- 5/23/2025
Marvelous Marvin Hagler defends his WBC/WBA Middleweight Titles for the first time against Fulgencio Obelmejias on HBO
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LearningTranscript
00:00:00Hagler he is no stranger to the role of a contender who nobody wanted but today
00:00:04Marvin stands alone he is the only undisputed champion in the world for
00:00:09seven long years Marvin dreamt of stepping into the ring with a middleweight
00:00:12champion those days are over today marvelous Marvin is the most feared
00:00:16middleweight in the world he is the possessor of the WBA and WBC crowns and
00:00:21the most powerful punching combinations in boxing but now a new role Marvin
00:00:26steps into the ring with his title on the line tonight the first title defense
00:00:29of marvelous Marvin Hagler live from the Boston Garden in Boston Massachusetts
00:00:36HBO Sports presents world championship boxing first the scheduled six-round
00:00:43welterweight bout between up-and-coming Davey Moore and Felix Nance and then the
00:00:48main event the scheduled 15 round middleweight championship bout between
00:00:52the undisputed WBA WBC middleweight champion of the world
00:00:56marvelous Marvin Hagler and the number one ranked WBA WBC contender
00:01:01Fulgencio Obelmajias
00:01:05hello everybody I'm Barry Tompkins and it is a pleasure to share these
00:01:09microphones with the welterweight champion of the world Sugar Ray Leonard
00:01:11and also our expert analyst Larry Merchant Sugar Ray let me ask you first
00:01:15of all it has been 19 years since there's been a championship fight here
00:01:18at Boston Garden place literally sold out all the way up to the rafters up
00:01:22there you have been in this kind of situation before there's a real
00:01:25electricity about a fight like this well you can feel the intensity of the
00:01:28fight in the crowd you can pretty much put yourself in his place and the way
00:01:33Marvin has conditioned himself in this particular fight you might see a dynamite
00:01:37fight everybody talks about how hard Marvin Hagler works that he really puts
00:01:40as much time into training as he does in the ring during the actual fight itself
00:01:44what's going through his mind at this juncture now we're still probably a
00:01:47half-hour 45 minutes away from that fight what are you thinking about in the
00:01:50locker room at this point at this stage now it's been such a long road for
00:01:54Marvin to let's say capture the middleweight crown and he wants to
00:02:00retain that and after we saw a few clips on the tube was that who wants to fight
00:02:06a guy like that he's awesome and he's gonna prove himself tonight again well
00:02:10we've got a lot to tell you about both Marvin Hagler and the challenger
00:02:12Fulgencio Obamahias but before we get to that we have a six-round fight between
00:02:16Davey Moore and Felix Nance and with us Larry Merchant who has had an
00:02:19opportunity to be around Davey Moore Larry a couple of words about Davey
00:02:23Moore facts as time goes on as we mentioned still down the road the
00:02:27middleweight championship fight between Marvin Hagler and this is Hagler's
00:02:31dressing room here and you could see police out in front I guess the champion
00:02:37just wants to be alone at this juncture just get his thoughts together all by
00:02:40himself concentration it makes you a performance but I prefer to have that
00:02:45guard in the ring with me that's right man's about 85 years old I don't think
00:02:50I think I can handle it I'm a devout coward
00:02:56one sort of baptism under fire as a professional here's a look inside
00:03:05Fulgencio Obamahias he looks rather calm right now but you have to know
00:03:09there's a little bit of apprehension going on in his mind oh there has to be
00:03:11he's a hero at home and he knows fully well if he wins this fight he could run
00:03:16for president if confidence is any kind of a factor in the man's winning a fight
00:03:20he had said long before he ever even signed a contract to fight Marvin Hagler
00:03:24that if I ever get a Hagler to win in the ring rather Venezuela's gonna have a
00:03:27new champion well he looks lame pretty good size 6'1 we've got a lot to tell
00:03:32you about this man fully Obel is what he has come to be called here in the United
00:03:36States Fulgencio Obamahias unquestionably quite a mouthful I haven't
00:03:40kicked it yet today but I'm working on it you know all of South America is
00:03:43watching for this fight they had an outstanding middleweight champion for
00:03:48many years and Carlos Manzon didn't lose a fight for about 12 years and maybe
