10 Weird Things About Leonard-Hagler

(as detailed in “Sorcery at Caesars”)

1. The boss of the Caesars Sports Book dreamed the night before the fight that Leonard would win a decision. He adjusted the odds to increase betting on Hagler, and helped Caesars win a bundle.
2. The Mexican judge, Jo Jo Guerra, had sparred in his youth with Sugar Ray Robinson – his “idol”. Guerra gave the new Sugar Ray a 10-2 margin of victory.
3. The Nevada judge, Dave Moretti, was developing a business partnership with Billy Baxter, a gambler who wagered at least $30,000 on Leonard. Moretti scored it 7-5 for Leonard, and was cleared by an investigation after the bout.
4. The California judge, Lou Filippo, was the referee in the “Rocky” film. He had Hagler winning 7-5.

5. Hagler gave in to the 12-round distance because Leonard argued that 15 rounds was advocated by the racist South African Boxing Association.
6. Hagler quit the promotional tour before it was finished because Leonard was too nice in their press conferences.
7. As a favor, Hagler appeared at the opening of Leonard’s restaurant in January 1986. They dined together, drank champagne, and Hagler confided that he was tired of boxing. Four months later Leonard blind-sided Hagler and challenged him.
8. They both fought for their first championship on the same card in November 1979. Leonard was the headliner and made $1 million. Hagler was in a preliminary and made $40,000.
9. Leonard’s cocaine problem and Hagler’s alleged cocaine problem were hidden from the public.
10. Referee Richard Steele did not penalize Leonard, despite repeated holding, because Hagler never complained to him.

 

leonard had four 10-round mock bouts while talks progressed with hagler. he wore large gloves but no headgear, while his 'opponents' wore headgear and small gloves. leonard stopped two of the opponents but two others went the distance. quincy taylor was an opponent, as well as robert 'boo boo' sawyer, a southpaw who looked like hagler.

leonard fought about 125 rounds before his training camp started at hilton head. he fought an additional 125 rounds at hilton head.

not sure about taylor dropping leonard. when his camp moved to vegas a week prior, taylor drilled leonard with a body shot that "put him out on his feet", according to JD Brown.

 

hagler never confirmed it, but he did not sue the TV reporter in Boston, John Dennis, who aired the report.

The book reports that DEA agents saw him coming out of crack houses - though it is second-hand information.