By Norm Frauenheim –

Other than heavyweight and perhaps welterweight, there’s no division that has had a bigger impact on boxing than middleweight. The names tell the story. Hagler, LaMotta, Hopkins, Zale, Monzon, the original Sugar and so many more.

Suddenly, however, it’s a weight class without a face. More mediocre than middle. The top of The Ring’s 160-pound rating is blank. A division without definition. The title is vacant, an empty lot in what used to be historical real estate.

Some of that might begin to change next week, October 14. A title unification between Janibek Alimkhanuly and Vincenzo Gualtieri is scheduled for Rosenberg, Texas.

It’s an ESPN fight. But a Houston suburb is a long way from Vegas, Los Angeles or New York. There’s a reason for that. Few know Janibek, the World Boxing Organization’s champion. Nobody knows Vincenzo Gualtieri, the International Boxing Federation’s belt holder. These guys need name tags. They have titles, but no name recognition.

Janibek is probably today’s best middleweight. He’s powerful and aggressive enough to be scary. But the Kazak is unknown, a reason perhaps that he continues to be ranked by The Ring and ESPN behind the widely known Gennadiy Golovkin, the 41-year-old fellow Kazak who relinquished his 160-pound titles last March, about six months after his forgettable scorecard loss at 168 pounds to Canelo Alvarez in a trilogy fight. For all anybody knows, the next time we see GGG might be at his Hall-of-Fame induction.

Then, there’s Gualtieri. Gualtieri answers an opening bell somewhere other than his home country, Germany, for the first time next week.

Chris Eubank, a much better-known middleweight contender from the UK, probably put it best weeks after his stoppage of Liam Smith in August. He was asked about fighting Janibek or Gualtieri.

“I don’t know who they are,” Eubank told Sky Sports. “And I’m in the game. So, the general public are not going to know who these guys are, which means it’s hard for them to tune in.’’

I bring all of this up because the fabled yet faded middleweight division is desperate for a fighter who has at least some name recognition. Enter Elijah Garcia.

There was a lot of controversy about Canelo’s decision over Jermell Charlo last Saturday on Showtime at Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena. But there were no complaints about Garcia’s dynamic stoppage of Armando Resendiz in the opener to a pay-per-view card that drew an audience reportedly between 650,00 and 700,000 customers.

Garcia delivered the best performance on a card that otherwise generated lots of social-media flak, mostly directed at Charlo, who appeared to be there only for a paycheck. For Garcia, there were cheers from a crowd that increasingly likes what it sees. It was the third straight time that Garcia, now 16-0 with 13 knockouts, has opened a pay-per-view show. It’s been an introduction that fans haven’t seen from Janibek, much less Gualtieri.

It’s also been an introduction that has created an appetite for more from Garcia, who has been adept at using social media since his amateur days. Potentially, his ongoing emergence is welcome news for a division fighting to reverse a slide into anonymity.

For Garcia, it’s an opportunity. The 20-year-old Arizona fighter, who grew up in Phoenix and has a ranch in Wittman, is known for a bold goal. Repeatedly, he says he wants to be a 21-year-old champion. He’s in the right place to pull that one off.

“I want to be a mandatory for a title pretty soon,’’ he said after delivering a beautiful combo – a left-handed body shot followed by a seamless right to the body then head in an eventual eighth-round stoppage of Resendiz. “I’ll be 21 in April and I’m gonna keep taking it one step at a time.’’

Garcia is clearly on the fast track. But that comes with a dilemma. Too fast is a risk. Janibek might be unknown. But that doesn’t mean he isn’t dangerous.

Garcia told 15 Rounds before the Canelo-Charlo card that he would want at least one more fight before a shot at a major title.

“I think I’m getting better every single fight and I think it starts in the gym,’’ he then said after the card. “I’m getting back in the gym on Monday. I just have to keep getting better every single fight, take it one step at a time, fight harder opponents and I’ll get that world title.’’

For now, Garcia will have to wait on the unpredictable collection of haphazard rankings by the acronyms. This week, he’s at No. 7, according to the IBF, which has vacancies at both No. 1 and No. 2. The WBC (World Boxing Council) puts him at No. 6 for a title held by the troubled and ever unpredictable Jermall Charlo, Jermell’s twin brother who reportedly will fight Arizona-born Jose Benavidez Jr. on Nov. 25 on a card projected to feature his brother — super-middleweight contender and Canelo possibility David Benavidez — against Demetrius Andrade.

Meanwhile, Garcia, No. 9 by The Ring, is suddenly at No. 2 by the notorious WBA (World Boxing Association) for a title held by Cuban Erislandy Lara, now 40.  Lara is expected to fight Danny Garcia.

In the WBO ratings, he’s No. 13 for the title held by today’s most feared middleweight, Janibek.

Add it all up, and Garcia’s ambitious goal looks doable, made possible by a young fighter who is introducing himself and maybe re-introducing an old weight class to fans.  

LAS VEGAS, NV (October 21, 2021) – Prince Ranch Boxing’s undefeated 122-pound fighter, Ra’eese “The Beast” Aleem (18-0, 12 KOs), ranked #1 by the WBA, might be the best super bantamweight in the world, but he wants to prove it.

“I feel like Marvin Hagler, none of these guys want to fight me,” said Aleem, who recently lost his WBA super bantamweight interim world title based around the rule change within the organization. “I am doing everything that is asked of me, I am taking fights for low money, high risk, and putting on exciting performances, yet the champions will not face or mention me. What do I have to do…call the senator of Michigan or Nevada, and to try to have them help me, because I am a prizefighter, and I want to fight the best.”

Aleem, who lost his belt, after the WBA consolidated their champions, saw himself as the odd man out in the round-robin tournament between Stephen Fulton and Brandon Figueroa, who are looking to unify two of the four titles in the division. Without that belt, Aleem, who was already having trouble getting fights, now is feeling as though it has gotten that much harder.

“I want the winner of Stephen Fulton versus Brandon Figueroa, I want the winner of Murodjon Akhmadaliev versus Ronny Rios…shoot if I can’t get these fights, I will move up to featherweight and fight the boogeyman of that division, Emanuel Navarrete, and if that doesn’t work I would gladly welcome Naoya Inoue to the 122 lbs. division as well,” continued Aleem. “In this era, oftentimes the fans are frustrated that fighters don’t call for the good fights, but I am calling out everyone in my division that has a belt. I’m ranked #1 by the WBA, yet no one is mentioning my name, let alone trying to fight me. I am very frustrated since I know the fans like my style, I’m not boring, and I want to fight the very best, I know I am better than all of them.”

In January of this year, Ra’eese Aleem scored a very impressive knockout against Vic Pasillas, dropping him four times before stopping him in the eleventh round. That was a win that turned a lot of heads on a Showtime Championship Boxing co-main event, with the headlining act being Stephen Fulton versus Angelo Leo. Yet, Aleem is now scheduled to return November 27th on a Showtime co-main event headlined by Stephen Fulton vs. Brandon Figueroa, taking place at the Park MGM in Las Vegas, Nevada.

“I am facing Eduardo Baez in my next fight, and he is a good fighter, but I view myself as a million-dollar fighter, and let’s be honest, these are not the type fights that the fans are interested in,” said a frustrated Aleem. “I respect Baez, and I know he is coming to fight, and I am happy to have a fight, but to get to where I see myself at, I need one of these big fights. I am in my prime right now, and I’m ready for my title shot.”

Aleem, originally from Muskegon, Michigan, moved to Las Vegas, Nevada years ago to chase his dream of being a pro boxer and a world champion.

“I have given up so much of my life just to have a chance at winning a world title, and now I’m fighting a guy that is not even ranked in the WBA,” Aleem concluded. “I just want the chance to fight for a world title because boxing is my life. Not unlike Hagler, if they cut my head open, they would find a big boxing glove in it, and now I just need someone with the conviction behind their belief in their skills with a belt to fight me. I feel like Vic Pasillas was the best fighter in the division and after I beat him, no one wants to fight me. I just want to let everyone at the PBC, and Showtime know that I’m hungry, and will guarantee all action fights when I step in the ring.”

NEW YORK – May 21, 2021 – Showtime Sports Documentary Films has released the official trailer and poster art for the upcoming documentary THE KINGS, a four-part series chronicling the fierce rivalry between world champions and Boxing Hall of Famers known as the “Four Kings” – Roberto “Manos de Piedra” Durán, Marvelous Marvin Hagler, Thomas “The Hitman” Hearns, and Sugar Ray Leonard. Premiering Sunday, June 6 at 8 p.m. ET/PT on SHOWTIME, the series chronicles the four fighters’ dramatic and divergent ascents to greatness and the legendary matches they produced.

To watch and share the trailer, go to: https://s.sho.com/3whPJTt

THE KINGS spotlights boxing’s evolution from the end of Muhammad Ali’s era to the era of the Four Kings, set against the seismic political and socio-economic shifts taking place in the United States. The Four Kings rose to fame as the presidency of Jimmy Carter and economic recession gave way to the boon of 1980s capitalism and excess harnessed by the administrations of Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush. Through in-depth interviews and archival footage, the series also examines the very personal battles that each man waged on his unique journey to the center of the sports world.

THE KINGS is produced by Box To Box Film in association with Ingenious Media. The series is executive produced by James Gay-Rees (Amy, Senna, Drive To Survive) and Paul Martin (Diego Maradona, Drive To Survive), produced by Fiona Neilson (Oasis: Supersonic, Coldplay: A Head Full of Dreams) and directed by Mat Whitecross (Oasis: Supersonic, Road To Guantanamo, Coldplay: A Head Full of Dreams).

NEW YORK – April 15, 2021 – From 1980 through 1989, four great champions and future Hall of Famers raised the level of their sport. It was boxing at its best, at its most enthralling. Over the span of one glorious decade, they fought each other nine times.  Roberto “Manos de Piedra” Durán, Marvelous Marvin Hagler, Thomas “The Hitman” Hearns, and Sugar Ray Leonard, known collectively as the “Four Kings,” formed a fierce rivalry and arguably the greatest period in the history of the sport. 

SHOWTIME SPORTS DOCUMENTARY FILMS will be presenting THE KINGS, a four-part series chronicling the four fighters’ dramatic and divergent ascents to greatness and the legendary matches they produced. They dominated an era of their own creation, but not each other. The weekly series premieres on Sunday, June 6 at 8 p.m. ET / PT on SHOWTIME, with all episodes being made available across the network’s on-demand and streaming platforms at premiere.

Today marks the 36th anniversary of the epic middleweight championship battle between Hagler and Hearns. Long considered the high-water mark of the Four Kings era, Hagler-Hearns stands out for the drama and brutal non-stop action that was compressed into just over eight minutes from start to finish. The fight and the opening stanza were consensus Fight of the Year and Round of the Year, respectively, but many consider both as one of, if not the, all-time best in their respective categories.

Below, please find the observations and recollections of those who covered that fight, many who are featured in THE KINGS.      

“I remember the week of the fight, Hagler wore a baseball hat with ‘WAR’ on the front, and I thought, ‘eh, the usual pre fight hype’, until the first bell, then I said, “WOW, Hagler was right.”

– Teddy Atlas, Hall of Fame trainer and boxing analyst

“I covered the fight as a columnist for The New York Times. Here was my lead: Until Thomas Hearns fell, with the assistance of a smashing right to the face by Marvelous Marvin Hagler, and was ruled the loser at 2:01 of the third round, hardly a second passed that one of the fighters wasn’t throwing and landing a stunning blow.”

– Ira Berkow, ringside for The New York Times

“The excitement at the outdoor arena at Caesars Palace was palpable. As I sat ringside I did something I now do regularly before a match. When both Hagler and Hearns had entered and were in the ring I took my headsets off just to feel the emotion of the crowd better. I wanted to live that moment. Now, I do that before every big match just before it begins. At the end of the first round, I said on the telecast, ‘This is one of the best rounds in middleweight boxing history.’ I may have been underselling it.”

– Al Bernstein, SHOWTIME Boxing analyst /ringside, called the fight as part of the live closed-circuit telecast team

“I knew trouble was brewing when in the last leg of their nationwide press tour, Marvin stuck dinner napkins in both ears as Tommy stood to continue three weeks of boasting about a third-round knockout. ‘He’s half right,’ Hagler later groused. The first round sucked the air out of the arena and the finish was Hagler’s violent response to all the forces he believed had tried to deny him greatness his whole career.  Marvin took all his frustrations out on poor Tommy and left him in a heap on the floor, broken like an old beach chair.”

– Ron Borges, ringside for the Boston Globe

“I was sitting first-row ringside that night next to Ed Schuyler Jr., the great AP boxing writer. We were anticipating a good fight, but we had no idea how good. The bell rang and suddenly Hagler and Hearns were fighting in a fury that was hard to comprehend and just as hard to describe. When the round ended, I remember looking at Schuyler shaking my head, not saying a word, and he did the same to me back. It was like ‘What did we just see?’ I’ve seen thousands of fights, but to this day that three minutes of mayhem is forever etched in my mind. No need to watch the old video, I remember it almost punch by punch. Greatest first round ever, and top five in greatest fights I’ve ever covered.”

– Tim Dahlberg, ringside for the Associated Press

“A wise old journalist once told me, ‘If you’re covering a fight, or anything for that matter, that’s truly sensational, don’t try to write it that way. Underplay it.’ I think of that advice whenever anybody mentions Hagler-Hearns. For fight fans, it was invigorating, inspiring, incredible – everything we could ever hope for. For fight writers, it was a bit different. How could we describe that first round without overstepping our bounds?  Sometimes it’s easier being a fan.”

– Steve Farhood, SHOWTIME Boxing analyst / Covered the fight as senior writer for KO magazine

“I will always remember sitting in the truck, as the producer of the telecast, and telling Marc Payton, the director, to stick with the hand-held camera in the last minute of the first round, mesmerized that they had planted themselves in front of that camera. It was the longest three minutes of action in my entire career. I turned to Marc at the end of the round and just asked, ‘What the hell was that?’ It was actually a more emphatic expletive than that.”