00:03:53they think that they have another successor to Manzon here
00:03:59we come to the fourth round
00:04:09fighting some guy really don't know anything about I always would have to
00:04:13think that there's got to be just that little man in the back of your head that
00:04:15says what if that's true every time you step in the ring he said what if that
00:04:19punch lands but Dave Moore looked quite impressive well we await the start now
00:04:24with a Marvin Hagler Fulgencio Obamahias I want to make that point clear again we
00:04:28will call him fully Obel there's no question about that Obamahias not gonna
00:04:32last he is the guy that comes into the fight he has won 30 straight fights he's
00:04:36won 28 of them by knockout on the other side you got Marvin Hagler everybody
00:04:40here in Boston knows Marvin Hagler everybody in the United Lands but Dave
00:04:43Moore looked quite impressive well we await the start now with a Marvin Hagler
00:04:48Fulgencio Obamahias I want to make that point clear again we will call him fully
00:04:52Obel there's no question about that Obamahias not gonna last he is the guy
00:04:56that comes into the fight he has won 30 straight fights he's won 28 of them by
00:05:00knockout on the other side you got Marvin Hagler everybody here in Boston
00:05:03knows Marvin Hagler everybody in the United States is aware of what he is all
00:05:07about and he's fighting a guy that's really an unknown quantity and I would
00:05:10think as the champion that has got to be a very difficult task you'd rather fight
00:05:13somebody who you know something about really that's true I mean when I step
00:05:17into the ring and I'm quite sure Marvin feels the same way he comes in as his
00:05:21champion and he's especially fighting at home he's fighting what a lot of boxing
00:05:26critics would say a nobody because no one have seen him on TV but I'm quite
00:05:31sure Marvin's thinking in the back of his mind could this guy do it almost one
00:05:35of those darn if you do and darn if you don't kind of situations if you win
00:05:38people say well you fought a hamburger and if you lose people say well you lost
00:05:40to a hamburger how good are you we got a lot to tell you about Marvin Hagler but
00:05:44Marvin Hagler himself is really only one in a long series of great middleweights
00:05:49let's go back now and visit with some of the former champions in this division in
00:05:571940 the middleweight crown belonged to Tony Zale his reign began the glamour
00:06:01years of the division then in 1947 he lost his title to the flamboyant Rocky
00:06:05Graziano Tony Zale wanted back one year later the Frenchman Marcel Serdan put an
00:06:11end to Tony's career then along came the controversial Raging Bull Jake LaMotta
00:06:18was a terror in and out of the ring his life became the ideal Hollywood script
00:06:25but perhaps none wore the crown like Sugar Ray Robinson pound-for-pound the
00:06:30greatest fighter in history
00:06:39but tonight we present the newest champion Marvin Hagler in his first
00:06:43title defense against for Hensio over my yes
00:06:56live from Boston Garden in Boston Massachusetts it's the main event a
00:07:00world middleweight championship fight between Marvin Hagler and the number one
00:07:05contender for Hensio oval my yes
00:07:11let's talk a little bit about Marvin Hagler he's a guy that comes into this
00:07:15fight people for years have been saying this is the best middleweight around he
00:07:19didn't get his chance I would think that it's really got to be very very
00:07:22frustrating and he's got to be just a little bit angry at this point I think
00:07:26Marvin Hagler holds a bit of bitterness about him because we've seen some of the
00:07:31earlier clips of Marvin Hagler's fights and as awesome as he is there are very
00:07:36few middleweights that would like to tangle with him and now he he's the
00:07:40champion and he's going to the ring with so much confidence and retain his title
00:07:45this guy's he's really aimed to show the people that he is the best middleweight
00:07:50around did you go through the same thing when you were up and coming were
00:07:52people just trying to duck you because everybody knows how good Sugar Ray
00:07:56Leonard is no they didn't want to duck everyone to fight me especially now I
00:08:00got middleweights want to fight me light heavies probably Larry Holmes want to
00:08:03fight me soon though because once you reach a certain status as far as
00:08:07exposure everyone wants to get to you because they know you look big bucks
