By Kevin Wrigley: This is part 1 of a 5 part series designed to look at great title runs from past champions who held a major title and did not lose it for a significant period of length. They must have held on to that specific title (and can add more titles to there collection, whilst still defending the original one) in one weight class. I base a great title run on factors such as quantity of opponents, quality of opponents, did the opponents deserve the shot and would they go on to achieve much etc.

While many felt Marvin Hagler he was unlucky in his draw against the WBA and WBC champ Vito Antuofermo, he did not let it get to his head. Indeed in his next title shot against Alan Minter he took out all of the frustrations on the Brit stopping him on 3 via a cut to the displeasure of the spectators. This in itself was a very good win- Minter was coming of two wins over Vito. Even if the first one was a debatable decision he proved he was world class by stopping him the second fight. After the Hagler fight he never seemed the same going 1-2 in his last 3 bouts.

Hagler won these two belt on 1980 September 27th and held them both until just before his 1987 showdown with Sugar Ray Leonard, were the WBA stripped him. For 7 years he defended these two belts, making 12 successful defences. He began by being the first person to beat 30-0 Fulgencio Obelmejias. While the Venezuelan had done little to earn this shot he later won a title up at 168 becoming the first man to beat Chong-Pal-Park in 5 years. Hagler stopped him in 8 and later in 5 rounds. The brave Venezuelan did not have enough to stop the rampaging champion and suffered a crushing knockout in the second fight, one of Hagler’s better stoppages. He avenged a draw on his record by battering Vito Antuofermo for 4 rounds before his corner pulled him out after seeing how damaged his face was.

Mustafa Hamsho was Hagler’s first opponent for 1981. He had earned his shot with wins over Wilford Scypion, Alan Minter and Curtis Parker. Very brave effort put in by the granite chinned Hamsho but his come forward style played into Hagler’s hands and his corner pulled him out at the end of the 11th. A few fights later he (after noticeably beating the great, albeit faded, Wilfredo Benetiz) he tried again only to get stopped inside of 3. Hagler destroyed Caveman Lee (his worst title opponent by quite a distance in order to promote a fight with Lee’s stable mate, Thomas Hearn’s). A win over high class European level Tony Sibson followed, as his him winning the IBF title stopping a tame Wilford Scypion inside of 4. He closed out the year 1983 with a win over the great Roberto Duran. Take from this fight what you will, Duran was a few weight divisions higher than he ought to be yet he had success later on at 160. His destruction of Davey Moore impressed people and believed he could perhaps test the champ. This was Hagler’s toughest fight to date; he was marked up at the end thanks to a combination of head buts, elbows and a few punches. His tentative performance against the little Duran did not earn him any new fans however.

In his next fight he was dropped for the only time in his pro career. Juan Roldan caught him off balance and dropped him. Hagler went on to stop the teak tough Argentine inside of 10, but signs of him slipping perhaps? Still Roldan had looked devastating destroying Frank Fletcher yet he had little success against Hagler- Hagler was still clearly a top dog. Another win over Hamsho and then Hagler was ready for the big one- Thomas Hearn’s. We all know what followed- a three round war which has stood the test of time very well. Hearn’s later showed how good he was at 160 beating Doug Dewitt, Roldan and destroying top prospect James Schuler. Very good win for Hagler, Hearn’s did not have his 147 power for the most part and his chin could be dented easily. But still he could bang and had a number of advantages over most boxers at 160. Hagler then stopped monster puncher John Mugabi inside of 11 but there were clear signs of him slipping. He really struggled to land his powerful left on the Beast. But still a solid win over a guy who went on to win a piece of the championship and was 25-0 (25 knockouts at the time).

Hagler unfortunately finished his career on a loss, losing a debatable decision to a come backing Sugar Ray Leonard. There are worse guys to lose to and Hagler made it desperately close he just could not catch the speedy Leonard.

I believe you have to look at this title run as one of great historical significance. Of his 12 victims only the great Roberto Duran would last the distance. There were no close desperate moments of panic (maybe except the cut against Hearn’s and his tense fight against Mugabi). He pretty much dominated in all of his title defences and left no stone unturned. He beat a number of opponents who went on to win world titles and plenty others were never the same after he beat them. That to me is a sign of his greatness and is why he is one of the greatest champions of all time.