Sugar Ray Leonard was one of the defining boxers of the ‘Four Kings’ era, and it was on this day 38 years ago that he locked horns with another legendary King.
The ‘Four Kings’ of boxing refers to four major fighters active in the 70’s and 80’s who all fought one another – Roberto Duran, Thomas Hearns, Marvin Hagler, and Sugar Ray Leonard.
Marvin Hagler defeated Thomas Hearns, who KO’d Roberto Duran, who defeated Leonard (in their first encounter at least).
Sugar Ray defeated Hearns and then drew with him, though Leonard admitted Hearns should’ve won, Hagler beat Duran, Leonard beat Duran, and so on.
But it was 38 years ago when Leonard and Hagler fought, in a defining moment for the Four Kings.
Sugar Ray Leonard edges a decision win over Marvellous Marvin Hagler
in 1987, two fights before his draw over Hearns, who sparred Muhammad Ali, Leonard returned to boxing after a three year lay-off to face Hagler.
Following his win over Bruce Finch in 1982, Leonard announced his retirement after suffering both a detached retina, and an apparent lack of desire to box anymore.
He returned two years later and defeated Kevin Howard, who knocked Leonard down for the first time in his career. Despite stopping Leonard in the ninth round, Leonard announced his retirement again, believing he didn’t have what it took anymore.
Three years later he returned to face Hagler, after witnessing Hagler beat John Mugabi. According to BoxRec, it was this fight that made Leonard realize he could win against Hagler:
“We were sitting there having a few beers, and I’m watching John ‘The Beast’ Mugabi outbox Hagler. Of all people, John ‘The Beast’ Mugabi. Now, I had had a few beers, and I said, ‘Michael, Michael, I can beat Hagler.'”
Leonard defeated Hagler, who became Marvellous after KOing Caveman Lee, in a close and controversial split decision. The Leonard vs Hagler rematch never happened as Hagler retired, with the president of HBO Sports stating:
“”Marvin made it very clear — he thought he was jobbed and he was never going to fight again. And he never did.”
He retired with a record of 62-3-2.
Don King was involved in brawl after controversial result in Sugar Ray Leonard vs Marvin Hagler fight
Following the result, Don King, whose connection with Muhammad Ali early on got him started in boxing, got into a shoving match with rival promoter Bob Arum.
King was just a spectator at the bout, and did not represent either man, yet attempted to enter the ring after the result, prompting the brawl with Arum.
Arum said of the incident: “That man had nothing to do with this fight. […] There was no way he belonged in the ring.”
Both promoters remain active in boxing, though Arum, who heads Top Rank, is notably more so, putting on a show last weekend in which Abdullah Mason won by KO and Richard Torrez Jr. beat Guido Vianello.