– Ross Greenburg, executive producer of the fight telecast 

“At the end of the first round I was literally speechless. The action had been so incredibly intense – they had attacked each other with the kind of ferocity you only see in a horror movie – that I had watched it all with my mouth wide open, and in the dry desert air my mouth had become completely bone dry, so I was unable to get a word out when Ian Darke asked me for my comment. Eventually I managed to say, ‘That’s the greatest round of boxing I’ve ever seen.’ And all these years later, it still remains so.”

– Colin Hart, ringside for The Sun and BBC Radio

“Whenever I’m asked to name the most exciting sporting event I ever attended, I respond, ‘Hagler-Hearns.’ Never do I have to explain.”

– Barry Horn, ringside for the Dallas Morning News

“Greatest first round in the history of boxing at any weight. Hearns hits him with the best right hand he ever threw, wobbles him, opens a cut on his forehead but two rounds later Marvin fights off the blood and knocks him out. Seventy years covering boxing and I never saw anything like it.”

– Jerry Izenberg, ringside for The Star-Ledger  

“Being at ringside for the eight minutes of fury known as the Marvin Hagler-Thomas Hearns fight was as close as anyone could come to understanding the days of gladiators in the Roman Colosseum. The first round was all-out warfare with both fighters exchanging their best power shots. Hearns tried to box in the second, but Hagler wouldn’t let him, and when the blood started pouring from a cut on Hagler’s forehead in the third and there was a danger the fight might be stopped, Hagler later said, ‘It turns me on, the monster comes out.’ Boy, did it! I never will forget the image of one of Hearns’ handlers cradling him like a child and carrying him to the corner, which is why I led with that picture. Easily the most savage boxing match I’ve witnessed between two all-time greats.”

– Greg Logan, ringside for Newsday  

“Although the action and drama lasted eight-plus breathless minutes, it actually was over in the first minute or so when KO star Hearns landed a flush right and Hagler didn’t blink. It was then I realized that Hagler, normally a patient stalker, had signaled his intention to use his middleweight strength to challenge a big welterweight by pounding his chest defiantly just before the opening bell rang. A night and fight to remember.”

– Larry Merchant, ringside commentator for delay telecast

“Obviously the greatest round of boxing I’ve ever seen, let alone called. One of those moments that you knew the magnitude of as it was happening. That first round felt like it was a half hour long.”

– Barry Tompkins, SHOWTIME Boxing analyst / ringside to call the delay fight telecast

“I didn’t know what to expect since it was my first time watching a fight at a movie theater. Whites and Blacks in Memphis only socialized around sports back then. It was a mixed crowd in the theater, but the same reaction: pure joy and excitement. Everyone stood throughout the entire fight. It was violent, courageous, and thrilling.”

– George Willis, covering from a closed-circuit outlet in Memphis for The Commercial Appeal

“I covered that fight, and many others, for The Detroit News. I’ll never forget the absolute savagery in the way Hearns and Hagler went at each other from the opening bell, and the way the crowd roared with every punch. One telling moment: Hearns connected with a wicked left hook that turned Hagler half around from the force of the punch — but never fazed him.  It has been called the greatest short fight in history, and that stands up to this day. The first round set the tone. I remember after the fight someone asked Larry Merchant of HBO how he scored that first round. ‘I gave them both 11,’ he replied.  That said it all.”

– Mike O’Hara, ringside for The Detroit News 

“My memory of the first round: action so immediate and reckless that spectators were left breathless. So were the reporters at ringside. I was there for the Boston Globe, and I remember the veteran scribes who sat paralyzed after the bell, unable to type or scratch notes, me included.  A deep gash opened above Hagler’s right eye, and Hearns’ right hand fractured. In the third round, with blood running down Hagler’s nose, the referee stopped the bout and asked Hagler if he could continue. Hagler snapped: ‘I’m not missing him, am I?’  When the bout resumed Hagler attacked quickly, bounced three long rights off of Hearns’ head, and watched him twist downward to the canvas.”

– Steve Marantz, ringside for the Boston Globe

“I remember how difficult it was, on a tight deadline, to give justice to that spectacular first round. How many superlatives could I pack into the story without inducing nausea?  Hagler quietly, confidently selling the fight – simply, wearing a cap with ‘War’ emblazoned on the front. Then that nail-hard infantryman, coming, always coming after Hearns. Hearns out on his feet, chin on referee Richard Steele’s shoulder and then carried to his corner. I can still hear the crowd roaring throughout the short fight, knowing all of us were witnessing a brawl for the ages.”

– John Phillips, ringside for Reuters

“What I remember about this war was there was no feeling (each other) out, they just came out slugging from the opening bell! It was so loud outside at Caesars Palace, the most iconic venue, that made this fight even more special. I wish more fights were outside. I also thought that Referee Richard Steele did a great job and just let them fight!”

– Marc Ratner, Nevada State Athletic Commission Inspector for Hagler-Hearns

“Hagler-Hearns was the first major fight I covered and the first time I was ever in Las Vegas. I was there to do sidebars and run quotes for Greg Logan, who was doing the main story for Newsday. I got a seat in press row when press row was truly ringside, literally within 10 feet of the ring apron. And after the incredible first round, I was on my feet, my legs quivering, when I noticed all the other older, more grizzled reporters were standing too, stunned by what we all had just seen. At that moment, Eddie Schuyler of the AP turned to me and deadpanned in that sardonic manner of his, ‘You know, kid, they aren’t all like this.’ He turned out to be right. Over the next 38 years and who knows how many first rounds, I have yet to see another one like that.”

– Wally Matthews, ringside for Newsday

THE KINGS is produced by Box To Box Film in association with Ingenious Media.  The series is executive produced by James Gay-Rees (Amy, Senna, Drive To Survive) and Paul Martin (Diego Maradona, Drive To Survive), produced by Fiona Neilson (Oasis: Supersonic, Coldplay: A Head Full of Dreams) and directed by Mat Whitecross (Oasis: Supersonic, Road To Guantanamo, Coldplay: A Head Full of Dreams).

Showtime Networks Inc. (SNI), a wholly owned subsidiary of ViacomCBS Inc., owns and operates the premium service SHOWTIME®, which features critically acclaimed original series, provocative documentaries, box-office hit films, comedy and music specials and hard-hitting sports. SHOWTIME is available as a stand-alone streaming service across all major streaming devices and Showtime.com, as well as via cable, DBS, telco and streaming video providers. SNI also operates the premium services THE MOVIE CHANNEL™ and FLIX®, as well as on demand versions of all three brands. SNI markets and distributes sports and entertainment events for exhibition to subscribers on a pay-per-view basis through SHOWTIME PPV®. For more information, go to www.SHO.com.

NEW YORK – April 12, 2021 –In boxing, it is said that styles make fights. From 1980 through 1989, it was the style of four great fighters that not only made legendary fights, it ushered in a boxing renaissance. The fierce rivalry between world champions and future Hall of Famers known as the “Four Kings” – Roberto “Manos de Piedra” Durán, Marvelous Marvin Hagler, Thomas “The Hitman” Hearns, and Sugar Ray Leonard – produced a Golden Age defined by the nine world championship fights between them and solidified their place among the greatest to ever live.

SHOWTIME SPORTS DOCUMENTARY FILMS today announced THE KINGS, a four-part series chronicling the four fighters’ dramatic and divergent ascents to greatness and the legendary matches they produced. The weekly series premieres on Sunday, June 6 at 8 p.m. ET /PT on SHOWTIME, with all episodes being made available across the network’s on-demand and streaming platforms at premiere.

THE KINGS spotlights boxing’s evolution from the end of Muhammad Ali’s era to the era of the Four Kings, set against the seismic political and socio-economic shifts taking place in the United States. The Four Kings rose to fame as the presidency of Jimmy Carter and economic recession gave way to the boon of 1980s capitalism and excess harnessed by the administrations of Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush. Through in-depth interviews and archival footage, the series also examines the very personal battles that each man waged on his unique journey to the center of the sports world.

“These four men defined an era in boxing,” said Stephen Espinoza, President, SHOWTIME Sports. “Their individual stories, forever linked by the spectacular battles they waged, reflect a tumultuous period in American culture and history. THE KINGS takes the viewer beyond the glorious action of some of history’s most memorable prizefights to illuminate each man’s dramatic journey and the societal context that made them stars of sports and popular culture.”

Following a brief fallow period in the wake of Ali’s retirement, boxing was revitalized when Leonard became a world champion in 1979 and waged his first battle with Durán in 1980. From that point, the Four Kings engaged in a decade-long run of riveting fights that far outperformed any other sport in attention and revenue. They were the most popular stars of sports and American culture.

From 1979 through 1985, as a mark of their incredible achievements, the Boxing Writers Association of America bestowed these men the coveted title of “Fighter of the Year” annually with the lone exception of 1982 – with Leonard, Hagler and Hearns each winning twice. In the nine world title fights between them, there were four knockouts and three of the bouts were recognized by The Ring magazine as “Fight of the Year.” The Ring magazine “Round of the Year” (and to many, the round of all time) from round one of Hagler-Hearns is, perhaps, the most iconic single round of boxing of all time. Fittingly, THE KINGS premieres in the 45th anniversary year of Leonard winning an Olympic gold medal, and the 40th anniversary year of the welterweight world title unification battle between Leonard and Hearns, widely considered their greatest fight and a symbol of the era.

THE KINGS is produced by Box To Box Film in association with Ingenious Media. The series is executive produced by James Gay-Rees (Amy, Senna, Drive To Survive) and Paul Martin (Diego Maradona, Drive To Survive), produced by Fiona Neilson (Oasis: Supersonic, Coldplay: A Head Full of Dreams) and directed by Mat Whitecross (Oasis: Supersonic, Road To Guantanamo, Coldplay: A Head Full of Dreams).

Showtime Networks Inc. (SNI), a wholly owned subsidiary of ViacomCBS Inc., owns and operates the premium television networks SHOWTIME^®, THE MOVIE CHANNEL^™ and FLIX^®, and also offers SHOWTIME ON DEMAND^®, THE MOVIE CHANNEL^™ ON DEMAND and FLIX ON DEMAND^®, and the network’s authentication service SHOWTIME ANYTIME^®. Showtime Digital Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of SNI, operates the stand-alone streaming service SHOWTIME^®. SHOWTIME is currently available to subscribers via cable, DBS, and telco providers, and as a stand-alone streaming service through Amazon, Apple^®, Google, LG Smart TVs, Oculus Go, Roku^®, Samsung Smart TVs, Xbox One and PlayStation^®4. Consumers can also subscribe to SHOWTIME via Amazon’s Prime Video Channels, Apple TV Channels, AT&T TV Now, FuboTV, Hulu, The Roku Channel, Sling TV and YouTube TV. Viewers can also watch on computers at Showtime.com. SNI markets and distributes sports and entertainment events for exhibition to subscribers on a pay-per-view basis through SHOWTIME PPV^®. For more information, go to www.SHO.com. 

LAS VEGAS (March 13, 2021) — Top Rank is devastated by the passing of the incomparable Marvelous Marvin Hagler, one of boxing’s most beloved and accomplished champions. Born in Newark, New Jersey, and raised in Brockton, Massachusetts, Hagler overcame humble beginnings to forge a storied professional career that included 12 successful defenses of the undisputed middleweight world championship. He concluded his career in 1987 with a 62-3-2 record and was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1993.
 
Top Rank is honored to have promoted a fighter who embodied everything noble about the sport. The Top Rank family mourns the loss of a legend and sends our condolences to his loved ones and friends.
 
Said Top Rank chairman Bob Arum, “Marvelous Marvin Hagler was among the greatest athletes that Top Rank ever promoted. He was a man of honor and a man of his word, and he performed in the ring with unparalleled determination. He was a true athlete and a true man. I will miss him greatly.”

Marvelous Marvin Hagler, who was one of the greatest fighters of all-time and involved in many mega-fights in 1980’s has passed away according to TMZ.com, who quoted Hagler’s wife, Kay.

Hagler who was the Middleweight champion of the world from 1979-1987 made 13 defenses of his titles, including the likes of Roberto Duran and his memorable three-round war with Thomas Hearns,, and finished with a record of 62-3-2 with 52 knockouts.

No official cause of death is being reported, but the tweet posted by Kay Hagler said he passed away unexpectedly at his home in New Hampshire.

Hagler was 66 years-old.

By Bart Barry-

We were back at Cowboys Stadium in March to see two
of the world’s best prizefighters scrap with one another in a captivating match
if you overlooked weightclass disparity – if you did tequila shots then
backflips on a trampoline, donned promoter goggles and saw Sugar Ray Leonard outclassing
Marvelous Marvin Hagler on the thirtysomethingeth anniversary of that disappointment
– but I was there only to see colleague, mentor and friend, Norm Frauenheim.

Errol Spence, a countryboy raised a halfhour southeast
of Cowboys Stadium (or whatever they’re now calling it) and a halfhour southsoutheast
of Texas Stadium, looked to be the goods, the one special fighter from Team
USA’s none-too-special 2012 squad.

There is something immediately liberating about
declaring yourself a dilletante among writers – all pressures be eased, all
bylines be forgotten, any insights you make on craft be happy accidents;
barriers needn’t be felled for being never erected.

Mikey Garcia had long since proved himself a
special talent with a talent for selfsabotage, having lost 30 months from
exactly his prime, skwabbing with promoter Top Rank, unknown for losing such tiffs,
and was making battle with a much larger and dangerouser opponent than usual
because the casement window of Garcia’s legacy cranked steadily shut.