00:08:11whatever way you look at it Marvin Hagler really is quite a story and we had
00:08:14an opportunity to catch up with Marvin Hagler at his training camp just down
00:08:18the road in Provincetown Massachusetts earlier this week this is Cape Cod a
00:08:26summer resort in the dead of winter even today as Marvin Hagler prepares for his
00:08:32first title defense he remembers his frustrating past nobody wanted me and I
00:08:37couldn't I couldn't understand why you know managing training you tell me well
00:08:41my you know the way that you are nobody wants to fight you your left hand that
00:08:45you know of course you're knocking everybody out none of these contenders
00:08:48want to take the opportunity Joe Frazier I think you paraphrase it beautifully
00:08:52when he says down in Philadelphia we were fighting one of his boys happened
00:08:55to be William Monroe one of his prime fighters right now he's a trouble with
00:08:58you Marvin you get three strikes against you
00:09:01you're black you're a South Caucasian you can fight for five long years Marvin
00:09:05fought anyone gutsy enough to climb through the ropes in this same Boston
00:09:09Garden on November 11th 1978 the unfortunate opponent was Willie Warren
00:09:13after his 43rd win and his 33rd knockout Marvin pleaded for his shot
00:09:18then middleweight champion Hugo Coro
00:09:26but Hugo Coro never did give Marvin his shot instead he had to face the stark
00:09:32realities of a game of boxing there was a big thing about politics I guess that
00:09:37was involved in boxing who you know or whatever and you know because it wasn't
00:09:43your status in your record because I had all that and the fight there with Doug
00:09:47Demmons it was good I think I was maybe my 30th fight believe it or not before I
00:09:53got on national television and Doug Demmons had been in there with Sugar Ray
00:09:57Sills and a lot of other good fighters too so it was my first real test in
00:10:02other words but then the big chance the one that would catapult him to the title
00:10:06but it didn't the result was a controversial 15 round draw and Vito
00:10:10Adepermo was still champion Vito after the fight dropped his head knowing that
00:10:15he had lost I came out of the ring and I seen Joe Lewis and Joe Lewis grabbed me
00:10:21by the hand and he says hey he says look he says I think you won the fight he
00:10:26says don't get discouraged and I says no I'm not gonna get discouraged I said I'm
00:10:30going right back into the gym I'm going back to school three months later Marvin
00:10:34went back to the classroom giving Algerian Lucy Pamani the number six
00:10:38ranked WBC contender and the winner of 20 straight fights a lesson in the art
00:10:42of the knockout I just kept the ball rolling I thought this was a meaning
00:10:47which was an unbeaten fighter had a good break out just like this old bell that
00:10:53we've been ready to fight and I knocked him out in the second round
00:10:56Marvin had to wait for Alan Minter to dethrone Adepermo while he
00:10:59decision to tough Marcos Geraldo himself in time he'd get his second shot at the
00:11:04title sure would discourage Madeline this country what had this is what I'm
00:11:09fancy from the old school he knocked me down I'll get up again but I think you
00:11:12realize what we're on we're now to London nothing was going for us we knew
00:11:16this here I said Marvin is you can't leave it up to the judges he said this
00:11:19is my judge and jury right here and you saw him in the bell and sounded he was
00:11:24he was ferocious he was awesome finally amidst the shower of bottles and
00:11:28debris Marvin was crowned a middleweight champion of the world I learned from it
00:11:33at the formal fight what I had to do and that was had to hurt this man really
00:11:37bad had to make sure that he couldn't continue this fight for me to be become
00:11:42what I wanted to make my dream come true and that was to become the middleweight
00:11:46champion of the world we won the championship and then that hectic hustle
00:11:51afterwards wasn't nice to look at but but
00:12:03you
00:12:09these are beautiful
00:12:14it's only made for me that's the way I like it and I tell you
00:12:19Obel's gonna be in trouble if you try to take these here to me on January 17th
00:12:29you know I think Marvin Hagler probably said it best right when we asked him why
00:12:32he just wasn't getting a shot at the title earlier he said I guess I'm just
00:12:36too good for my own good well we talked about Marvin Hagler we're going to talk
00:12:39more about Marvin Hagler what about his opponent Fulgencio Obel Mahias
