The greatest fight I have ever seen to date was between two of my perennial favorites, Sugar Ray Leonard and Marvelous Marvin Hagler. It was an unforgettable event, years in the making, that almost never took place due to Leonard's long retirement after suffering an eye injury. After eliminating their other two prominent counterparts -- Thomas Hearns and Roberto Duran -- in the contention, everyone thought that their paths were destined to cross sooner than expected.
A glimmer of hope shone when Sugar Ray invited Marvin to a charity event, rumored to be the stage for his announcement of the much-anticipated, biggest fight in years. To Marvin's dismay as well as the boxing bigwigs in attendance, Sugar Ray announced his retirement. It was like a dagger to his chest if the humiliation was not enough, denying him of a mega buck payday he so deserved after toiling efficiently for years in the background while Sugar Ray basked in his fame and glory, along with the astronomical purses he commanded.
Understandably, Hagler's resentment of Leonard was deeply-rooted. His equally sterling achievements were always relegated to the backseat. While Leonard did a more lucrative 7-up, and later Diet Coke endorsements ...Marvin was seen munching a Pizza Hut and endorsing a certain deodorant on tv as price for knocking out Thomas Hearns.
In the years that Leonard took a time out as a boxer,he plunged into cocaine addiction while working in the sidelines as boxing commentator in various high-profile fights, including those of Marvin's whose stock had gotten bigger since his absence.
Missing the limelight and accolades, a planned return inspired Sugar Ray to secretly set up a long training camp, hiring tough southpaws to simulate Marvin's style.
After five years, he ended his retirement and issued a challenge to Marvin's Middleweight crown.
As history unfolded, he defied all the odds by staging the mother of all comebacks in a fight only a few gave him a chance to win. Showing a masterful display of skills and strategy, he upset the long-reigning champ via controversial split decision in a battle billed, THE SUPERFIGHT. A disgruntled Marvin Hagler permanently walked away from boxing that night a very bitter man, blaming boxing politics for the robbery. What made it even more unbearable, he lost to "Sugar Ray Leonard".
Albeit he never spews the same fire as Joe Frazier, every time his fight with Ali in Manila is being discussed in retrospect, Marvin never waives on his claim that he won his final fight-- and his resentment of Sugar Ray for not giving him a rematch still ignites flashes of flame in recent interviews.
Here's a tribute:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HcAZ7gnRh4o
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appriciating with its other !!!! 
