Marvelous Marvin Hagler speaks out about the Sugar Ray Leonard fight ~ Listen In

It is a shame, but the sympathy factor was in play. The hollywood crowd really needed a sugar ray win over the great (once great) Hagler to legitimize him as a fighter and send him out on a storybook script ending.

Yes, hagler was robbed but at least he didnt go out like Sugar Ray with two back to back losses and getting destroyed by Camacho

 

Moreover, many of the punches did not land with the scoring portion of the glove. Leonard did a lot of slapping in that fight. By punchstat numbers he only landed 15 more punches, but the punchstat clearly exaggerates his success and counts punches that do not count in scoring.

 

The idea of winning a fight is to make the other guy fight your fight. Leonard didn't lose that night because he beat himself. He lost because Duran whipped him. Leonard had no choice but fight Duran's fight. Leonard at his best was not strong enough to keep Duran off him. His punches were not powerful enough to dissuade Duran from coming forward. It was like when Armstrong had Ross constantly backing up and against the ropes. Sure Ross was fighting Armstrong's fight - he didn't have a choice! The only chance Ross had against Armstrong were if Armstrong had come into the fight out of shape and ill prepared. Same is true for Leonard against Duran.

 

I'd take the Leonard of the second fight over the Duran of the first fight. I know its simplistic to say Leonard fought the wrong fight in Montreal but its also a convienent kop out to say Duran wasn't in shape for the 2nd.

 

Angelo Dundee was crafty and Leonard had the smarter corner and better boxing connections. Petronelli's were great guys and loved Marvin but did not have the experience of Angelo. It was Angelo that insisted on an instant rematch with Duran and they Knew Duran after a victory was partying, drinking and coking and eating. They new there was no way Duran could get in great shape and told Durans people Leonard was the American $ and they would fight Hearns instead. Angelo also had Ray do the shoe- polish routine at the end of the rds to steal close rds. I remember watching the fight and thinking Hagler was not doing as well as I thought he would. It was a close fight and it could have gone either way but a rematch was in order. Old school was you had to take the title from the champ. Today the judges do what they want or how they are influenced to vote. Don't think boxing Clout does not have its benefits.

 

Why you talking **** Its well known that Duran despise's drugs

 

It would be a copout if there was no basis for saying it. Unfortunately, there is and it's quite detailed by a very credble witness whose JOB it was to describe it :smoke

 

I know it been documented but its no different than the first being down to Leonard fighting the wrong fight. The bottom line is that its a **** up each fighter made.

I know its "cool" to rail against popular fighters but sometimes you've just got yo admit the guy was good.

 

Excellent answer. The comparison is of two nonequivalent things. Leonard was the same fighter in both fights. Duran wasn't.

 

Dont Forget:Holmes v Spinks II!!

 

yea because he was hanging out at Victors Cafe( a drug hang out blowing coke right after the Leonard fight and it was was one of the reasons he could not get in top shape in time...thats why he hates drugs ...I know this and a few fight people knew this as well. Why did Duran tell you he said no drugs.

 

this was the first fight I ever saw a punch count ,wondered what`s this.NO excuse but hagler Had to BEAT the champ who for years would not fight him.I think subcontiously he figured he was getting points for initiating the fight ,knowing that punches he was getting hit with did not affect him and had never been counted before.Leonard was crafty,dundee would yell ray 30seconds left and he would throw punches(mostly inconiquencial)afterbeing chased for 2 & 1/2 minutes..2 great fighters, still leaves bad taste after all these years..