00:12:42Larry Merchant have you had an opportunity to see him and what do you
00:12:45know about him I don't know a whole lot about him except that I'm going to call
00:12:50him by his Americanized handle fully Obel I know this about him too he and
00:12:56Marvin Hagler have both knocked out somebody named Lamont love lady so help
00:13:01me sounds like a porn star the trouble is all 30 of his opponents have been
00:13:06names like Lamont love lady give him this they haven't beaten him he's beaten
00:13:11them but questions do arise how did he vault from obscurity into being the
00:13:16number one contender of both boxing bodies in a very short time can he take
00:13:20a punch in this class of competition does he have the stamina for 15 rounds
00:13:25we have the makings of a kind of a sting here either the public is going to get
00:13:30stung or Marvin Hagler is going to get stung we have some film of fully Obel
00:13:36we'd like to show you he is definitely not a raging bull but he is a toreador
00:13:41with a very quick and very strong left and right hand let's take a look
00:13:48Fulgencio Obel Mahias is currently the number one ranked contender for Marvin
00:13:52Hagler's middleweight crown he is 28 years old a native of Venezuela with 30
00:13:57straight wins on December 17th 1979 he took on Sugar Ray Phillips and Caracas
00:14:02early in round two fully Obel as he has been dubbed here in the States
00:14:06demonstrated the knockout style which has earned him the nickname the animal
00:14:10Phillips would only go four rounds on this particular night he had lasted
00:14:13seven rounds two years earlier with Marvin Hagler but this fight was in
00:14:17Obel's home he has become a national hero in Venezuela with 28 knockouts to
00:14:21his credit constantly applying pressure he attacks his opponents with both hands
00:14:26but clearly his best weapon is a devastating left hook
00:14:31one year later on October 31st 1980 Obel Mahias found himself in the ring in
00:14:37Rome Italy his opponent another American Leroy Green jr. the outcome once again a
00:14:42knockout early in round one the South American champion was the aggressor and
00:14:46it was quickly apparent that his 29th straight victory was only a question of
00:14:51time this ball would only go three rounds as Green vainly hung on
00:14:56Obel Mahias took another step toward the title he is a Venezuelan with a dream he
00:15:01wants to bring the middleweight championship home to his country home to
00:15:05his people Fulgencio Obel Mahias has journeyed here with a single purpose he
00:15:10wants Marvin Hagler's crown
00:15:16Barry Tompkins with Sugar Ray Leonard and Larry Merchant we talked about the
00:15:20fact that this crowd was stone quiet totally different story now well it
00:15:25looks like there are a few hundred of his countrymen here and they're sounding
00:15:29like they fill the place themselves but I hear the faint echoes in the background
00:15:34of we want Marvin and that sounds like him coming Marvin Hagler coming into the
00:15:39ring now he of course very popular amongst the folks in Boston here it was
00:15:43a promoter here in Boston rip millennia really got him into the limelight got
00:15:46him his first big matches and he has been ever since very popular here in the
00:15:50city of Boston born in Newark New Jersey but fights out of Brockton Massachusetts
00:15:54went up there as a teenager and he has gone on to become the middleweight
00:15:59champion of the world he's a big hitter and he's in against the guy who at least
00:16:02apparently is also a big hitter oh yes Obel's looks be very lean he pets a good
00:16:08right hand which is the best shot to hit a southpaw with let's take a look at the
00:16:13tail of the tape and see how it adds up it's pretty much even as you can see
00:16:16Hagler and Obel Mejia is both 28 years old. Obel Mejia is with a very definite height
00:16:20advantage although he does not have a reach advantage so Hagler with the
00:16:23longer arms of the two you saw the way it went and we are just about set to get
00:16:28it away here marvelous Marvin Hagler the middleweight champion of the world
00:16:31against the challenger Fulgencio Obel Mejia. The crowd is on its feet here at
00:16:35the Boston Gardens and I need to tell you it is packed to the rafters here
00:16:42getting the introduction of some former champions here in the world
00:16:46former world champions here
00:16:52I'm not sure who that was I didn't hear the name but it may be Paul Pender who
00:16:58fought the last championship here 19 years ago
00:17:04Tony DeMarco!