There’s a wonderful trust-economy app called Turo,
an Airbnb of cars as it were, that empowers you to rent cars from people, not faceless
and gouging agencies, and it helped me discover a proper travelbudget algorithm
– allocate 70-percent to car rental and 30-percent to accommodations – that arrivaled
me at Dallas Love Field to retrieve my 2010 Jaguar XKR (510-hp / 5.0-liter
supercharged V-8 / 21,000 miles on its odometer) and drive it to a Motel 6,
where the Jag was, ahem, out of place.

Whatever else we opined of Spence we saw The Truth
as a proper finisher, a southpaw who appreciated physicality and its effects
and went through smaller men easily and would go through Garcia, quite
probably, like he went through undefeated Carlos Ocampo nine months before,
when Spence aced his tryout at The Star, Cowboys’ practice facility, en route
to his League debut beneath the Jerrytron.

My first time at Cowboys Stadium, exactly nine
years before, when Manny Pacquiao punched Joshua Clottey on the gloves for 36
minutes, I’d’ve called myself anything but a dilletante: I’d recently cowritten
a book with another mentor and friend, Thomas Hauser, and moved to San Antonio
and joined its esteemed San Fernando gym, and arranged my life mostly round producing
words for a living: For a large bank I was a contract technical writer who was 250,000
words into his weekly column gig and about to begin work on his eighth novel.

Mikey was basic in the best sense of the term, heading
into his pay-per-view match with Spence: He threw the sorts of combinations one
learns his first week in a gym; he was in a way what you’d get if you took a
great athlete at age seven and made him constantly throw 1-2-3s at increasingly
larger men till he was 32 years-old.

Dallas is not enchanting, though it has fine a
skyline as our country boasts, but Fort Worth, its neighbor to the west, supplies
cultural highlights – like Tadao Ando’s Modern Art Museum, an architectural
masterpiece that nearly always outshines its contents, and Louis I. Kahn’s
Kimbell Art Museum, an architectural masterpiece that would outshine most any
collection in the world but the one it comprises (its endowment 40 years ago
was in oil stock, which is to write its budget effectively is infinite, and it
acquires whatever it wishes) – that make quarterly trips northwards worthwhile
in a way Dallas alone could not.

The Truth began “the main event of the first Premier
Boxing Champions on FOX Sports Pay-Per-View event” slowly stalking his much
smaller prey and then continued stalking his much smaller prey and then
continued to continue stalking his much smaller prey.

Friday night I found Norm alone in the media
center well before dark, and it portended institutional interest in
Spence-Garcia, as the same sort of media center in Las Vegas for a Pacquiao
fight, or in the same Metroplex for a Pacquiao fight nine years before, would
be boisterous and filled with folks you only know from television, but in March
was small and empty.

Mikey did what he must to keep Errol off him for
the match’s first half, and eyes began to wander towards Mikey’s corner and his
older brother, Robert, a man The Ring named 2011’s best trainer, and what
adjustments Robert might make as a tactical mastermind or not-make as just
another middling trainer mistaken for a mastermind during his lucky run.

Saturday I attended breakfast in Dallas with an
old friend and confidante and then drove to Fort Worth in the Jag to sample The
Modern’s forgettable collection, and when we walked from the forgettable
collection to the unforgettable automobile, she remarked quite astutely: “This
car is the greatest work of art on the property right now.”

The Truth made his professional debut in
California, 130 miles east of Los Angeles, in November of the same year Team
USA posted another 0-for in its medal count then made his way gradually
eastwards till making his first professional fight in Texas at a collegiate
gymnasium in San Antonio so small its university, Our Lady of the Lake, rents
an eastside rodeo coliseum for graduations.

Friday night Norm and I collected Dylan Hernandez,
a Los Angeles Times columnist who despite his penchant for penning boxing
obituaries is wonderful company, and made our way to a Mexican restaurant in
Arlington, where we sat at the bar and told enchanting stories about Michael
Carbajal and Andre Ward and especially Manny Ramirez, and if there’s any lingering
regret about the evening it’s that we took Norm’s dreary rental instead of the
Jag.

What happened in Mikey’s corner was very little
but a catalyst for considering the difference between Errol The Truth and Bud
Crawford: Errol comported himself as a gentleman should, endangering no one in
La Familia Garcia, when Bud would’ve looked Robert’s way at the end of every
round and promised him: I am going to torture your little brother till you use
that white towel, old man.

Bart Barry can be reached via Twitter @bartbarry

By Bart Barry-

Saturday in Las Vegas the adverb-adjective noun in the noun preposition adjective noun(s) happened when Kazakhstan’s middleweight champion Gennady “GGG” Golovkin drew with Mexican junior middleweight champion Saul “Canelo” Alvarez in a prizefight that burnished somewhat Canelo’s legacy, not Golovkin’s. One scorecard went for Golovkin, one scorecard went for both, and the one scorecard that went for Canelo was sufficiently wide to stoke outrage and preserve its embers till May’s rematch.

Saturday’s junior middleweight did not deserve to win the decision, and Saturday’s middleweight did not deserve to win the fight by virtue of its going to a decision. A draw was just fine.

I did not score the match because promotion of both fighters’ punching prowess since 2012 assured me there was no conceivable way the detonation scheduled for their opening bell might lead to both remaining upright, much less unscathed, and so why bother with the formality of an incomplete card? Nobody’d care, after all, I had it 3-2 for Canelo when the deadliest puncher in middleweight history put him on a gurney.

Golovkin’s supporters lost Saturday night. Canelo proved himself the better athlete, craftier technician, possibly the harder puncher and decisively the better finisher, while Golovkin proved himself, well, bigger. The ratification catharsis Golovkin fans have anticipated for five years – the night all their grainy camp videos and faith in Abel Sanchez coalesce into a spectacle so feral their hypothetical legend is ratified as something greater – did not happen, and so their catharsis got loosed on a scorekeeper’s card.

If that’s not an admission of defeat, it’ll do till one shows up.

Whatever the scores should’ve been makes exactly no difference because the fight was good enough to merit a rematch and nobody became interested in our beloved sport on the quality of its split decisions. Now’s a decent moment to reiterate that: You didn’t start watching boxing because you heard about its awesome fourheaded scorekeeping criteria; you grew to love boxing on the virtue of its best events needing no judges whatever. Since Saturday’s event needed judges it was less than best and way less than promised.

A sixtymonth campaign of pretending GGG’s knockout ratio against undersized overachievers is somehow historic now devolves into a shouting match over how many points he scored on a junior middleweight whose consciousness he did not imperil and whose ribs he did not crack and whose nose he did not bloody and whose eyes he did not shutter and whose spirit he did not nick, in 36 minutes of trying? How embarrassing. Golovkin is and will remain a B+ middleweight in a D+ era, but let us have no more happy talk of inclusion on lists with Marvelous Marvin Hagler or Carlos Monzon or Harry Greb – however much longer GGG’s reign of terror on former welterweights and super welterweights continues.

Against a heavybag or a smaller man frightened into behaving as one Golovkin is, no doubt, an annihilating presence. In his postfight comments, somewhere between his fifth “Mexican Style” and seventh, Golovkin accused Canelo of not being that sort of heavybag, and he was right. Canelo’s brand of Mexican style has always been offbrand, more Puerto Vallarta than Culiacan, but as the smaller man he was entitled to do something other than stand and trade mindlessly with a man whose only midfight adjustment was to stand and trade mindlessly-er.

And before we get any higher on our hindlegs about that decision it certainly felt like an honest hand could score rounds 1-3 for Canelo and rounds 10-12 for Canelo, and since three plus three still equals six, if disputing Saturday’s draw becomes your new identity, kid, that says not a damn thing about Saturday’s decision but lots of damning things about you.

Canelo’s winning clearly the last two rounds and less clearly the 10th was the most impressive thing either man did Saturday, especially after preceding those rounds with toetouching backstretches courtesy of one factor, Canelo’s carrying into the championship rounds more weight in his upperbody than he’d done previously, and courtesy of a much larger factor – Golovkin’s stiff jabs to the spot on his forehead where the headgear’s patch would sit, the happenings of which jar the spine its length (see also Ali-Patterson, 1965).

From the fifth round through the ninth the geometry of Canelo-Golovkin 1 appeared like nothing so much as Margarito-Cotto 1, right down to the parry-shuffle-set Canelo did while a large, tactically limited man chased him nodding and smiling. At the fight’s exact midpoint, 30 seconds after round 6 ended, Canelo looked towards the ceiling like he hoped it would say round 9, not round 7, then he fought the next six minutes like he wanted merely to weather them. He was quick and experienced enough to see Golovkin’s telegraphed punches as they left the signalhouse and widely avoid the worst of them, but he hadn’t the conditioning to chasten Golovkin’s sloppy delivery with anything worse than taunts – and if neither man exhibits effective aggressiveness it is never improper to reward ineffective aggressiveness, which Golovkin showed every single minute of the fight.

Thus Golovkin’s largest quality lay in his being the larger man; Canelo’s blocking punches thrown by a 160-pound man fatigued him more than blocking a 154-pound man’s punches (yet another reason why GGG’s inability to fight above middleweight will remain a mark against him). I watched the match with an ethnically diverse group of aficionados, the majority of whom have themselves thrown hands, and the consensus as round 10 began was that Canelo was there for the having. But then Canelo delivered the sophomore level of a lecture Danny Jacobs began in Golovkin’s last match: What happens when you try to mincemeat a man who doesn’t fear you.

There was never anything devastating about a single Golovkin punch – but who could forget the early days of the Golovkin manufacture when HBO leaped to liken a round 7 corner stoppage to prime Mike Tyson? – and Canelo established this early then worried about it midway, but by round 11 Canelo knew no single thing Golovkin could do would unconscious him, and so Canelo went for the win while Golovkin stayed at cruising velocity. Which is why Golovkin fans’ rage at one card of Saturday’s acceptable splitdraw decision is disappointment with their guy, masquerading as a stand against injustice.

Just wait till y’all see the scorecards and purses on Cinco de Mayo!

Bart Barry can be reached via Twitter @bartbarry

By Norm Frauenheim

There are more great anniversaries than great fights these days.

The latest is the 30-year anniversary of Sugar Ray Leonard’s controversial decision over Marvin Hagler.

The debate rages on and on over the three decades since the legendary middleweight clash in an outdoor ring on a back lot behind Las Vegas’ Caesars Palace on April 6, 1987.

Generations of young fighters hear it and probably wonder what in the hell these old guys are talking about. For the record, I’m one of those old guys. Yet, I sympathize with those younger fighters. On a day when Don Rickles – another legend from the 1980s — died, we must sound like a bunch of hockey pucks.

I confess, there are moments when boxing resembles an old man with only memories to sustain him. It was only a few weeks ago that Leonard’s welterweight stoppage of Thomas Hearns in 1981 was recalled in the promotional build-up to Keith Thurman’s decision over Danny Garcia on March 18.

It was unfair to Thurman and Garcia to suggest that their fight could ever be the second coming of Leonard-Hearns. It wasn’t, of course. Only a fool would have thought it might be.

That said, legends remembered are one way of keeping a troubled sport alive. A legend forgotten is just an eroding antiquity, an ancient ruin from a bygone time.

If not exactly healthy, boxing is hardly bygone. Fact is, it’s thriving in some places. To wit: The UK.

A crowd of 90,000 at London’s Wembley Stadium is expected for heavyweights Wladimir Klitschko and Anthony Joshua on April 29.

Please-please-please, hold all the parallels to Joe Louis-Max Schmeling, Muhammad Ali-Joe Frazier and Ali-Foreman. Within the ring, Klitschko-Joshua won’t be that. Not even close. But that anticipated crowd at Wembley adds up to interest still lively as ever. Done right, there’s still nothing like a good fight.

Bob Arum knows that better than anyone. That’s why I applaud him for remembering Leonard-Hagler the way he has over the last week. Sure, there’s self-interest in the scheduling. He’s a businessman, after all.

He talked about his Hagler-Leonard memories last week during a conference call that helped promote an April 22 card at StubHub Center in Carson, Calif. It features emerging featherweight champion Oscar Valdez Jr., super-middleweight champ Gilbert Ramirez, junior-featherweight champ Jessie Magdaleno and Olympic silver medalist Shakur Stevenson in a pro debut.

Then, there was a news conference for Vasyl Lomachenko’s next title defense on Thursday, the same day as the Hagler-Leonard anniversary.

In Lomachenko, Arum has a fighter whom he says has Ali-like skills. Translation: Lomachenko, who faces Jason Sosa Saturday night (HBO 10 pm ET/PT) in Oxon Hill, MD, could be a key to restoring the business. On a historical day, Arum introduced a fighter who he thinks can make history, maybe even repeat some.

On the call with Valdez, Ramirez, Magdaleno and Stevenson, there was a different tactic. Arum was both boxing promoter and history professor. Hagler-Leonard happened before the four twenty-something fighters were born.

Arum asked each to watch and score the fight. The exercise was intriguing, mostly because it brought to life a debate lively then and lively now. Valdez scored it 115-113 for Hagler, favoring Hagler’s aggression. Ramirez and Stevenson scored it 115-113 for Leonard, both favoring Leonard’s quickness. Magdaleno had it for Leonard, 116-112, also favoring Leonard’s overall skill and speed.

“Hagler-Leonard,’’ Stevenson said, “that was a great era but now it’s our turn to begin our own legacy and create our own era where we have fights like that down the line. I can’t wait for that to happen.’’

Throughout the call, Arum never predicted that Valdez, or Ramirez, or Magdaleno, or Stevenson would lead boxing back to a future defined by late journalist and author George Kimball’s Four Kings – Leonard, Hagler, Hearns and Roberto Duran. That would have been unfair to the young fighters. It would foolhardy for the promoter.

At the end of the call, I asked if Ramirez thought he could hang with them. Ramirez, nicknamed Zurdo, was no longer on the line. But Arum was. He immediately jumped in, calling out Gennady Golovkin.

“He doesn’t have to worry about hanging with those guys,’’ Arum said. “The fight Gilberto wants, if he is successful on April 22, is GGG and I would agree to take that fight winner-take-all. I think Zurdo destroys Golovkin the same way that he destroyed Arthur Abraham.”

