25 years ago today was a day that a then 8 year old will never forget. As I recollect back to the day Sugar Ray Leonard came back after a near 3 -ear lay off to dethrone long-standing champion Marvelous Marvin Hagler, I look at what boxing was and meant to the average person back then, and what is so different now from what I remember as a young boy. It was Monday night, April 6, 1987 at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas when "The Super Fight" took place. First, the fact that it was on a Monday raises eyebrows for most young fight fans who only know major bouts to take place on the weekend. Through history, major bouts occurred on any given day of the week. For example, Leonard's famous "no mas" fight with Roberto Duran took place on a Tuesday. Today in boxing, there are only two fighters that could attract interest on any day of the week. Although I'm sure diehard fans would watch boxing any time, to have a sold out live gate on a weekday, other then Mayweather and Pacquiao, I don't see anyone else that could be such a draw. In certain aspects, however, not a whole lot has changed today.
At first, Leonard declined to fight Hagler before ultimately choosing the right time make the bout. After being ringside for Hagler's previous bout against John Mugabi, Leonard noticed something that indicated to him that Hagler was slowing down. As far as he was concerned, the time was right to fight at that stage of Hagler's career. Hagler himself, in the post-fight interview of the Mugabi fight, hinted at retirement. Similarly, much of today's strategy from fighters and promoters is to take major bouts at the most appropriate time. Also, what hasn't changed from today is who won the fight. For 25 years, it has been an ongoing debate. Much like today's close decisions, fans are still very passionate about who they root for and who they think won the fight.
Early in the training camp of Leonard, reporters wrote of how terrible he was looking in the gym and how he could not handle a southpaw. It was at a certain point, in fact, when he was dropped in sparring by Quincy Taylor, that Leonard changed his strategy for the fight. Hagler was, as usual, isolated in his training camp, but reports were on how devastating he had been looking. I'm not sure what the agreement or restricions are these days with the 24/7's of the world, but Hagler was a closed-door kind of a guy that stuck with his small group, often not allowing cameras anywhere near him and closing the locker room door on fight night. Had there been a 24/7 type of series back then, I'm not sure that Marvin would've fought orthodox the first three rounds as he did. It was more of a boxing match then a slugfest which is what Leonard wanted. In fact, from round 4 on, he had better success once he switched to southpaw, as he became more aggressive and cut off the ring rather than chasing Leonard around as he had done to that point in the fight.
Hagler gave up many consessions for the fight, agreeing to a bigger ring size, Everlast gloves instead of Reyes, and having the fight be a 12-rounder rather than a 15-rounder, which was still allowed at that time. What is the most debatable aspect of the fight is that Hagler may have dominated the majority of a round, but Leonard strategically closed out the rounds strong enough to leave a lasting impression on the judges. Scores of the fight where 115-113 once each, and then a ridiculous 118-110 card for Leonard, which gave him the split decision nod. Leonard would have several more bouts, but never arousing the passion he aroused with his fans on this night. Hagler started training for a rematch, but when terms could not be reached, he hung up the gloves for good and still stands as one of the rare fighters that when he said he was done, he meant it. His trainers, Goody and Pat Petronelli, kept his gym locker for years just in case he changed his mind.
A generation of fight fans and personalities have passed since then. The cornermen for both fighters have recently passed on, with Angelo Dundee passing this year and both Petronelli brothers previously passing. Reporters at the fight, including Bert Sugar and George Kimball, have also passed on with and many that covered that fight and are still in the industry no longer even cover boxing. I remember coming home from school excited about the fight. I kept the television on ESPN and when the fight had started, they were keeping the viewers informed on how it was going. The last report I remember was that round 6 had ended and ESPN had Leonard ahead. My father walked in and said he was gonna go catch the closed circuit at Caesars Tahoe. I went with him and as he went to the sports book, I stood outside pacing and glancing through the window at the fight. When I saw Leonard's hands raised, I was crushed. I went home and cried myself to sleep as I was introduced to the sad reality of what is an unavoidable day that we witness with our sports heroes. I'm sure it's similar to the sadness of all the Ali fans when they saw him with Holmes on the night that he was no longer "The Greatest?" Hagler was my boxing hero and he had lost for the first time I had ever seen. Let's just hope, as the years go on, that I am not crying myself to sleep because of the demise of my favorite sport?