The fight between Marvelous Marvin Hagler and Sugar Ray Leonard, dubbed “The Superfight” took place on April 6, 1987. It was the first fight I ever watched and is still the subject of debate almost 40 years later.
Hagler, known for his formidable middleweight title reign, faced off against the crafty and charismatic Leonard, a former welterweight champion moving up to the middleweight division. Leonard had come out of retirement after three years specifically for this fight.
The bout was highly anticipated, with Hagler's powerful style facing Leonard's speed and footwork. Leonard's unorthodox style and effective use of jab and movement ultimately led to a split decision victory.
The scoring breakdown highlights just how contentious the decision was. The closeness of the fight is evident in the scores from Lou Filippo and Dave Moretti, both having it 7-5 (Filippo in favor of Hagler, Moretti in favor of Leonard). JoJo Guerra's scorecard, however, was notably more lopsided in favor of Leonard.
Given the scoring breakdown, opinions vary on whether Hagler was "robbed." While some felt Hagler had done enough to win, the judges' scorecards reflect the subjective nature of judging in boxing. The fight remains a significant moment in boxing history, showcasing Leonard's adaptability and skill in a new weight class.
Hagler requested a rematch, but Leonard chose to retire again. Hagler eventually grew tired of waiting and retired himself in June 1988. Leonard later came out of retirement multiple times. In 1990, Leonard offered Hagler a rematch worth $15 million, but Hagler declined, having moved on to a new life as an actor in Italy.
In 1994, Hagler and Leonard participated in a mock rematch by playing against each other in the video game Boxing Legends of the Ring at the Consumer Electronics Show. During this event, they claimed that an actual rematch was being planned.
Leonard's boxing career continued after the Hagler fight, but he eventually faced a harsh reality check. On February 9, 1991, Leonard lost by a lopsided decision to Terry Norris, with scores of 120–104, 119–103, and 116–110. After the fight, Leonard announced his retirement, stating, "It took this fight to show me it is no longer my time... Tonight, was my last fight. I know how Hagler felt now.” However, Leonard would come out of retirement one last time on March 1, 1997, to face Hector “Macho” Camacho, 10 years after his fight with Hagler. Unfortunately for Leonard, Camacho won the fight in the 5th round by TKO, leading to Leonard's permanent retirement from boxing. Sadly, Marvelous Marvin Hagler passed away on March 13, 2021, at the age of 66.
So was Hagler “robbed” on that fateful night in Las Vegas in 1987? Despite Guerra’s silly judging, it was a close fight that could’ve gone either way and both fighters deserved to win, but one thing’s for sure: The debate continues…
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