I asked if Arum agreed with those who argue that the years have begun to catch up with GGG, who turns 35 on Saturday.

“Yes we all do, even me,’’ Arum said. “I’m 85 and showing my age. But, yeah, sure he is. There’s no question. There’s a great A.E. Housman poem, To An Athlete Dying Young. An athlete’s life is relatively short.’’

But the memory of him can be very long if the business reminds the athletes after him of everything he made possible.

LOS ANGELES (April 1, 2017) — With the 30th anniversary of The SuperFight: Hagler vs. Leonard just days away (April 6), Hall of Fame promoter Bob Arum looked back at one of boxing’s most spectacular events. He shared his experiences of that promotion with undefeated World Boxing Organization (WBO) world champions ÓSCAR VALDEZ, GILBERTO “Zurdo” RAMIREZ and JESSIE MAGDALENO, as well as 2016 Olympic silver medalist SHAKUR STEVENSON, who are headlining an exciting world championship tripleheader, and Stevenson’s pro debut, which will take place on Saturday, April 22, under the stars at StubHub Center in Carson, Calif. It will be produced and distributed live on pay-per-view.

In turn, each fighter and his respective trainer took a break from training to watch a clean tape of the fight, minus audio and graphics, and score it. The fighters shared their views on the fight as well.

BOB ARUM: You are going to be hearing from these great young fighters that after reviewing the tape of the Hagler-Leonard fight will give you their opinions on who won the fight based on what they saw from the telecast which was given to them without any sound or graphics on it. Top Rank promoted that fight, which took place on April 6 — thirty years ago before any of these men were born and it was a momentous event in the world of boxing. I want to set the scene for that event particularly for the younger people who may not be aware. The scene was very important. Marvelous Marvin Hagler had come up the hard way in boxing. He had never been to the Olympics and he fought any fighter that would step in the ring with him. He’d have to go from Boston to Philadelphia and other places to find opponents who would fight him. Through intervention of the Speaker of the House of Representatives Tip O’Neil and Senator Ted Kennedy who sent letters to various people, including myself at Top Rank, they forced everyone to give Marvelous Marvin Hagler a shot at the middleweight title. His first shot, I thought he clearly won the fight against Vito Antifermo, but the judges scored it a draw. A year later he fought Alan Minter over in London and stopped Minter in the early rounds — bloodying him so much that the fight had to be stopped. Marvin was greeted by the great sportsmen in England by a barrage of bottles and cans so that everybody had to hide under the ring until the police were ready to restore order. But came back to the United States a real hero then he embarked on a streak of defending his middleweight title. His first big fight was in 1983 against Roberto Duran and then in ’85 in a major, major event he and Thomas Hearns fought a great middleweight championship battle and Marvin knocked Tommy out in the third round. Marvin wanted to retire from boxing at that point but his managers and myself as the promoter convinced him to carry on and in 1986 he fought John “The Beast” Mugabi and Mugabi was a tough hard-punching guy — they went toe-to-toe and in the eleventh round, Marvin knocked Mugabi out.

Ray Leonard had been retired for a number of years and he had been watching that fight and he saw what very few people saw – that Marvin was aging, he was slowing up and Ray, even though he was retired, felt he could come back and take on Hagler. When he announced that he was coming out of retirement, people were incredulous. Hagler went off as a 6:1 or 7:1 favorite in the fight because Leonard was retired and Hagler was this dominant champion – nobody gave Leonard a chance. To put it in perspective, remember the media frenzy when Manny Pacquiao fought Oscar De La Hoya? All of the media people were saying what a mismatch it was and De La Hoya was an overwhelming favorite. We remember, because it was fairly recent, what happened in that fight, Pacquiao dominated and won that fight, but the feeling was the same going into the Hagler-Leonard fight. Ray Leonard was a great fighter, retired, and then coming out of retirement against this dominant middleweight, Marvelous Marvin Hagler.

The country was mesmerized. Ray Leonard was extremely popular – he was the poster boy for boxing. I hope that young Shakur Stevenson will follow in the footsteps of Ray Leonard because he has that kind of personality, but Ray was the darling of America and the darling of boxing. Marvin was respected – everybody realized what a workman-like fighter he was. To sell that fight I called it ‘The Yuppie’ being Leonard who came out of the Olympics with a Gold Medal and had big television exposure from the beginning against the blue collar guy Marvin Hagler who had worked himself up and become the dominant middleweight of his time.

The closed circuit locations were filled. This was the first fight that really touched/started into pay-per-view in various parts of the country. It was a massive, massive event. The fight was sold out in one day and everyone was gathered for this terrific event. I’ll tell you I haven’t seen that fight in 30 years but I remember it as if it happened yesterday. We will talk to the fighters on the call that recently watched the fight and get their views.

ÓSCAR VALDEZ, Undefeated WBO Featherweight World Champion who defends his title against the No. 1 contender, Miguel Marriaga on Saturday, April 22, at StubHub Center, Live on Pay Per View: “First of all I want to say it was a great, great fight. I saw the fight when I was a kid because my dad always showed me tapes of the fights. Watching without the audio I thought that Hagler was the more aggressive fighter. Leonard was moving a lot in the early rounds but was trying to win the later rounds with that speed. I think Hagler did enough to win the fight and I had him winning 115-113.”

GILBERTO RAMÍREZ: Undefeated WBO Super Middleweight Champion, defends his title against top ten contender Max Bursack, also on April 22, live on pay per view: “That was really interesting and a great fight to watch – for me, for my trainer Hector [Zapari] and for the whole team – we watched the fight together. For me, I had Sugar Ray Leonard by three rounds because at the beginning of the fight Hagler pressured more but he looked a little bit tired later – he fought the whole fight going forward. I thought Leonard won the fight because he moved around the ring and he threw more punches.”

JESSIE MAGDALENO: Undefeated WBO Junior Featherweight Champion defends his title against Adeilson De Los Santos on the April 22 pay per view show at StubHub Center: “I scored the fight real close. It was a great fight. They both did a tremendous job and they went in there to pretty much kill each other, but I scored the fight 115-113 for Leonard. I thought Leonard controlled most of the fight. He never let Hagler get in the rhythm or get inside like Hagler usually does to use his power. Leonard really out-boxed him for the full 12-rounds and used his smarts, speed and footwork to keep Hagler away and that’s what got the victory for him.”

SHAKUR STEVENSON: 2016 Olympic Silver Medalist, makes his pro debut in a six-round featherweight bout on April 22, live on pay per view: “I would love to say that I thought Marvin Hagler won because he was from my hometown [Newark], but to be honest, watching the fight and watching Sugar Ray Leonard – Leonard was a beast. I had it 115-113, but Leonard was real good especially coming out of retirement.”

BOB ARUM: I thought it was a great fight. I thought Ray did a tremendous job, better than anybody expected him to do. I had it 115-113 for Marvelous Marvin Hagler. The same score that Lou Felippo – one of the judges had it for Hagler. The other judge from Las Vegas, David Moretti, had it 115-113 for Leonard. Jose Sulaiman’s appointed judge, Jo Jo Guerrero, who never judged another fight, had it eleven rounds to one for Leonard.

Many people thought Ray was stealing rounds with flurries at the end – did you see that?

BOB ARUM: Absolutely, but that was not a unique tactic for Sugar Ray and it was modeled after Muhammad Ali. Very often, in close rounds, particularly in the Norton fight, he would flurry at the end so that the impression he left in the judges’ minds was that he won the round. Obviously rounds should be scored for the full three minutes but there is no questions that human beings being human will give more credit for the last part of a round – not that that’s correct, but that’s how it works.

That pretty much tells the story of Sugar Ray’s smarts in the ring…

BOB ARUM: He was a brilliant fighter, because physically he couldn’t compare. at that point, to Hagler.

Did they not really like each other?

BOB ARUM: No. No No. Marvin could not do a fight unless he got himself into a position where he disliked the opponent. He would put a picture of his opponent up on his bedroom wall so that he would glare back at it. To motivate himself he was the kind of fighter that had to create a dislike for his opponent. Now the guy he really hated, when he fought him, was Hearns. Because when we had them on a tour, Tommy got under Marvin’s skin. But Marvin was disdainful toward Ray because he believed Ray had it so easy in boxing and that he, Marvin, had struggled so hard, but it wasn’t the same kind of hatred that he had for Tommy. I must say that now, many years later, these guys are great friends.

Why did Hagler quit after the fight?

BOB ARUM: Well, he wanted to quit after the Hearns fight – and I want these fighters to hear this. Then we got him to fight Mugabi, then he didn’t want to go any more – he didn’t want to fight Ray Leonard and what happened was, I remember driving through the night with Pat Petronelli, Hagler’s manager, from Boston to New Hampshire where Hagler had a house. We went through fog and everything. I waited and Pat started talking to him and Marvin was banging his hands on the table and afterwards I asked Pat ‘what was that about?’ He said well, I said to Marvin, my brother Goody, who is Hagler’s trainer, we were getting a third of his purse, and we would cut it down if he would take this fight, and he banged the table, Marvin did and said ‘I don’t know if I’m going to fight this punk, but if I do you better take one third.’ He was a hell of a guy, Marvin – he is a hell of a guy. Ray was great too. Ray, Tommy, Roberto – those four guys are examples for all fighters. They were terrific fighters and terrific people.

Shakur, how are you looking to make your pro debut?

SHAKUR STEVENSON: I am very excited and I can’t wait. I feel like I perform under the lights and I am actually excited to perform on April 22 and do what I’ve got to do.

Ray Leonard was not only a great boxer but also a pretty good showman. Do you pattern yourself after him?

SHAKUR STEVENSON: Actually, to be honest with you, I just started watching Ray Leonard. As I am watching, and watching more and more, I try and pick up certain things that he does and trying to add that into my style.

Any regrets about not making your debut in Newark?

SHAKUR STEVENSON: No regrets. I don’t care where I am at. I am a fighter and I am going to fight either way.

Bob, what do you think about Shakur’s prospects?

BOB ARUM: I think that Shakur is going to be a major star in boxing. He has the talent and he has the personality and he is managed by good people – James Prince and Andre Ward. I think the sky is the limit for him. I am really proud of this April 22nd card – introducing Shakur to professional boxing and to have my three great young world champions defending their titles. These three young kids, relatively young, Oscar, Gilberto and Jessie are tremendous young men and great fighters. They works their asses off – they really work hard. They are great role models now that they have been fighting for four or more years now. They are great role models for Shakur. We are looking for big things for all of them and as far as Shakur is concerned, I think he should emulate a guy like Sugar Ray Leonard, who was a great personality, as well as a great fighter.

Ray had an outgoing personality and a million dollar smile to match. How was Hagler?

BOB ARUM: Hagler was the polar opposite. He was relatively introverted. He didn’t show his emotions particularly but I got to know him over the years extraordinarily well and he was a real man and he was the kind of guy that if you were in a war and in a foxhole you would want to be with a Marvelous Marvin Hagler. But he didn’t affect the personality – that really wasn’t him. He was true to himself. In other words, he would never have the personality of a Sugar Ray Leonard or even try to have that personality. He always was Marvelous Marvin Hagler. Ray – that personality was natural. If you speak today to Ray, it is the same bubbly smile and the same personality many years later. So these two guys were true to themselves.

Where are they now?

BOB ARUM: Hagler is still in Italy and has an Italian wife. Listen you guys – this is for the young guys, for the fighters – Marvelous Marvin Hagler never spent 5 cents in a casino. All the time I knew him he never bought me a meal. Every dollar that he made he put away in the bank so that when he retired he had all the money that he would need for the rest of his life. He kept that money and he lived off the interest and also money that he got for speaking engagements and so forth. He is a wealthy man today because he was so frugal with his money. As Shakur said, he was born in Newark, went to Brockton, Massachusetts, in New England. New Englanders have a reputation for being frugal and he had an accountant that looked after his money. He was very conservative in his investments. Today he is a very wealthy guy and he enjoys himself in Italy and comes out from time to time to make speeches at conventions or boxing dinners and he never missed a Hall of Fame induction – he is just that kind of guy. Sugar Ray invested extraordinarily wisely. He is a very well to do guy. He is very active in charities. He lives a very good life. He has a wonderful family and I must say that both of these guys are extraordinarily happy people as their lives have turned out.

BOB ARUM: Ray does broadcasting from time to time, as a lark, because he is into other things. He plays a lot of golf but he is very active in charitable endeavors.

Does Marvin still act?

BOB ARUM: Well, he is getting to an age where he can’t play the gangster as well. I don’t know when they made their last ‘spaghetti western’ as they call it in Italy, but to listen to him speak Italian is hilarious. He speaks it with this American accent and it’s really funny.

How hard did you try to get a rematch?

BOB ARUM: I remember a year later at Caesars they were doing a big dinner to honor the fighters that had fought at Caesars and it was really a salute to boxing. At that dinner, Muhammad Ali was there and I was there, Ray, Marvin and Roberto Duran. Ray called me over and said “Bob, go speak to him (meaning Hagler) and say let’s do the rematch it will do a fortune of business.’ So I went over and talked to Marvin and said “Ray wants me to talk to you about a rematch.’ And Marvin looked at me with that scowl and said ‘tell that guy to get a life.’ That was it – we tried. Marvin was having no more of that.

Were these two the greatest to work with, along with Muhammad Ali?

BOB ARUM: They were great fighters and great people. They had a presence about them in the ring and they never ducked anybody. They were happy to take on any challenge that was there. Boxing had extraordinary popularity during the 80’s and a lot of that was attributable to Ray and Marvin and Tommy and Roberto Duran. They were the focus of boxing. Ali retired in 1978. He came back to fight Larry Holmes unfortunately. But the 80’s belonged to the Four Kings and boxing was extraordinarily prosperous then and boxing was on the tongues of sports people and non-sports people not only in the United States but all over the world.

