43 years ago

Date: 13th June 1981

Venue: Boston Garden, Boston, Massachusetts

Title: WBC & WBA World Middleweight Titles

Promoter: Bob Arum

Tv: HBO

Marvin Hagler
( 51 - 2 - 2 )
Weight: 160 lbs

Vito Antuofermo
( 46 - 5 - 2 )
Weight: 158 3/4 lbs

In November 1979, Marvin Hagler failed to lift the undisputed world middleweight title from champion Vito Antuofermo due to a split decision draw that deprived Hagler of what most onlookers conceived as a sure thing victory for the Brockton, Massachusetts native.

Fast forward to June 1981 and "Marvelous" Marvin has the chance to set the record straight against the Italian, New York-based brawler who now held the mantle of title challenger having lost his belts to England's Alan Minter a year earlier in Las Vegas.

Antuofermo travelled to England in an attempt to reclaim the titles but instead went home to Brooklyn with 25 stitches in four of six cuts Minter inflicted on the challengers already scarred eyebrows.

It was hard to see how Antuofermo was going to get through 15 rounds without picking up facial damage against the wrecking ball champion who had ripped the titles away from Minter in London.

Barely 30 seconds into the 1st round Antuofermo picked up a deep gash on the forehead courtesy of a head clash. Despite complaints from the challenger's corner referee Davey Pearl waved them on and things went from bad to worse for the Italian/American who picked up further cuts that persuaded co-manager Tony Carione to pull his man out at the end of the 4th round.