00:17:09Tony DeMarco is a popular figure here he just had the championship for one fight
00:17:14lost it to Carmen Basilio
00:17:22in the middleweight class and wingman middleweight champion and also an
00:17:30upcoming and popular legislature John DeLucci
00:17:37Marvin Hagler and Fulgencio Obel Mejia while some of the introductions still go on in the ring
00:17:42have had some common opponents the ever-popular Lamont love lady
00:17:47each KO'd love lady Obel Mejia in three rounds down in Caracas
00:17:51Hagler handled him in seven rounds fellow by the name of Thomas was knocked
00:17:56out by both men Obel Mejia in the fifth round Hagler in the third round
00:17:59Sugar Ray Phillips didn't everybody name Ray Sugar Ray these days Sugar Ray
00:18:03Phillips KO'd by both men also Hagler took seven rounds to handle him
00:18:07Obel Mejia took four rounds
00:18:10and another fellow by the name of Warren also knocked out by both fighters
00:18:14Obel Mejia took eight rounds to handle him and Hagler seven but I think Ray you
00:18:19made an interesting point in that Obel Mejia has got a lot of those guys
00:18:22really when they were past their prime in boxing yes he's had a good a lot of
00:18:28knockouts but these guys were old
00:18:34Ray Leonard here right in the middle of a little talk that he was giving us got
00:18:37introduced by the public address announcer and takes his bows the
00:18:40welterweight champion of the world as you look at Marvin Hagler I want to
00:18:43mention that we saw DeMarco here in the ring when he fought Basilio here over
00:18:4920 years ago the gate was about a hundred and seventy five thousand
00:18:53dollars tonight the gate is over a half million dollars and that breaks the
00:18:58record by about three times I don't know how it factors in there with inflation
00:19:03but it is an indication that Marvin Hagler has as a champion anyway become an
00:19:10attraction here this is the first fight ever with a hundred dollar ringside seat
00:19:14here in Boston you know it is an interesting thing that we talk about the
00:19:17big salaries the big gates and all that kind of thing now until February of
00:19:201979 the biggest payday that Marvin Hagler ever had was $15,000 that you
00:19:26know by boxing standards not a whole lot of money and it wasn't that long ago
00:19:29between the television rights fee and the live gate he which will be somewhere
00:19:36around nine hundred thousand and possibly up to a million dollars
00:19:39Hagler will wind up with between four hundred and five hundred thousand
00:19:43dollars the challenger as far as we know is getting $25,000 but it's
00:19:52conceivable he has a piece of the Venezuelan television rights and I'm
00:19:56told that the Venezuelan television rights are more valuable than any other
00:20:00fight rights in South America he in fact Ray has done some color commentary on
00:20:06boxing in his native Venezuela so see that just watch out well he covered
00:20:11Hagler's fight against mentor that's exactly right he is also extremely
00:20:16popular in Italy and Italian television is here ringside as well as Venezuelan
00:20:20television he had a couple of fights in Rome and in fact he had a couple of very
00:20:24impressive victories in Rome so he has really captured the fancy of the Italian
00:20:27boxing fans too and they're really good fans still continuing with the
00:20:32introduction of some of the judges local celebrities and that kind of thing in the
00:20:37ring more people in the ring right now than there are outside the ring I think
00:20:45and we are now just about set for the national anthems of both Venezuela and
00:20:49of course the United States let's listen
00:21:08Oh
00:21:13Oh
00:21:24Great I'll send you all the power say you're