How easy was it to sign the fight?

BOB ARUM: Nothing is easy in boxing and nothing was easy then. The two guys, once we got Marvin on board, now we knew the fight was going to happen and Ray had a lawyer named Mike Trainer, who has passed away, and Trainer wanted Ray to control the promotion. So he said the fight would only happen if Top Rank – Marvin’s promoter – was not involved. Marvin and the Petronelli brothers, who were loyal guys, said they were not interested in fighting unless Top Rank promoted the fight. So as a result of that, Trainer said ‘OK, Arum buy us out for $11M which was a big sum at the time, and still is a big sum, but at that time it was enormous, and I agreed to do that and I paid Marvin on a percentage and Marvin earned $19 million for the fight and Ray Leonard will never let me forget that.

Do you think Ray changed the perception that now you only had to win rounds to win a fight?

BOB ARUM: Well, the rules say that each round is scored separately and at the end of the fight the fighter that has the most rounds wins that judge’s scorecard. The idea that a challenger has to do more than a champion to win a round or the fight is something that isn’t part of the rules – it’s a myth. You score the fight individually by rounds, period, anyone that says the challenger has to take away the title from the champion by doing appreciably more than the champion – that’s nonsense and contrary to the rules.

But the perception?

BOB ARUM: That’s the perception because people, journalists talk about this and it is fake opinion. It’s not in accordance with the rules. They love to write about it ‘well, the challenger didn’t do enough to win the title’ well he doesn’t have to do more to win, other than to win the majority of the rounds – that’s what the rules say.

Can you think of another fight that has generated as much controversy?

BOB ARUM: Close fights always generate controversy. The Kovalev-Ward fight – people swear that Kovalev won the fight and other people say Andre won the fight. That’s part of what makes boxing really interesting are the very close fights. The second De La Hoya-Mosley fight – I thought Oscar won that fight easily and Mosley got the decision and that was a lot of controversy. The first fight between Lennox Lewis and Evander Holyfield – Lewis won that fight easily – they called it a draw. You know, that’s the nature of the thing – when you have three judges that view a fight subjectively.

Sticking points to negotiations…

BOB ARUM: Well, at that point we were transitioning from 15 rounds to 12 rounds and Marvin obviously wanted 15 rounds but agreed to 12 rounds. That really was the only concession that was made that was of any significance.

The judge that scored the fight 118-110 for Leonard actually still judges fight believe it or not…

BOB ARUM: Yes, but not in the United States – we built a wall to keep him out.

Was that the worst scorecard you have ever seen?

BOB ARUM: Just about the worst – that was ridiculous. The other two scorecards, those of Moretti and Fillippo, they were in the realm, the reasonable realm, but Marvin got cheated because they had that Mexican judge who was rumored to be connected to the organizations which favored Leonard.

The fallout from that judge?

BOB ARUM: Well, that’s right – everybody realized somehow there was something that smelled wrong and nobody in the United States would allow him to judge a fight again. I didn’t know that he was still around even. You’re the one that said he was judging fights – I didn’t know that. I never heard of him after that fight.

He judges primarily in Mexico but he is 83 still judging…

BOB ARUM: Probably now doing a great job since his eyes are failing him – probably getting close to what the real score is.

Was there a fallout?

BOB ARUM: There was an investigation by the Nevada commission about the scoring on that fight.

Does Zurdo think he could hang with those guys [Kovalev and Ward]?

BOB ARUM: He doesn’t have to worry about hanging with those guys. The fight Gilberto wants if he is successful on April 22 is GGG and I would agree to take that fight winner take all. I think Zurdo destroys Golovkin the same way that he destroyed Arthur Abraham.

Many thought GGG was showing his age against Jacobs – do you agree?

BOB ARUM: Yes we all do, even me, I am 85 and I am showing my age. But yes, sure he is there is no question. The great A.E. Houseman poem, “To An Athlete Dying Young” — an athlete’s life is relatively short.

ÓSCAR VALDEZ: Hagler-Leonard was a great fight. It’s a new era where Jessie Magdaleno and Zurdo Ramírez and myself and of course Shakur Stevenson, a great fighter, I love his style. It’s a new era and these are examples that motivates us. Jessie and I work in the same gym every day and we push each other to the limit every single day. And we have a tough, tough fight ahead of us in Miguel Marriaga, the number one contender in the WBO and I can see in his eyes that he wants to accomplish his dream, to become a world champion. But I worked so hard to get this world title and be here and I’m not planning on leaving this anytime soon. I’m working very, very hard because I see these fighters want to take something away from me. I want to give a great fight to the fans at StubHub and those fans tuning into the pay-per-view.

JESSIE MAGDALENO: Hagler and Leonard made great history and now you have these young and up-and-coming new world champions who are ready to show the world what we’re able and capable of doing. April 22 is going to be a night of fireworks.

SHAKUR STEVENSON: Hagler-Leonard, that was a great era but now it’s our turn to begin our own legacy and create our own era where we have fights like that [Hagler-Leonard} down the line and I can’t wait for that to happen. But as of now, I’m focused on doing what I have to do on April 22, going in there and catching a knockout. That’s my plan.

BOB ARUM: Thirty years from now, we’ll be talking — I hope I’ll be talking (laughing) — about major, major fights that these young men will have had. And we’ll be looking back to those fights as being key points and key aspects of boxing in our era.

***************************

Valdez (21-0, 19 KOs), from Nogales, México, will be making the second defense of his WBO featherweight title against No. 1 contender and NABO champion Miguel “Escorpión” Marriaga (25-1, 21 KOs), from Arjona, Colombia; Ramírez (34-0, 24 KOs), from Mazatlán, México, will be making his first defense of the WBO super middleweight title against Top-10 contender Max “Tiger” Bursak (33-4-1, 15 KOs), of Kiev, Ukraine; Magdaleno (24-0, 17 KOs) of Las Vegas, Nev., will be making the first defense of his WBO junior featherweight title against WBO Latino champion Adeilson “Dell” Dos Santos (18-2, 14 KOs), of São Paulo, Brasil, and Stevenson, the crown jewel of the 2016 U.S. Olympic team and the pride of Newark, NJ, will be making his eagerly-awaited professional debut in a six-round featherweight bout.

The six world championship warriors have a combined record of 155-7-1 (110 KOs) for a winning percentage of 95% with a victory by knockout ratio of 71%.

Promoted by Top Rank®, in association with All Star Boxing, Zapari Boxing Promotions and Antonio Leonard Productions, remaining tickets to this world championship tripleheader are priced at $128.50, $77.50, $52.00 and $36.70. They may be purchased online at AXS.com, by phone at (888) 9AXS-TIX, or by visiting the StubHub Center box office.

Produced and distributed live by Top Rank Pay-Per-View, the telecast will begin at 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT. and will be available on all conventional platforms, including all major cable and satellite systems, as well as Top Rank’s digital distribution via www.TopRank.tv and mobile devices.

For fight updates go to www.toprank.com, on Facebook at facebook.com/trboxing, or facebook.com/trboxeo,and on Twitter at twitter.com/trboxing, or twitter.com/trboxeo, To join the conversation on Twitter, please use the hash tags #ValdezMarriaga, #ZurdoBursak and #MagdalenoDosSantos.

LOS ANGELES (March 31, 2017) — It took place on Monday, April 6, 1987 at Caesars Palace and it was promoted by Bob Arum’s Top Rank®. The SuperFight: Hagler vs. Leonard, with Marvin Hagler defending his middleweight title against Sugar Ray Leonard, making a return after a three-year absence from the ring and a big question mark about his surgically-repaired eye. It was one the biggest and most successful sporting events of that era. Caesars Palace was sold out with 15,000 spectators and an estimated 400 million more watching worldwide via closed-circuit or on pay-tv. The media credentialed for fight week was close to 1,1000. It was the quintessential promotion of that time and the foundation on which mega fights are now promoted. And the result? It is as hotly debated today as it was 30 years ago when the judges’ scores were read that night. Dave Moretti scored it 115-113 for Leonard. Lou Fillippo scored it 115-113 for Hagler. Jo Jo Guerra scored it 118-110 for Leonard, making him the new middleweight champion, and completing one of the greatest career comebacks in boxing .

Undefeated World Boxing Organization (WBO) world champions ÓSCAR VALDEZ, GILBERTO “Zurdo” RAMIREZ and JESSIE MAGDALENO, as well as 2016 Olympic silver medalist SHAKUR STEVENSON, are headlining an exciting world championship tripleheader, and Stevenson’s pro debut, which will take place on Saturday, April 22, under the stars at StubHub Center in Carson, Calif. It will be produced and distributed live on pay-per-view. Each fighter and his respective trainer took a break from training to watch a clean tape of the fight, minus audio and graphics, and score it. Here is who they thought won.

Óscar Valdez
“Hagler was the aggressor and he wanted to fight. Leonard was moving a lot early but he would try to steal rounds with flurries at the end of every round. It was a good, tactical fight and both guys had their moments, but I felt that Hagler did enough to win the fight by a slight margin.”
Hagler 115-113

Gilberto ‘Zurdo’ Ramírez
“It was a very close fight, but I saw Leonard winning it. He boxed for twelve rounds, but he also stood his ground and exchanged with Hagler. His speed beat Hagler to the punch. Hagler was very strong and had better punching power, but Leonard had more resources. It Is one of the best fights I have seen.”
Leonard 115-113

Jessie Magdaleno
“I felt that Leonard controlled the pace of the fight and stayed with his boxing plan for the full 12 rounds. He never let Hagler get into the fight the way he wanted to and even though Hagler was aggressive, he was never able to display his trademark power and ferocity. It was a boxing match and it favored Leonard. A good close fight but I saw it for Leonard.” Leonard 116-112

Shakur Stevenson
The rounds Leonard won were clear cut and without question. The rounds I scored for Hagler were more of a pick ’em type — very close. Leonard was boxing beautifully and it was a classic case of the boxer vs. the brawler. Leonard’s boxing ability was the difference in the fight.”
Leonard 115-113

Manny Robles, trainer for Valdez and Magdaleno
“The first four rounds were all Leonard. He dictated everything in those rounds while Hagler fought out of orthodox stance which I still don’t understand. I gave Hagler the fifth round and Leonard the sixth. Then Hagler started coming on sweeping the seventh and eighth rounds. The ninth round was even. Leonard won the tenth round. And Hagler won the last two rounds. Hagler just dug himself too deep a hole in the first four rounds.”
Leonard 115-114

Héctor Zapari, trainer for Ramírez
“It was a great fight of great physical strain where both fighters showed great physical condition. It was a very even fight, but I saw Leonard winning by a small margin. He took Hagler’s power well and had better combinations when they were exchanging. His speed and boxing skills gave him the win in one of the best fights in boxing history.”
Leonard 115-113

Kay Koroma, trainer for Stevenson
“It was a very close fight. I think if it was this era, Hagler would have won because he was the aggressor. There were times in the fight that Ray was boxing beautifully and then times that Hagler was teeing off on him. It was a great fight. I’ve watched it many, many times. Hagler was switching from southpaw to orthodox and the southpaw stance was working for him. It made it a little difficult for Ray because once Ray stopped using his legs, the southpaw stance started working better for Hagler. When Hagler started going to the body first, he was finding Ray a lot easier. I believe if Hagler had gone to the body earlier, he would have won because it would have taken Ray’s legs away.”
Leonard 115-113

Bob Arum
“I had the same score as Lou Fillippo. I thought Marvin won the fight.”
Hagler 115-113

***************************

Valdez (21-0, 19 KOs), from Nogales, México, will be making the second defense of his WBO featherweight title against No. 1 contender and NABO champion Miguel “Escorpión” Marriaga (25-1, 21 KOs), from Arjona, Colombia; Ramírez (34-0, 24 KOs), from Mazatlán, México, will be making his first defense of the WBO super middleweight title against Top-10 contender Max “Tiger” Bursak (33-4-1, 15 KOs), of Kiev, Ukraine; Magdaleno (24-0, 17 KOs) of Las Vegas, Nev., will be making the first defense of his WBO junior featherweight title against WBO Latino champion Adeilson “Dell” Dos Santos (18-2, 14 KOs), of São Paulo, Brasil, and Stevenson, the crown jewel of the 2016 U.S. Olympic team and the pride of Newark, NJ, will be making his eagerly-awaited professional debut in a six-round featherweight bout.

The six world championship warriors have a combined record of 155-7-1 (110 KOs) for a winning percentage of 95% with a victory by knockout ratio of 71%.

Promoted by Top Rank®, in association with All Star Boxing, Zapari Boxing Promotions and Antonio Leonard Productions, remaining tickets to this world championship tripleheader are priced at $128.50, $77.50, $52.00 and $36.70. They may be purchased online at AXS.com, by phone at (888) 9AXS-TIX, or by visiting the StubHub Center box office.

Produced and distributed live by Top Rank Pay-Per-View, the telecast will begin at 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT. and will be available on all conventional platforms, including all major cable and satellite systems, as well as Top Rank’s digital distribution via www.TopRank.tv and mobile devices.

For fight updates go to www.toprank.com, on Facebook at facebook.com/trboxing, or facebook.com/trboxeo,and on Twitter at twitter.com/trboxing, or twitter.com/trboxeo, To join the conversation on Twitter, please use the hash tags #ValdezMarriaga, #ZurdoBursak and #MagdalenoDosSantos.

LAS VEGAS (February 15, 2017) — Former world champion Thomas Hearns, who along with Sugar Ray Leonard, Marvelous Marvin Hagler and Roberto Duran dominated boxing in the 1980s and became known collectively as “The Four Kings,” headlines a 14-person class of inductees into the Nevada Boxing Hall of Fame, Hall CEO/president Michelle Corrales-Lewis announced Wednesday.

