Writing "Sorcery": an author's tale

cocking a snook?

yes, there's a section on judge selection. if the Petronellis had done their homework on Gibbs, they would have known he gave Duran the nod in Leonard-Duran 1. So obviously he would not have been biased toward boxers.

 

Interesting

My take on it is quite different and based soley upon watching for signs of wear, slowing of the reflexes, and strong decline. Ray Leonard had already had a history of pushing for fights with a damaged or handicapped opponent (Duran 2) and attempted through an edict to bring Marvin down to a svelte 154 pounds.

leonard deliberately avoided for 5 years Marvin waiting for the opposition to soften him up. He tried to make a comeback in 1984, encouraged by Duran's performance or rather, Hagler's non-performance.

Unfortunately, Ray would lose confidence due to what happened in the Howard fight. I'm not sure Ray would have been the best challenger for him based on what I saw.

But he gained new hope after watching a surprisingly competitive Mugabi tear up Marvin (due to a tremendous slowdown) and out of the blue, called him out.

I watched Marvin in sparring 3 weeks prior to the fight itself v. weaver tripplets and saw Marvin was through as a fighter he never touched them and even once fell thru the ropes attempting a wild swing with his right hand. Most of the time he just spent covering from no stop flurries. Weavers 1 & 2 were especially impressive.

I didnt know at the time how well conditioned Leonard was but based on what I saw in training, anyone who could do what the Weavers had done to Hagler in their three 3 minute rounds for 12 rounds would beat him on points.

 

I don't often buy hard covers -but this book will be an exception.

 

I think I shall purchase a copy myself.

 

I just did... and it's out in paperback.

Has anyone read "Champ in the Corner" -about Ray Arcel?

 

I plan to. Arcel was still active when I started on the boxing beat. He was one of the finest gentlemen I've ever met - incredibly sharp for a man in his 80s - and smart. I wish I had taken more time to listen to his personal history. One story I recall is about how he got whacked over the head outside of Boston Garden after a card in the 1950s. He wasn't sure who did it, but suspected it was a message from somebody in boxing. Seriously injured - he was laid up for quite a while.

 

Arcel was arranging fights for ABC-TV and the IBC was feeling the pinch. Frankie Carbo was behind the IBC at that point (~53) and so Arcel got piped in the head and that was it for him for 20 years. The thought of some animal hitting that class act with a lead pipe is beyond words.

 

You just had to

 

That was actually a good post by the Rooster. I thought so anyway.

 

you could tell weavers 1 and 2 from weaver 3? impressive. even their mother had a hard time.

 

I don't know Floyd from Troy or Roy. It's the order they were brought in to spar-1,2,3. Do you know if they ever turned pro?

 

Boxrec lists Floyd and Troy turning pro, the former as a MW, the latter as a LHW.

 

Boston Globe reviewed 'Sorcery' yesterday.

http://www.boston.com/ae/books/articles/2008/08/12/leonard_hagler_story_packs_a_wallop/

 

I finished the book last night. It was one I really looked forward to reading because I was a big Hagler fan and I was anxious to learn more about what transpired before, during, and after this fight. I enjoyed it very much, a very entertaining read. For whatever reason I hadn't heard about the substance abuse by both fighters, and how ironic was it that the English official that Hagler's group rejected later revealed that he would have scored the bout 8-4 in Hagler's favor, and that the official who took his place scored it in favor of Leonard?

I was very disappointed when Hagler lost this fight, but thought his strategy in the early rounds was disasterous. I wasn't as bitter about the outcome as Hagler, who could be, but I will say I enjoyed watching Norris dominate Leonard a few years later. Leonard waited for Hagler to pass his prime before tackling him, so I thought it was only fair he got a taste of his own medicine down the road.

But this post is about this book. I highly recommend it, anyone who has any interest at all in the Hagler-Leonard fight, or about either man for that matter, will really enjoy the read, and come away with a lot more insight concerning their fight, and both men in general.

 

I have yet to see a bad review for this book.