37 years ago

Date: 6th April 1987

Venue: Caesars Palace, Outdoor Arena, Las Vegas

Title: WBC World Middleweight Title

Promoter: Top Rank

Tv: HBO

Marvin Hagler
( 62 - 2 - 2 )
Weight: 158½ lbs

Ray Leonard
( 33 - 1 - 0 )
Weight: 158 lbs

On May 11, 1984, Marvin Hagler and Ray Leonard faced off in a highly anticipated bout for the WBC World Middleweight Title at the Caesars Palace outdoor arena in Las Vegas. With a 62-2-2 record, Hagler was the favorite, while Leonard, with a 33-1-0 record, had never fought as a middleweight. The WBA had stripped Hagler for not fighting its top-ranked contender Herol "Bomber" Graham, while the IBF did not sanction the fight and said the title would be declared vacant if Hagler lost.

Despite not having fought in three years and having only one fight in the previous five years, Leonard danced and moved around in the early rounds, making Hagler lunge and miss. He fired combinations and avoided harm's way, twisting and turning and popping Hagler with uppercuts and jabs. Hagler had trouble connecting with any significant blows, missing frequently and often wildly. Leonard won the first four rounds outright, consistently stealing a march on Hagler.

However, by the fifth and sixth rounds, Hagler began to find his range and Leonard no longer moved with his early verve. In the seventh, a Hagler hook rocked Leonard, and the challenger briefly sagged. Hagler then battled Leonard to the ropes, firing shots up and down, and had him in trouble as the bell sounded.

Despite Hagler's improvement, it was patently clear that if Leonard's legs held up, he would win. In the eighth round, an impatient Hagler snarled at Leonard to "come on, slug!" but Leonard replied, "No chance." Although Hagler caught Leonard on the ropes, the challenger was growing weary. In the ninth round, Hagler pinned Leonard in his corner and was whaling, making it the best round of the fight.

After the final bell, the judges' scorecards showed a split decision in favor of Leonard, with Lou Filippo scoring 113-115, Jose Juan Guerra scoring 118-110, and Dave Moretti scoring 115-113. Judge Guerra's score in favor of Leonard was heavily criticized, with some saying he should be put in jail. The fight grossed $78 million, and HBO paid $3.1 million for the delayed rights and showed the fight five times.

After the decision was announced, Leonard told the crowd that he would see them "six months and fifteen pounds later," implying that he would next fight WBC Light Heavyweight Champion Thomas Hearns, although he later claimed he was joking. Hagler vs. Leonard was named Fight of the Year and Upset of the Year by The Ring and later named Upset of the Decade. Hagler's record would include only two more fights, both of which he won, while Leonard would retire in 1989, with a record of 36-3-1.