00:21:32So Joe's I believe it about video yes, there's some problem
00:21:39But then blow their bubble and be a boy
00:21:45You know they'll promise to all yes, there's some
00:21:53Yes, there's some problem
00:21:56Then blow their bubble and be like oh you know
00:22:01You know they'll promise to all
00:22:05They'll be like oh you know
00:22:08You know they'll promise to all
00:22:11Gloria al bravo pueblo
00:22:14Que el yugo lanzó
00:22:17La ley respetando
00:22:21La virtud y honor
00:22:25Gloria al bravo pueblo
00:22:28Que el yugo lanzó
00:22:31La ley respetando
00:22:35La virtud y honor
00:22:41Oh
00:22:50And now the national anthem by Freddie Penaria
00:23:02Oh say can you see
00:23:06By the dawn's early light
00:23:11What so proudly we hailed
00:23:15At the twilight's last gleaming
00:23:20Whose broad stripes and bright stars
00:23:24Through the perilous fight
00:23:29O'er the ramparts we watched
00:23:34Were so gallantly streaming
00:23:39And the rocket's red glare
00:23:43The bombs bursting in air
00:23:48Gave proof through the night
00:23:53That our flag was still there
00:23:58Oh say does that star-spangled
00:24:04Banner yet wave
00:24:10O'er the land of the free
00:24:17And the home of the brave
00:24:33Oh say does that star-spangled
00:24:38Banner yet wave
00:24:43O'er the land of the free
00:24:48And the home of the brave
00:24:53Oh say does that star-spangled
00:24:58Banner yet wave
00:25:02Welcome to the feature attraction of the evening
00:25:0615 rounds for the middleweight championship of the world
00:25:11Here at the Boston Garden
00:25:14Make it in Massachusetts
00:25:17Promoters top-ranked Bob Arum and Rip Valenti
00:25:23Officials working are
00:25:25Judges from Montreal, Canada
00:25:29Gail Jutras
00:25:32From England
00:25:34Mike Jacobs
00:25:36Your referee from Mayco
00:25:40Octavia Nader
00:25:44In the red corner
00:25:47Wearing black with the white stripes
00:25:50And weighing 159 and a half pounds
00:25:54The number one WBC and WBA
00:25:59Undefeated middleweight contender
00:26:03From Venezuela
00:26:05Calencio Ovilmea
00:26:13And in the blue corner
00:26:15Wearing maroon trunks
00:26:18Weighing 159 and a half pounds
00:26:22From Brockton, Massachusetts
00:26:25The middleweight champion of the world
00:26:28Marvin
00:26:30Marguerite Heckler
00:26:53Come on
00:26:55Come on, get him up
00:27:05Well, all the anticipation is now over
00:27:07It is time to get to it
00:27:08Marvin Heckler, clearly the crowd favorite here
00:27:10Although Calencio Ovilmea
00:27:12Really has an awful lot of support here
00:27:14A large contingent from Venezuela
00:27:16The scoring, the 10-point must system
00:27:18A fighter cannot lose a round any worse than 10-7
00:27:21Three knockdown rule has been waived
00:27:23Round one just underway here
00:27:25Ovilmea, yes, in the dark trunks with the red stripes
00:27:27The champion Marvin Heckler in the red trunks
00:27:32Heckler fighting an unknown quantity here
00:27:34In fully obel
00:27:41Obel has been very, very calm
00:27:43And seemingly very, very relaxed
00:27:45Throughout the pre-fight activities
00:27:47He has 30 victories in a row
00:27:4928 of them have come by knockdown
00:27:51The question, knockout rather
00:27:53The question, of course, who has he fought
00:27:55He has not fought anyone the likes of Marvin Heckler
00:28:15Both fighters a little bit cautious here
00:28:17Early on, just underway
00:28:19First round middleweight championship of the world at stake
00:28:21Both the WBA and the WBC
00:28:27First minute of the first round has been a testing round
00:28:30Right hand by Ovilmea, he has scored
00:28:43Heckler yet to really unleash
00:28:46As I see it now, Barry
00:28:48Both fighters carry potent punches with them
00:28:50And I believe
00:28:52Whichever fighter begins to land his punches
