By 1983, Marvin Hagler had entered what would prove to be the defining period of his career.
Recognised as the world’s best middleweight, the undisputed champion was still battling for the truly lucrative fights his status deserved. That changed between 1983 and 1987, when he shared the ring with Roberto Durán, Thomas Hearns and, in his final bout, Sugar Ray Leonard.
The four men fought one another at least once between June 1980 and June 1989. Hagler, however, would be the only member of the famed “Four Kings” never to take part in a rematch. His victories over Durán and Hearns, and his controversial defeat to Leonard, were never revisited, while Durán and Leonard fought twice, as did Leonard and Hearns.
All four featured prominently in The Ring’s Best I Faced series. When Hagler was asked which opponent stood out above the rest, his answer was immediate.
“Durán; I would say Roberto Durán.”
Durán was chasing an unprecedented fourth world title when he stepped up to middleweight to challenge Hagler in 1983 at the specially constructed outdoor arena at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas.
Hagler held clear advantages in height and physical strength and was determined to demonstrate just how complete a fighter he was. Durán promised to attack the body, but while his famed power failed to fully translate at middleweight, he compensated with relentless pressure and defiance, refusing to allow his rival to dominate.
Durán gave everything in a gallant 15-round effort that restored much of the credibility lost in his rematch with Leonard. Ultimately, however, it was Hagler who prevailed on the scorecards.
