For those of us who have spent more than 20 years posting and participating in online boxing forums dating back to the late 1990s, when it comes to boxing history one thing is clear – some topics are timeless!
Arguably, next to the heavyweight and the middleweight divisions, the welterweight division captures the attention, and the imagination of fight fans, the most.
Sugar Ray Leonard and Thomas Hearns, the two greatest welterweights of their era, had met in 1981. A boxing classic had ensued, with Leonard sensationally rallying to stop Hearns, who led on the cards at the time, in the fourteenth-round.
For many, Sugar Ray Leonard is the greatest welterweight in the history of the sport bar the simply incomparable Sugar Ray Robinson; the boxing immortal Ray was named after (his Christian name, along with his middle name, being given to him by parents who worshipped Ray Charles).
The most memorable and talked about fight of the last forty years took place 32 years ago today. It was of course on this day in April, 1987, when all-time greats Sugar Ray Leonard and Marvelous Marvin Hagler put it all on the line in Las Vegas; creating at the time the biggest-money fight of the pay-per-view era.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CS5Ngj3OufQ
It was an unbelievable sight, a thoroughly unpredictable event. The great Roberto Duran, for many the toughest of all tough guys, quitting in the ring.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mI5torlkKRQ
It took place 30 years ago today, and the fight was one of the biggest and most controversial catch-weight world title fights in boxing history.
Whenever the subject of Dream Fights comes up, fans often ponder what would have happened had classy, skilful and artistic welterweights Sugar Ray Leonard and Floyd Mayweather Junior met.
https://youtu.be/aX8YgLZvtUc?t=12s
62 years ago today in Wilmington, North Carolina, one of the greatest boxers of the last fifty years was born; in fact, a more recent tribute afforded this special fighter, from Ring Magazine, was his being named as the greatest living fighter today.
Over three decades on, fight fans everywhere STILL argue over who really won the middleweight title fight between defending champ Hagler and big betting underdog challenger Leonard.