42 years ago
Marvin Hagler vs Caveman Lee
Date: 7th March 1982
Venue: Ballys Park Place Hotel Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey
Title: WBC & WBA World Middleweight Titles
Promoter: Bob Arum
Tv: ABC Sports
Marvin Hagler
(
53
-
2
-
2
)
Weight: 158 lbs
Caveman Lee
(
21
-
2
-
0
)
Weight: 159 1/2 lbs
Ballys Park Place Hotel Casino in Atlantic City was host to undisputed world middleweight champion Marvin Hagler's 4th title defence and his first and last visit as a professional boxer to the boardwalk city.
In the opposite corner was Caveman Lee (real name, William Lee) a 26-year-old from Detroit, Michigan whose biggest name opponent was Frank "The Animal" Fletcher who knocked Caveman out in 4 rounds in July 1980.
At the 1st bell, Lee came forward with the clear intention of meeting the champion head-on. This strategy didn't last long as Hagler caught his challenger with a hard jab from his southpaw stance, realising that Lee was stunned by the shot, Hagler bounced forward, catching Lee with a hard left hand as he came off the ropes. The shot dropped Caveman on his knees in centre ring.
After the 8 count from referee Larry Hazard Jr, Marvin battered Lee along the ropes until a hard right hook dropped the beleaguered challenger into the ropes leading referee Hazzard to call a halt to proceedings at 1:07 of the 1st round.
On April 23, 1982, Hagler legally changed his name from Marvin Nathaniel Hagler to Marvelous Marvin Hagler.