Marvin Hagler gets his first legitimate shot at the World Middleweight titles against recently crowned champion, Vito Antuofermo. It would be a bruising encounter for both men and the outcome hotly debated. More info below...
Marvin Hagler was a 7 year veteran by the time of this fight and had beaten some experience competition to get were he was. Hagler had been the victim of poor judges decisions however with at least 1 or 2 fights not going his way when most felt he should won. In 1974 Hagler received a draw in a rematch with Sugar Ray Seales, a fight in which Hagler finished strongly and bloodied up Seales but not enough to get him the win. In 1976 Hagler suffered his first defeat against Bobby Watts, a fight which Hagler should have won, and in most peoples eyes he did, but the majority decision went the way of the home town favorite. 2 months later and Hagler suffered his second loss, a unanimous decision against Willie Monroe. Hagler was humble in defeat on this occasion however and said he had learned a lot from Monroe who had completely out boxed him. From that moment on Hagler would rack up a 20 fight win streak with 19 by way of KO and was cutting a path through the middleweight ranks with what looked like ease. During this time he won the Vacant North American Middleweight title in a rematch with Willie Monroe via 12th round TKO and even won the short lived and very lightly regarded Massachusetts World Middleweight title against undefeated Mike Colbert also by 12th rd stoppage. Although the Massachusetts World title was not recognized by any of the big boxing organisations, Hagler did start referring to himself as the real Middleweight World Champion because the current and recognized champions did not want to fight him. It was only a matter of time before somebody was forced to fight him however as Hagler had cleaned out the other middleweight contenders. His record going into the fight was 46-2-1.
Vito Antuofermo had been around since 1971 and built a name for himself as a tough, determined brawler who took on all challengers. Although not the most technically skilled and he cut easily, Antuofermo was still dangerous because he always came forward and had a relentless bullying attack style. In 1976 Antuofermo won the European Super Welterweight title from Eckhard Dagge. He made one successful defense before losing it to Maurice Hope. He bounced back strongly with 8 wins in a row to earn himself a shot at WBA & WBC World Middleweight Champion, Hugo Pastor Corro. In a somewhat upset, Antuofermo won a split decision to the become the new World champion. He record following the win was 45-3-1.
Antuofermo's first defense of his World titles was not going to be easy. Hagler could go punch to punch with the best brawlers in the world however with so much riding on this fight he decided to box with a more counter punching style and to avoid any infighting if he could. Antuofermo kept the pressure on but he was also being constantly tagged by counter punchers which were cutting him open. After 15 rounds most people, including ref Mills Lane, felt Hagler had won an easy decision. But once again Hagler was the receiving end of bad (possibly corrupt) judging with the fight ending in a draw... Antuofermo got to walk away Champion still.
Hagler had exposed Antuofermo however and in his next title defense, Antuofermo lost a split decision to Alan Minter of the UK. There was a rematch with Minter in 1980 however Antuofermo was forced to retire after rounds due to cuts.
Hagler had to wait a year before he got another shot at the World Middleweight title due to Antuofermo and Minter fighting over the belts. When his time came in 1980, Hagler fought Alan Minter in the UK for the WBA & WBC World Middleweight titles and in a controversial ending, Hagler won by 3rd Rd TKO because of cuts. A riot ensued after the win but Hagler was now finally recognized as the TRUE World Middleweight Champion and his best fights were still to come...