Hearns was chosen in the non-Nevada resident boxer category, along with Michael Spinks, Erik Morales, Michael Carbajal, women’s boxing star Lucia Rijker and Salvador Sanchez. Elected in the Nevada resident boxer category was Ken Norton, Leon Spinks and Richie Sandoval.

Chosen in the non-boxer category were referee Davey Pearl, public relations specialist Debbie Munch, promoter Mel Greb, trainer/cut man Rafael Garcia and Nevada Athletic Commission chair Dr. Elias Ghanem.

Norton, Sanchez, Greb and Ghanem will be inducted posthumously.

The members of the Nevada Boxing Hall of Fame’s star-studded fifth-induction class will be honored at a gala dinner at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas on Saturday, August 12. Ticket will be released Tomorrow! Thursday, February 16th at Noon PT via NVBHOF.com .

“We are very proud of this class of inductees, and it contains some of the greatest fighters who ever lived,” Corrales-Lewis said. “I’m looking forward to our gala dinner when we can honor these richly deserving people and allow their fans to say hello.”

Hearns was one of the standouts during the 1980s and participated in a series of great bouts in Las Vegas with Leonard, Hagler and Duran. His 1985 bout with Hagler at Caesars Palace is still regarded by many as the greatest fight in boxing history.

The Spinks brothers, Michael and Leon, become the first set of brothers inducted into the Nevada Boxing Hall of Fame. Both won gold medals for the U.S. at the 1976 Olympics in Montreal and then went on to win world titles in the pros.

Norton, known primarily for a series of close bouts with the legendary Muhammad Ali, also competed in one of the great heavyweight title bouts ever. He lost the WBC title by a razor-thin decision to Larry Holmes in 1978, among the finest heavyweight championship fights ever held.

Pearl was among the best referees of all-time and worked more than 70 championship bouts. He was the referee for both Leon Spinks’ shocking 1978 upset of Ali as well as for Leonard’s dramatic 14th-round knockout of Hearns in 1981.

The Nevada Boxing Hall of Fame is an IRS 501 (c) (3) charity and all donations are tax deductible. The Hall’s charitable contributions over the five years since its formation have helped boxers in need and boxing-related charities. Donations are welcome.

The Hall was founded in 2013 by noted boxing broadcaster Rich Marotta.

For more information, phone 702-3NVBHOF, or 702-368-2463.

BIOGRAPHIES OF THE NEW HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES

Michael Carbajal – Best known as the first junior flyweight to earn a $1 million purse, Carbajal won world titles at junior flyweight and flyweight. Known as “Little Hands of Stone” for his punching power, Carbajal was 49-4 with 33 KOs.

His rivalry with Humberto “Chiquita” Gonzalez was one of the best of the early 1990s and their 1993 fight was The Ring Magazine Fight of the Year. In 2004, The Ring named Carbajal as the best junior flyweight in history.

He was 98-10 as an amateur and won a silver medal at the 1988 Olympics in Seoul, South Korea.

Thomas Hearns – Hearns, 58, won recognized world titles at welterweight, super welterweight, middleweight, super middleweight and light heavyweight during a career in which he went 61-5-1 with 48 KOs.

He’s most remembered for his savage three-round battle with Hagler in 1985, but he participated in many of the decade’s biggest and most electric bouts. He fought in Las Vegas 16 times, going 11-4-1 with nine knockouts.

Erik Morales – One of the most exciting fighters of the early part of the 2000s, Morales is best known for his series of outstanding fights with arch rival Marco Antonio Barrera. Morales went 52-9 with 36 knockouts but is best known for his trilogy with Barrera, two of which were named Ring Fight of the year.

Morales won major world titles at super bantamweight, featherweight, super featherweight and super lightweight, becoming the first Mexican born fighter to win titles in four weight classes.

He also engaged in a spectacular trilogy with Manny Pacquiao, beating him in the first and dropping the last two.

Ken Norton – Though he was the heavyweight champion before losing his belt to Larry Holmes in one of the great title bouts ever, Norton was best known for his three fights with the legendary Muhammad Ali. Norton defeated Ali in 1973 in San Diego in their first bout, breaking Ali’s jaw.

Ali won the two subsequent bouts, including a 1976 match at Yankee Stadium for the title. Some observers believe Norton deserved to win all three fights.

The Holmes fight was sensational and the two men stood in the center of the ring at Caesars and slugged it out in the 15th and final round.

Lucia Rijker – Rijker is regarded as one of, if not the best, women boxers in history. She was 17-0 with 14 knockouts in boxing and was 37-0-1 with 25 knockouts as a kick boxer.

In her boxing career, she scored dominant wins over the likes of Jane Couch, Marcela Acuna and Chevelle Hallback.

She later appeared in the Oscar-winning film, “Million Dollar Baby.”

Salvador Sanchez – Sanchez tragically died in an auto accident in Mexico at just 23 years old, robbing the world of one of the elite fighters in history well before his time. Sanchez was 44-1-1 with 32 knockouts and was the lineal featherweight champion from 1980 until his death in 1982.

He won the title by knocking out Danny “Little Red” Lopez, but is best known for a dominating eighth-round stoppage of Wilfredo Gomez. Gomez was 33-0 with 32 knockouts but was no match for Sanchez.

Richie Sandoval – Sandoval held the bantamweight title for two years, but his career, as great as it was, is a question of what might have been. He was a member of the 1980 U.S. Olympic boxing team, but he lost his chance at a medal when President Carter decided to boycott the Games in Moscow.

Sandoval won the first 29 fights of his pro career, racking up 17 knockouts, and beat the great Jeff Chandler for the bantamweight belt.

But tragically, Sandoval suffered serious brain injuries in a 1986 bout with Gaby Canizales and was forced to retire.

Leon Spinks – Spinks is most known for upsetting Muhammad Ali in 1978 in just his eighth pro fight to win the heavyweight championship. He lost the title in a rematch and failed in two other attempts to win a title. He was stopped by Larry Holmes in a heavyweight title fight in 1981 and lost a cruiserweight title challenge in Reno to Dwight Muhammad Qawi in 1986.

A colorful figure known as “Neon” Leon, he was an acclaimed amateur who was 178-7 with 133 KOs and the light heavyweight gold at the 1976 Olympic Games in Montreal.

He finished his professional career with a 26-17-3 mark and 14 KOs.

Michael Spinks – Spinks was 31-1 in his career and won both the light heavyweight and heavyweight titles. He moved up from light heavyweight to defeat Larry Holmes at the Riviera in 1985, denying Holmes the opportunity to go 49-0 and match Rocky Marciano’s record.

He won the light heavyweight title in his 17th pro fight in 1981 at the Imperial Palace in Las Vegas when he bested the much more experienced Eddie Mustafa Muhammad. Spinks held the light heavyweight title for four years, before giving it up to move to heavyweight to fight Holmes.

A 1976 Olympic gold medalist, Spinks’ only pro loss came in his final fight when he was knocked out by Mike Tyson in a bout for the undisputed heavyweight title.

NON-BOXER INDUCTEE BIOGRAPHIES
Rafael Garcia – Garcia, 87, is best known for his cap he wears festooned with pins and for working as Floyd Mayweather’s hand wrapper. But he had a long career as both a cut man and a trainer and was outstanding at both. He worked with elite fighters such as Mayweather, Roberto Duran, Alexis Arguello and Wilfredo Gomez.

Dr. Elias Ghanem – Ghanem as the long-time chairman of the Nevada Athletic Commission, and was responsible for helping it to earn the moniker, “The greatest commission in the world.”

Ghanem, a physician whose patients once included Elvis Presley, played a key role in the hearings after Mike Tyson bit Evander Holyfield, and also was instrumental in bringing the Oscar De La Hoya-Felix Trinidad bout to Las Vegas in 1999.

Mel Greb – Known as “The father of professional boxing in Southern Nevada,” Greb was a promoter and matchmaker who first brought Muhammad Ali to Nevada. Then known as Cassius Clay, Greb promoted Ali’s seventh pro fight in 1961. That week, he introduced Ali to wrestler “Gorgeous” George, and Ali patterned himself after George in many ways.

Greb died in 1996 at 75 years old.

Debbie Munch – Caesars Palace in Las Vegas was a legendary host for many of boxing’s biggest fights in the 1980s and early 1990s, and Munch, a public relations expert, was instrumental in it.

She was widely respected by promoters, boxers and the media and helped many journalists immeasurably with their boxing coverage.

Davey Pearl – Pearl was small of stature, but was a giant as a referee. He worked more than 70 world title bouts, including Muhammad Ali-Leon Spinks and Sugar Ray Leonard-Thomas Hearns.

Pearl was also a highly regarded judge.

NEW YORK (March 2, 2016) – SHOWTIME Sports rolls out its third installment of a year-long salute commemorating 30 years of SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING in March with “Legends’’.

This month will be highlighted by legends Sugar Ray Leonard, Marvelous Marvin Hagler, Felix Trinidad, Ricardo “Finito” Lopez and George Foreman. Seven of the most unforgettable and important fights from these legends – some of which have seldom been re-aired since their live presentation – are available now on the network’s on demand platforms and will air will air on “Throwback Thursdays” in March at 10 p.m. ET/PT on SHOWTIME EXTREME.

The Thursday, March 10 presentation of Marvin Hagler vs. John Mugabi airs exactly 30 years after the final win of Hagler’s Hall of Fame career on March 10, 1986. Hagler vs. Mugabi was the first main event to ever air on SHOWTIME®.

The classic fights, which are also are available on SHOWTIME ON DEMAND®, SHOWTIME ANYTIME® and via the network’s standalone streaming service, will be wrapped with brief context and commentary from SHOWTIME Sports host Brian Custer.

Below is the schedule of SHO EXTREME premieres for the month of March:
Tomorrow, Thursday, March 3: Terry Norris vs. Sugar Ray Leonard
Thursday, March 10: Marvin Hagler vs. John Mugabi
Thursday, March 17: Felix Trinidad vs. David Reid
Thursday, March 24: Ricardo Lopez vs. Rosendo Alvarez II
Thursday, March 31: Iran Barkley vs. Thomas Hearns I, George Foreman vs. Gerry Cooney (10:15 p.m. ET/PT), Gerald McClellan vs. Julian Jackson I (10:30 p.m. ET/PT)

LAS VEGAS, NV (August 6, 2015) — The Nevada Boxing Hall of Fame will unveil its internet radio station, iNVBH, as part of its Induction week festivities at Caesars Palace. The broadcasts will begin Today! at 3:00 p.m. ET / Noon PT and culminate with a live stream of the Induction Ceremony Saturday night. A variety of hosts will man the microphones during the week ranging from sportscasting professionals to boxers themselves. The station is powered by the Interactive radio-connective company RadioFlag, a rising tech giant.

Boxing legends Floyd Mayweather Jr., Marvelous Marvin Hagler, Sugar Ray Leonard, Lennox Lewis, Mike Tyson, Felix “Tito” Trinidad, Marco Antonio Barrera, Roger Mayweather and Eddie Mustafa Muhammad have confirmed their attendance to the popular charity event.

Nevada Boxing Hall of Fame President Rich Marotta said, “This is a cutting edge move for the NVBHOF, to put it in even greater contact with boxing fans. It is not just for this week. iNVBH is now a permanent radio home where we can provide information, features, interviews and broadcast live events.”

To listen to the new Nevada Boxing Hall of Fame internet radio station, simply download the RadioFlag app for iPhone, Android, Blackberry and Windows Phone, register and search our call letters iNVBH. You can also tune in via www.RadioFlag.com.

RadioFlag was founded in 2007 by Anthony Roman. From a simple early premise of combining radio and social media, it has evolved into a company re-inventing radio for a new generation of listeners around the world.

“Our social radio web and mobile app connects listeners with radio hosts and DJ’s, music artists and content creators of all types, onto a single platform,” said Roman. “This way listeners can share and discover content not found on traditional radio, such as the Nevada Boxing Hall of Fame.”

The Nevada Boxing Hall of Fame is a 501-c-3, non-profit organization. Ticket purchases and donations are tax-deductible. Remaining tickets for Saturday night’s Induction Ceremony and Dinner can be purchased on-line at: the Hall’s website: www.nvbhof.com.

LAS VEGAS, NV (August 5, 2015) — Marvelous Marvin Hagler’s middleweight world championship belt; trunks, gloves and robes worn by Diego Corrales, Erik Morales, Jose Luis Castillo and Johnny Tapia, among others; Oscar De La Hoya’s 1992 Olympic gold medal and artifacts such as betting slips from a 1910 Jack Johnson bout and Jim Jeffries’ shoes, will be on display at the Nevada Boxing Hall of Fame’s exhibit/museum at Caesars Palace on Friday and Saturday.

The third annual NVBHOF induction gala will be held on Saturday at Caesars, and Hall CEO/Founder/President Rich Marotta wanted to provide a special treat for boxing fans in Las Vegas, so he came up with the idea for the exhibit.

It will be open to the public on Friday and Saturday outside the Palace Ballroom at Caesars from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day.

“We hope the entire boxing community of Las Vegas will come out and enjoy this different special attraction,” Marotta said. “It will honor the rich history of boxing in Nevada, as well as the glamorous figures who made Nevada the boxing capitol of the world.”

There will be much more of Nevada’s boxing history on display in addition to the aforementioned items. Among the most unique are:

· Newspaper accounts from the James Corbett-Bob Fitzsimmons bout from 1897, the first held in Nevada.
· Fitzsimmons’ good-luck horseshoe.
· Three generations of WBC championship belts.
· Memorabilia from legendary trainer Eddie Futch’s 50-year career.
· The actual ring used for many of the most historic fights ever held at Caesars Palace, as well as much more.

As a special attraction, famed boxing artist Richard Slone, designer of memorable boxing posters and programs, will display some of his finest pieces and will be there to discuss them with fans.

There will also be in-person appearances by fighters and boxing personalities throughout both days. Television personality James “Smitty” Smith will host question-and-answer sessions with many of the stars.

