The mega event, it is something often talked about in boxing, but rarely do these match ups ever happen. The fight between Marvin Hagler and ?Sugar? Ray Leonard is the rare exception, and it was an event that even today is still talked about. In part 2 of my exclusive interview with Marvelous Marvin Hagler, I discuss with him the circumstances surrounding the bout with Leonard, and his reasons for retiring after he was unable to secure the rematch. In addition, I talk to Marvin about the mega event that people still want to see today, Mayweather-Pacquiao. Marvin gives his views who would win the fight and why, and also gives his thoughts on Manny Pacquiao?s future in the sport. Here is what Marvin Hagler had to say.
Jenna J: Do you ever look at the way you fought Leonard, you know fighting the first few rounds orthodox, do you look at any part of it and wish you would have done something different to not even give the judges any doubt?
Marvin Hagler: No, I think that I did the right thing, I thought it was a good fight, even if they say I lost the first three rounds. I came on, I fought real hard I picked up those rounds they said that I lost, I ended the fight real strongly and this guy only with his pitter patter stuff like a little girl.
There was nothing that was hurting me, I came out of that fight looking just the way I look right now, I mean I had no scars, no bleeding nose, no bloody nose, no effects that I was in a tough battle or a tough fight, it was just like that.
I knew that I had won the fight and I was dancing around parading and everything, and finally I?m just asking them to give me my dues the way that it?s supposed to be, to be a real champion, and that never happened you know. It was the politics involved in the game and a lot of other things that go on behind the scenes which I don?t know.
Jenna J: Marvin, being the fact that you decided to retire after that fight, do you really feel like that was the right move for yourself at that point because there were other belts you could have gone after. Was it because you couldn?t get the rematch him?
Marvin Hagler: Yeah, I hung around for another year and I was hoping that he would be the champion that he?s supposed to be and to give me a return match, which he never did. I wasn?t gonna hang around for me to get older or whatever like that, so I decided that I wanted to go into films.
I wanted to be able to show also the world, the boxing world that there was something else out there besides boxing, that you really don?t have to kill yourself trying to stay in this game for the rest of your life. There is other options out there that you have to do, and with me while I was still young I wanted to take advantage of it and that?s the reason why I went into acting.
Jenna J: Alright, well you mention you went into acting, you also bring up a very important fact, a lot of boxers can?t find a career after boxing, but you yourself did. Did you ever feel a draw to go back into the ring or is it because you engulfed yourself in your new endeavor that you didn?t feel the pull at all?
Marvin Hagler: No, I feel I achieved everything I wanted to do in life and I?m still like I said, I?m looking forward to continuing my acting career, another film would be great for me. I?m very happy and satisfied right now doing a lot of charity benefit works, doing a lot of dinner shows, doing a lot of personal appearances, traveling a lot around the world, doing things with my website, which is http://www.marvelousmarvin.com/ and we got a lot of great Christmas gifts and stuff out there for everybody that is listening so don?t be afraid to give me a write.
So like I said, some of the charity work I?m doing for Laureus Sport for Good Foundation is helping a lot of kids which makes me feel good to be able to put a smile on a young kids face and being able to give something back you know, when you finish your career. That?s what I?m happy about, we just keep trying to do the right things.
Jenna J: You certainly sound like you?ve been doing a lot out there outside of boxing helping charities. I have to ask you, you mention your website there, I remember when you first came on the show and you had a product line that you told the fans about. Why don?t you tell them a little bit about it now.
Marvin Hagler: Yes, we still got the perfume out there, as a matter of fact we got 20% off because of the holidays and stuff like that. I get a lot of sales which keeps my name out there. It?s nothing that you?re gonna get rich on, it?s something that touches the base with my fans and my friends and it makes everybody feel happy you know to have achieved something, to have something of my personal render like that. So it?s good, it keeps me occupied and keeps me busy too.
Jenna J: So everybody out there, you can check out the website and smell like a champion you can be simply Marvelous. Now Marvin, I want to ask you about the current boxing landscape. Who are some of the fighters that you enjoy watching today?
Marvin Hagler: Today I like to see Floyd Mayweather, Pacquiao, the Klitschko brothers, and watching these young guys coming up. I know it?s just as tough as it is for them in their era as it was for me as when I was in my era, but the thing that I mentioned to you earlier, everybody seems to be getting a belt, they got too many organizations out there and not enough fighters are real legit fighters that deserve it.
I see fighters sometimes with only twenty something fights and they are world champions and they don?t stay there long enough for you to get to know them or not even the public to get to know them. That part is something a little strange, but it?s happening now, it didn?t happen that well in my career, I mean everything was very hard in my era.
Jenna J: That?s what people say in boxing today that it?s a little bit soft, but from your perspective, you?ve watched Floyd Mayweather Jr, if he was back in your era, how do you think he would of done?
Marvin Hagler: Well in my era I think it was much tougher and I think they would see what boxing really was about, and that things didn?t come so easy as it is today. There was a lot of politics, there was a lot of other ups and downs. It?s a strange business this boxing game. I think it?s not a game for everybody, it was hard work, just hoping for the breaks and hoping that somebody would give you that break. It was a long and hard road.
Jenna J: Speaking of Mayweather, people always wonder today, how do you beat him? He?s undefeated, you?ve seen his style. How do you think a fighter today would go about beating him?
Marvin Hagler: Well I think he?s at the pinnacle of his career right now, even though I think he?s got a style that creates a lot of problems for people, but he?s a good fighter you know, I take nothing away from him, but like I said, there?s none of the fighters that there was back in my era here today.
Jenna J: You mentioned Pacquiao a second ago, he?s basically just returned from a knockout loss, he won a decision. I?m just wondering where do you think he now sits in boxing? Do you think he could be that guy to beat Mayweather?
Marvin Hagler: No, I think there?s no secrets right now because after Pacquiao got knocked out I believe that Mayweather will find a secret. You know what would have been nice, it would have been the first part if they fought when they both were trying to figure each other out.
Now I believe Mayweather, by sitting on the outside he would have the advantage because he knows now that Pacquiao don?t have a chin like he used to, plus he would be a little nervous about being stopped or knocked out again. I think it would still be a great fight for the public to see.
Jenna J: Speaking of great fights that nobody ever got to see, it?s everybody?s fantasy fight at middleweight, you versus Carlos Monzon. I know it was briefly talked about when you were a contender but how do you think it would have played out had you two gone into the ring?
Marvin Hagler: Well at the time I thought I would have done very well. Carlos, I gave him a lot of respect, he was a real true champion and the only thing that disappointed me because I tried to tie his record with one more title defense, I would have tied it at fourteen.
I think something was in the makings of me not really doing that. I could have had that, that?s how close it was, but I think it would have been a good fight between me and Carlos Monzon, this guy had a terrible right hand, something like a Tommy Hearns, he could knock you out like that, very tall, awkward, but he was a great champion, that?s all I can say.
Jenna J: When you see young fighters out there today, if you could give them any piece of advice starting their pro career, what would it be?
Marvin Hagler: I would say continue to work hard, continue to sacrifice, the boxing game is not easy. Hopefully you will be able to put your money away and hopefully the dreams that you have, whatever they may be, will come true. Even if you?re looking for another big fight or who you would love to fight, hopefully these things will happen. Being patient was the best thing for me, so maybe it can be the best thing for them too.
Jenna J: Finally, for all your fans listening out there, any message you want to pass out in closing?
Marvin Hagler: I just want to say thank you all for giving me the support that you did and I would just like to say a Merry Christmas to each and every one of you and thank you for being a marvelous fan! (laughs)
