and staggers Hagler slightly on the inside then glides out. Leonard puts his track shoes on and is running fast from the marching Hagler. Halfway through this is Leonard's round. Commentary team is slobbering over Leonard. Hagler smashes to the body, crowd chanting Su-gar Su-gar Su-gar. Hagler showboating a bit. Nice exchange, Hagler lands a left. Leonard crisp combination, Hagler looks spent when he throws. Hagler looks very labored throwing punches with all he's got. Decent combination to finish it out from Hagler with a brutal body shot. 10-9 Leonard
1. Leonard 2. Even 3. Hagler 4. Leonard 5. Hagler 6. Leonard 7. Hagler 8. Hagler 9. Hagler 10. Hagler 11. Even 12. Hagler Hagler 7 rounds to leonard 3 rounds and 2 even I always thought Leonard did a really good job stealing rounds with shoeshine punches or throwing his hands up after the bell to round he clearly lost or atleast was questionable. Leonard also did alot if shoeshine flurrys that got The crowd hyped which probally swayed the judges.
Thanks for your explanation. I just thought ray did too much running in this round and fought as if he had the fight in his back. But anyway, we only disagree on this 12th round.
This is what I would call the first oultier card of the thread. All the rounds I scored for Hagler, you gave them to Hagler as well. But you scored the 3rd round to Hagler and scored rounds 2 and 11 even. I gave those rounds to Leonard.
Did Leonard get Hagler's respect with power? Sure Hagler had an iron chin (though it was probably dented by Mugabi), but Leonard had underrated power and whilst he wasn't going to knock out Hagler, did he get his respect with accurate power punches?
I do not think Hagler was hurt at any time. Hagler landed the only real hard punches in the fight. I thought Ray was dazzed a couple of times
Good post. You definitely drove the point. The stain on the fight was that bogus scorecard. Other than that it was a close fight that could have went either way.