Remaining tickets for Saturday night’s induction ceremony are $300, $175 and $75 and are fully tax deductible, as the NVBHOF is an IRS 501 (c)3 charity. They can be purchased online at the Hall’s website, nvbhof.com.

Confirmed attendees include inductees Hagler, Lennox Lewis, Marco Antonio Barrera, Felix Trinidad, Roger Mayweather and Eddie Mustafa Muhammad, as well as Nevada Fighter of the Year Floyd Mayweather Jr., and presenters Mike Tyson and Sugar Ray Leonard.

The Hall was founded in 2013 by Marotta, a noted boxing broadcaster.
For more information, phone 702-3-NVBHOF, or 702-368-2463.

LAS VEGAS, NEV. (July 31, 2015) — Former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson became the latest mega-star to announce that he will attend the third annual Nevada Boxing Hall of Fame’s induction gala, which will take place in eight days, Next Saturday! August 8, at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas.

Tyson, a member of the Nevada Boxing Hall of Fame’s inaugural class in 2013, will present “The Greatest,” Muhammad Ali, for induction.

Tyson joins legends Floyd Mayweather Jr., Marvelous Marvin Hagler, Sugar Ray Leonard, Lennox Lewis, Felix “Tito” Trinidad, Marco Antonio Barrera, Roger Mayweather and Eddie Mustafa Muhammad who will attend the popular charity event.

Remaining Tickets for the August 8 induction ceremony are $300, $175 and $75 and are fully tax deductible as the NVBHOF is an IRS 501 (c)3 charity. They can be purchased online at the Hall’s website, nvbhof.com.

A member of the International Boxing Hall of Fame, as well, Tyson was the biggest star of his era. He was 50-6 with 44 knockouts and is renowned as one of the most feared fighters ever.

He is the youngest man ever to win the heavyweight title and had two stints as heavyweight champion.

He attended the second annual event in 2014 to present his long-time rival, Evander Holyfield, for induction.

“We are thrilled to have Mike join us for the third consecutive year,” said Nevada Boxing Hall of Fame president/CEO Rich Marotta. “It’s a big treat for all of the boxing fans who plan to attend the induction gala. Mike’s addition just continues the dizzying array of stars who plan to attend in person to show support for our event.”

The Hall was founded in 2013 by Marotta, a noted boxing broadcaster. Its chief operating officer is Michelle Corrales-Lewis, whose late husband, Diego Corrales, was an inaugural inductee into the Nevada Boxing Hall of Fame.

LAS VEGAS, NV (July 29, 2015) — Rich Marotta, the president and chief executive officer of the Nevada Boxing Hall of Fame, announced Wednesday that Academy Award-nominated actress Rosie Perez and International Boxing Hall of Fame broadcaster Al Bernstein will serve as the Master of Ceremonies for the third annual Nevada Boxing Hall of Fame induction dinner on Saturday, August 8, at Caesars Palace.

Remaining Tickets for the August 8 induction ceremony are $300, $175 and $75 and are fully tax deductible as the NVBHOF is an IRS 501 (c)3 charity. They can be purchased online at the Hall’s website, nvbhof.com.

Perez, who is returning for her second year as the event’s MC, is a diehard boxing fan. She served as a co-host for the Emmy Award-winning daytime talk show, “The View,” and she starred in several popular films. She earned Academy Award and Golden Globe nominations for her role in “Fearless.”

She also starred in Spike Lee’s “Do the Right Thing,” and Andrew Bergman’s “It Could Happen to You.” She made her directorial debut with the documentary film, “Yo Soy Boricua Pa’que Tu Lo Sepas!” It was a featured film at the 2006 Tribeca Film Festival.

Perez made a return to Broadway this past year as she starred in Larry David’s “Fish in the Dark.”

The past year proved very busy for Rosie Perez as she returned to Broadway for the highly-successful Fish in the Dark with Larry David and was also co-hosting ABC’s Emmy Award-winning daytime talk show, The View.

Throughout her career, Perez has been a vocal activist for a number of causes and serves as the Artistic Board Chair for Urban Arts Partnership. Rosie details her childhood upbringing and career in her book, “Handbook for an Unpredictable Life: How I Survived Sister Renata and My Crazy Mother, and Still Came Out Smiling (with Great Hair).”

A Las Vegas resident, the popular Bernstein was a member of the Nevada Boxing Hall of Fame’s star-studded inaugural induction class in 2013.

Bernstein is a familiar face for boxing fans, first as the analyst for ESPN’s boxing series and currently as the analyst for Showtime Championship Boxing.

A former journalist who has a rich history in radio, Bernstein has appeared in many movies and on television. His movie credits include, “Rocky V,” “Streets of Gold,” and “Play It to the Bone.” He has made two guest appearances on the HBO series “Arli$$,” and appeared in the Showtime movie “Paradise” and the HBO movie “Glory Days.”

In 1980, Bernstein wrote his first book, called “Boxing for Beginners,” an instructional/historical book on boxing. His most recent book is “30 Years, 30 Undeniable Truths about Boxing, Sports and TV,” a lighthearted, but enlightening look back at his 30 years in broadcasting

Bernstein has now moved onto the Internet and hosts an online show, “Al Bernstein’s Boxing Hangouts,” which fans can see by going to www.youtube.com/AlsBoxingHangouts. It gives him a chance to talk boxing and provide programming for boxing fans around the globe.

Marotta also announced that Crystina Poncher, an analyst for Top Rank Boxing and Turner Sports, will serve as a roving reporter for the evening. She’ll interview inductees, members of their families and whatever other celebrities she may find.

In addition to her boxing duties, Poncher serves as a host, reporter and correspondent for the NFL Network and NFL.com. She previously worked for Fox Sports.com, Fox Sports West and Prime Ticket.

Among the honorees for the 2015 event who have confirmed they will attend in person are former undisputed heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis; ex-middleweight champion Marvelous Marvin Hagler; former middleweight, super welterweight and welterweight champion Felix “Tito” Trinidad, former linear featherweight champion Marco Antonio Barrera, ex-light heavyweight champion Eddie Mustafa Muhammad and former super lightweight champ Roger Mayweather.

Boxing’s pound-for-pound king, Floyd Mayweather, will be honored as the Nevada Fighter of the Year, and will be presented the award by legendary Hall of Famer Sugar Ray Leonard.

The Hall was founded in 2013 by Marotta, a noted boxing broadcaster. Its chief operating officer is Michelle Corrales-Lewis, whose late husband, Diego Corrales, was an inaugural inductee into the Nevada Boxing Hall of Fame.

For more information, phone 702-3-NVBHOF, or 702-368-2463.

LAS VEGAS, NV. (July 28, 2015) — Rich Marotta, the president and CEO of the Nevada Boxing Hall of Fame, announced Tuesday that legendary champion Sugar Ray Leonard has confirmed his attendance at the third annual induction gala on Saturday, August 8, at Caesars Palace.

Leonard, a 1976 Olympic gold medalist, was a member of the inaugural class of NVBHOF inductees in 2013 and last year presented his one-time rival Roberto Duran for his induction.

He scored the biggest wins of his career at Caesars Palace, defeating both Thomas Hearns and Marvelous Marvin Hagler at Las Vegas’ “Home of Champions.”

Marotta said that Leonard will present the Hall’s annual Fighter of the Year award to pound-for-pound king Floyd Mayweather Jr.

“I’m very excited to announce that Ray will join us for the third consecutive year and that he’s agreed to present Floyd with his Fighter of the Year honor,” Marotta said.
“Ray has long been one of the sport’s most popular figures and I know fans are going to be excited to see him again.”

Leonard, whose legendary career included world championships at welterweight, super welterweight, middleweight, super middleweight and light heavyweight, is currently serving as the boxing analyst for NBC’s broadcasts of the Premier Boxing Champions series.

Most of boxing’s greatest stars have played at Caesars, and a number of the biggest have confirmed they will attend the Nevada Boxing Hall of Fame’s induction gala dinner on August 8.

In addition to Leonard and Mayweather, other superstars who are committed to attend are 2015 inductees Marvelous Marvin Hagler, Lennox Lewis, Felix Trinidad, Marco Antonio Barrera, Eddie Mustafa Muhammad and Roger Mayweather.

Remaining Tickets for the August 8 induction ceremony are $300, $175 and $75 and are fully tax deductible, as the NVBHOF is an IRS 501 (c)3 charity. They can be purchased online at the Hall’s website, nvbhof.com.

The Hall was founded in 2013 by Marotta, a noted boxing broadcaster. Its chief operating officer is Michelle Corrales-Lewis, whose late husband, Diego Corrales, was an inaugural inductee into the Nevada Boxing Hall of Fame.

For more information, phone 702-3-NVBHOF, or 702-368-2463

LAS VEGAS, NV (July 23, 2015) — Unbeaten pound-for-pound king Floyd Mayweather Jr. made it three in a row when he was chosen as the Nevada Fighter of the Year once again by the Nevada Boxing Hall of Fame. Mayweather also won the award in 2013 and 2014. The annual Nevada Boxing Hall of Fame induction gala will be held Saturday, August 8, at Caesars Palace. This year’s event will have special meaning to Mayweather, whose uncle, Roger, is being inducted into the Hall for his brilliant boxing career.

A number of the greatest stars in boxing history will attend the popular induction ceremony on Aug. 8 at Caesars Palace. Among the big names who have confirmed they will be in attendance are Lennox Lewis, Marvelous Marvin Hagler, Felix Trinidad, Marco Antonio Barrera, Eddie Mustafa Muhammad and Roger Mayweather.

The boxer known as “The Greatest,” Muhammad Ali, is also among the inductees.

Remaining Tickets for the August 8 induction ceremony are $300, $175 and $75 and are fully tax deductible as the NVBHOF is an IRS 501 (c)3 charity. They can be purchased online at the Hall’s website, nvbhof.com. Donations are also accepted at http://nvbhof.com.

The Nevada Fighter of the Year announcement was made by NVBHOF Founder and CEO Rich Marotta, who recognized Mayweather for wins over Manny Pacquiao and Marcos Maidana. Mayweather scored a convincing win over Maidana in a Sept. 13, 2014, rematch at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. He followed that with a brilliant performance in a wide win over Manny Pacquiao on May 2, 2015, in a bout that set all sorts of financial records.

“I appreciate the Nevada Boxing Hall of Fame for selecting me as Fighter of the Year once again,” Floyd Mayweather said. “My uncle Roger is also being inducted into the Nevada Boxing Hall of Fame. He was a great fighter and is a fantastic trainer who doesn’t always receive the credit he deserves. It’s nice for him to be recognized by the NVBHOF for his role in boxing for so many years.”

Mayweather’s bout with Pacquiao was billed as “The Fight of the Century,” and smashed all financial records. Mayweather earned more than $200 million in purse money after setting a record by selling 4.4 million pay-per-views.

It also smashed the record for the largest paid gate, at $72.2 million. Mayweather’s 2013 bout in Las Vegas was the previous mark, at $20 million.
Mayweather, who has been involved in the three top-selling pay-per-view in boxing history, has the three largest gates in Nevada history as well as five of the top six.

He is 48-0 and heading into the final bout of his career on Sept. 12 in Las Vegas.

Marotta also announced that the NVBHOF will honor Layla McCarter as its women’s Fighter of the Year and Jarred Santos of the University of Nevada, Reno, as its amateur Fighter of the Year.

It will present its President’s Award to Mike Martino and its Humanitarian Award to Yank Barry.

The Hall was founded by Marotta, a noted boxing broadcaster. Its chief operating officer is Michelle Corrales-Lewis, whose late husband, Diego Corrales, was an inaugural inductee into the Nevada Boxing Hall of Fame.

For more information, phone 702-3-NVBHOF, or 702-368-2463.

LAS VEGAS, NV. (July 22, 2015) — Superstar heavyweight LENNOX LEWIS, who won an Olympic gold medal with a victory over Riddick Bowe and scored professional victories over boxing legends such as Mike Tyson, Evander Holyfield and Vitali Klitschko, confirmed Wednesday that he will return to Las Vegas to attend the Nevada Boxing Hall of Fame’s third annual induction gala at Caesars Palace on Saturday, August 8.

Lewis is the latest in a gaggle of stars who have announced they’ll attend the popular gala induction ceremony which is just 17 days away. In addition to Lewis the Nevada Boxing Hall of Fame has confirmed that Marvelous Marvin Hagler, Felix Trinidad, Marco Antonio Barrera, Eddie Mustafa Muhammad and Roger Mayweather will also attend the high-profile event as the newest members of the Nevada Boxing Hall of Fame.

Remaining Tickets for the August 8 induction ceremony, priced at $300, $175 and $75, are fully tax deductible as the NVBHOF is an IRS 501 (c)3 charity. They can be purchased online at the Hall’s website, nvbhof.com. Donations are also accepted at http://nvbhof.com.

Lewis, who was 41-2-1 with 32 knockouts and had a win over every man he ever faced in the ring, is one of the headliners of the NVBHOF’s 2015 class of inductees, chosen in the non-Nevada boxer category.

Lewis avenged the only two losses of his career, stopping both Oliver McCall and Hasim Rahman after losing to them earlier.

Lewis was a classic boxer with a powerful punch. He’s probably best known for his 2002 win over Tyson, in which he won every round before stopping him in the eighth round.

He held all, or a version of, the heavyweight title from 1993 until 1994 and then again from 1997 through the end of his career in 2003.

Lewis had great success in Nevada and avenged both of his losses in Las Vegas. He was 8-0 in his Nevada career and won fights at both Caesars Palace and Caesars Tahoe.

In the latter part of his fighting career, Lewis joined HBO Sports as an expert analyst and was a familiar figure at ringside for many of the biggest bouts of the late 20th and early 21st century in Las Vegas.

The Hall was founded by noted boxing broadcaster Rich Marotta. Its chief operating officer is Michelle Corrales-Lewis, whose late husband, Diego Corrales, was an inaugural inductee into the Nevada Boxing Hall of Fame.

For more information, phone 702-3-NVBHOF, or 702-368-2463.

LAS VEGAS, NEV. (July 6, 2015) — Marvelous Marvin Hagler, whose spine-tingling 1985 victory over Thomas Hearns defined an era, announced Monday that he will return to Las Vegas to attend the Nevada Boxing Hall of Fame’s third annual induction weekend.

The legendary Hagler is one of the headliners of the NVBHOF’s 2015 class of inductees, chosen in the non-Nevada boxer category.

Remaining tickets for the Saturday, August 8 induction ceremony at Caesars Palace are $300, $175 and $75 and are fully tax deductible as the NVBHOF is an IRS 501 (c)3 charity. They can be purchased online at the Hall’s website, nvbhof.com.

“To the Nevada Boxing Hall of Fame and to those that voted for me: I’m speechless!” Hagler said. “This is an important recognition. To get to this level, I had to fight hard in life and in the ring. Every time, it was a challenge to prove to myself that I could do it, and my determination gave me the strength to go on and make my dream come true.”

Hagler compiled a 62-3-2 record with 52 knockouts in a stellar 14-year career that saw him meet and defeat some of the greatest fighters of his era.

He’s best known for his third-round stoppage of Hearns in a savage 1985 battle for the middleweight title at Caesars Palace. It is on every boxing expert’s list of the greatest fights of all-time, with many placing it atop the list.

Hagler, though, is about far more than the fight with Hearns. He went undefeated for more than 11 years, going 36-0-1 from 1976 through 1986. His streak ended on April 6, 1987, at Caesars Palace when he lost a highly controversial split decision to long-time rival Sugar Ray Leonard.

His biggest fights came at Caesars, which became known throughout boxing as “The Home of Champions” in large part because of Hagler.

He made his Caesars debut against Vito Antuofermo on Nov. 30, 1979, when he fought to a draw in a bout many believe he won.

Hagler went on to score notable wins at Caesars over Marcos Geraldo in 1980, Roberto Duran in 1983, Hearns in 1985 and John “The Beast” Mugabi in 1986 before the loss to Leonard in 1987.

Hagler joins former welterweight, super welterweight and middleweight champion Felix “Tito” Trinidad in confirming he will attend the gala that honors the career of those who have done so much for boxing in Nevada.

The Hall was founded by noted boxing broadcaster Rich Marotta. Its chief operating officer is Michelle Corrales-Lewis, whose late husband, Diego Corrales, was an inaugural inductee into the Nevada Boxing Hall of Fame.

For more information, phone 702-3-NVBHOF, or 702-368-2463.

On April 15, 1985, when Marvelous Marvin Hagler battled Tommy Hearns in their epic match, Al Bernstein was there to announce the fight. Thirty years later, on May 2, 2015, Al Bernstein will, again be ringside to announce the Floyd Mayweather-Manny Pacquaio mega fight. In between those two great events Al has fashioned an announcing career that earned him a long list of accolades and landed him in The International Boxing Hall of Fame.

Bernstein is the bridge to these two major events in boxing history. He said: “As we celebrate the 30th anniversary of Hagler-Hearns and look back at what those two great athletes created, it’s also exciting to look forward to another milestone in the sport’s rich history. To be a part of both those events is and honor and responsibility that I don’t take lightly. In 1985 I was in the first part of my career filled with excitement to have such an important assignment—now 30 years later, with all the big fights I’ve done, I am just as excited to be ringside. The atmosphere at the Caesar’s Palace outdoor arena 30 years ago was electric. It was a night I will never forget.That same intensity will be felt at the MGM Grand Garden Arena when Floyd and Manny do battle. I can’t wait to be ringside and help chronicle that event.”

In his book, “30 Years, 30 Undeniable Truths About Boxing, Sports and TV”, Al details many of the colorful events and personalities surrounding the Hagler-Hearns mega fight.

By Bart Barry

Quick, off the top of your head, name the contracted terms of Sugar Ray Robinson’s rematch with Jake LaMotta in 1943. No? OK, how about the purse split between Marvelous Marvin Hagler and Thomas Hearns for “The War” in 1985? Not springing to mind. What about the name of Israel Vazquez’s advisor during cable-network negotiations for his second fight with Rafael Marquez?

It’s hard to recall such trivia because, contrary to today’s coverage of our beloved sport, history rightly consigns these details to its dustbin, recalling only the swapping of punches. And it does not remember at all fights that were never made – hell, not even a YouTube search can find Floyd Mayweather’s matches with Kostya Tszyu or Antonio Margarito.

Saturday, Russian light heavyweight titlist Sergey “Krusher” Kovalev stopped someone named Cedric Agnew in forgettable fashion to set-up a long-longed-for fight with fellow titlist Adonis Stevenson, one Kovalev and Stevenson’s network, HBO, dedicated quite a lot of its subscribers’ time to setting-up – except that shortly before Kovalev’s match, subscribers learned Stevenson was no longer with HBO, rendering them suckers for caring a whit about Kovalev’s meaningless tilts with Agnew and someone else named Ismayl Sillah, or Stevenson’s 13 forgettable rounds with, let’s see, Tony Bellew and Tavoris Cloud.

As 2014 continues along, matters become incrementally more futile. If an aficionado took every fight worth seeing this year and added them together, he would have trouble paying for a month’s subscription to HBO or Showtime, and no chance of justifying both, much less both and a gaggle of overpriced pay-per-view offerings. Everything is marketed to him like it is portentous; nothing is meaningful in and of itself, but each thing might be consequential someday in a where-were-you-when sort of way.

HBO has taken two Russian-speaking prizefighters, Sergey Kovalev and Gennady Golovkin, and promised its subscribers historic things from them, creating hours of highlight reels in lieu of paying meaningful opposition to fight them. After losing Floyd Mayweather, the network locked-in Andre Ward as its pound-for-pound superstar, giving him a microphone without requiring that he fight. It marketed Nonito Donaire in all his portentous finery only to see him lose the first meaningful fight of his HBO tenure, only to have no apparent opposition for Donaire’s vanquisher, only to transition to Mikey Garcia – as settled along a path as the network’s Next Nonito as any fighter currently plying his wares.

Maybe Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. is not serious about his craft as Ward or Donaire, but he does a lot more fighting than they do, and he does it in matches that sell tickets and happen on HBO. That’s scheduled to change, though, as it appears Chavez may fight Golovkin on pay-per-view in the summertime, in a fight with no right whatever to an additional tariff: Chavez is 0-1 against world class opposition, and Golovkin has yet to face any. In a serious era, Chavez-Golovkin would make a fantastic Boxing After Dark main event and a passable World Championship Boxing offering, and so it takes tremendous chutzpah to threaten beleaguered subscribers, the long-suffering fools who’ve sat through meaningless Golovkin match after meaningless Chavez match, seasoned in Golovkin’s case with hysterical allusions to all-time greats before Golovkin has proved himself even an all-time good, with tollgated access to their match.

Last week’s machinations with Adonis Stevenson’s migration to Showtime, after a pair of preparatory Stevenson fights on HBO to prepare us for more preparatory fights on HBO, since HBO hadn’t the budget to cajole Stevenson’s signature onto a contract with Sergey Kovalev – a possibility too absurd to consider – are relevant to Golovkin and Chavez, and Mikey Garcia and Andre Ward and Guillermo Rigondeaux and a roster of hitherto anonymous lads whose greatest collective attribute is being unmarketable enough not to interest Al Haymon, for this reason: HBO’s want of credibility now subverts its marketing of every fight and fighter.

Kovalev appears to be an excellent puncher whose offense may be susceptible to a touch on his chin, but he’s fighting in a division Roy Jones Jr. dominated in bygone days, and even Krusher’s kinfolk might have a konniption at komparisons between Kovalev and Jones. When Jones fought meaningless matches, that is, at least subscribers knew they were seeing a once-in-a-generation talent icing unknowns, instead of a man who may or may not be better than a hard-punching Haitian journeyman unhinged when unhooked from his canary-yellow bra-cape.

Kovalev-Stevenson was the fight aficionados most wished to see in 2014, and it was wholly makeable, and HBO deserves all the blame for not making it; it shall be remembered as the greatest failure of the current regime and possibly its last. So much of the promotion of Kovalev’s fight with Agnew focused on Kovalev’s fight with Stevenson that not-overlooking Agnew was the advice served to what journalists attended Kocktails with the Krusher in San Antonio a month ago, when Kovalev was in town for Chavez-Vera II and answering questions, sort of, in his rich Russian brogue.

Kovalev is a large man, an alpha male, who should have no trouble being moved to cruiserweight, if Andre Ward cannot be enticed out of semi-retirement to fight him, but Kovalev probably will not go anywhere, or fight Ward, because, you know, promotional issues and purses and all the complications of making a prizefight, ideas so legally entangled and algorithmically indecipherable no member of the laity should expect to understand them. No member of the laity should be expected to understand them, regardless of complexity, because they make not a whit of difference to the experience for which any audience member at any spectacle pays.

There is nothing Adonis Stevenson will do on Showtime that will have him remembered long enough to show up on a Canastota ballot after he retires – he chose currency over legacy, and his accountant will have to render ultimate judgment on him because boxing historians shan’t be bothered. By agreeing to fight the Ismayl Sillahs and Cedric Agnews of the world, Kovalev now unwittingly ambles a similar path to well-paid obscurity, or however one says “if it makes dollars it makes sense” in Russian. If Krusher hopes to be remembered at all, he’ll have to do something far more audacious than Saturday’s offering.

Bart Barry can be reached at bart.barrys.email (at) gmail.com

WORCESTER, Mass. (February 15, 2013) – Undefeated, United States Boxing Association (USBA) super middleweight champion Edwin “La Bomba” Rodriguez (22-0, 15 KOs) is following the path to Monte Carlo, set more than 40 years ago by another Massachusetts boxer, “Marvelous” Marvin Hagler.

Rodriguez faces the stiffest test of his professional boxing career on March 30, against unbeaten 2008 Argentina Olympian Ezequiel “El Olimpico” Maderna (19-0, 13 KOs), in the opening round of “Monte Carlo Million Dollar Super 4” at Casino de Monte-Carlo in Monaco.

Rodriguez vs. Maderna is half of a historic four-man tournament, also matching two-time, two division world champion Zsolt Erdei (33-0, 18 KOs) vs. Denis Grachev (12-1-1, 8 KOs) in a light heavyweight bout. The championship final of the “Super Four” will feature the winners of the two aforementioned fights at a catch-weight of 171 ½ lbs., worth $1,000,000 (60-40 split) to the champion, on July 13 in Monaco.

The Dominican Republic-born Rodriguez has a lot in common with Hagler than their respective journeys to Monaco. Both relocated to Massachusetts; Rodriguez in Worcester, New Jersey-born Hagler in Brockton. In 2005, Rodriguez captured the middleweight title at the 2005 USA Boxing National Championships, the first Bay State amateur boxer to accomplish that feat since Hagler in 1973.

Six long years into his professional boxing career, future Hall of Famer Hagler (45-2-1 at that time) was the most avoided middleweight in the world, forced to travel to Monte Carlo in 1979 to fight Norberto Rufino Cabrera, who failed to answer the bell for the eighth round, before finally earning his first world title fight. He fought Vito Antuofermo to a controversial draw but, four fights later, Hagler knocked out Alan Minter capture the World Boxing Council (WBC) and World Boxing Association (WBA) titles.

Five years into his pro career, Rodriguez has been unable to get any of the contemporary world super middleweight champions in the ring, despite his lofty ratings at No. 3 in the WBC, WBA and International Boxing Federation (IBF), as well as No. 12 by the World Boxing Organization (WBO) and No. 10 by The Ring Magazine.

“Marvin Hagler has been in the back of my mind since I won The Nationals in 2005 and became the first Massachusetts fighter since him to do that,” Rodriguez said from his Houston training camp. “It was an honor for me to meet him a few years later in Brockton at an amateur tournament. He was such a great fighter and fought in such a great era, including one against another of my all-time favorite fighters, Roberto Duran. To be mentioned, never mind compared to a fighter like him, who accomplished so much in boxing, makes me feel good about myself.

“I certainly understand that boxing is much different today and boxers don’t fight nearly as often, but my promoter (Lou DiBella) and manager (Larry Army) have done a good job positioning me. I’m going to Monaco to fight a great opponent and I am proud to have been selected as one of the four fighters in this tournament. I think it’s a good move for my career. I plan on going there to win the tournament, come back home with a bigger name, and fight one of the champions for the world title.”

Edwin Rodriguez (R) hammers Donovan George

(Photo by Ed Diller)

Maderna, a 2008 Argentina Olympian, is continuing the rich tradition of Argentinean boxing, starting with Luis Angel Firpo, continued by Carlos Monzon, and carried on today by world champions Sergio Martinez, Lucas Matthysse, Omar Narvaez and Juan Reveco.

Ranked No. 5 by the WBO and No. 13 by the IBF, Maderna will be fighting outside of his native Argentina for the first time as a professional. He has reunited with his first amateur coach, Alberto Zacarias, the son of legendary Argentinean trainer Santos Zacarias, who trained world champions Jua Cogi and Sergio Palma.

Army believes the potential reward associated with “La Bomba” participating in the “Super Four” far outweighs the risk of losing or waiting around for a world title shot. “The decision to have Edwin fight in this tournament was a no-brainer,” Army explained. “He’s fighting an undefeated Olympian and then, if Edwin wins he either fights a two-time world champion of an extremely tough Russian fighter who gave Lucian Bute all he could handle. We believe this tournament will give Edwin’s career the boost he needs for him to get a world championship fight. Right now, unfortunately, we don’t have a lot of options for a world title shot. This tournament is the next best thing for Edwin. We’re all looking forward to Edwin putting on a great performance in Monte Carlo.”

Follow Edwin Rodriguez on Twitter @labombaboxing.