00:28:54Clean punches
00:28:56Will pretty much be the dominant one
00:29:00Obel pretty much of a straight up fighter
00:29:02That is not the kind of fighter that has given
00:29:04Marvin Heckler trouble
00:29:06Vito Etzefermo gave him a lot of trouble
00:29:08But he's the kind of guy that just keeps boring in at you
00:29:11Obel had great confidence coming into this fight
00:29:15Although there was a lot of criticism
00:29:17In the Boston papers that
00:29:19Since he came up to Boston from Venezuela
00:29:21He had not been working out very hard
00:29:23But I also remember that about Ingo Mario Hansen
00:29:25In his first fight with Floyd Patterson
00:29:29Under a minute to go in the first round
00:29:37And the end
00:29:40And the misses by Heckler
00:29:42Heckler will switch hands
00:29:44He's a natural left hander
00:29:46But he will switch hands, come around to the right side occasionally
00:29:48Did that a lot against Etzefermo
00:29:50Right now they're sizing each other
00:29:52And trying to get the geometry and quickness between them
00:29:54See how far apart they have to stay to be effective
00:29:58By the end of this round
00:30:00They'll pretty well have each other sized up
00:30:02In terms of quickness and reach
00:30:10Interesting that even though
00:30:12Obel is 4 inches taller than Marvin Hagler
00:30:16The reach of the two is exactly the same
00:30:1875 inches
00:30:20End of round 1
00:30:22Fairly even round
00:30:24Both fighters a little bit cautious
00:30:26After the first 3 minutes of the fight
00:30:28Obel, he has incidentally, cheering on his fans
00:30:30And he does have plenty of support
00:30:32As you look into the corner of Marvin Hagler
00:30:36I thought that Obel was a little bit more
00:30:39The aggressor in that fight
00:30:41He was more willing to find out about Hagler
00:30:43More than Hagler was to find out about him
00:30:45He threw more punches
00:30:47He was a more positive force
00:30:49He certainly acts like a man
00:30:51Who's won all of his fights
00:30:53And doesn't have any understanding
00:30:55Of what it is to lose
00:30:57He's a very positive fighter
00:30:59I feel the Hagler's waiting to see
00:31:01What Obel has to offer
00:31:03And I'm quite sure as the rounds go by
00:31:05You're going to see a different story in Marvin Hagler
00:31:08And also there's a factor of stamina
00:31:10Because so many of his fights
00:31:12Have been by knockouts
00:31:14He's fought very few fights
00:31:16Beyond 6 or 7 rounds
00:31:18And so Hagler is definitely not in any rush
00:31:22Now the talk of course is that
00:31:24Obel has fought most of his fights
00:31:26In Caracas, which is true
00:31:28But he also went all the way to Rome
00:31:30And had a couple of very impressive victories
00:31:32So he's not unused to fighting in his homeland
00:31:34Second round
00:31:36Just under way
00:31:38Marvin Hagler on the right of the red trunks
00:31:42Left hand, misses
00:31:46Hagler now pressing the attack
00:31:48Just a little bit more
00:31:50Obel with a right hand
00:31:52That came up a little bit short
00:31:54Wow, left hand that time
00:31:56By Obel
00:31:58Right hand by Hagler
00:32:00Sticks him up on the chin
00:32:07Not much damage done at all
00:32:09In that exchange
00:32:11Right hand again, wild right hand
00:32:13By Obel, misses
00:32:15Hagler comes back with a right and a left
00:32:17That gets Obel up top of the head
00:32:21Pace has picked up considerably here in the second round
00:32:23As Hagler hangs on
00:32:25Another thing that's impressive about the Venezuelan
00:32:27Is he doesn't seem to be bothered at all
00:32:29By the Southpaw
00:32:31No, he seems to be pretty composed
00:32:33And as a matter of fact
00:32:36Obel has a pretty good straight
00:32:38And then sometimes he comes as a loop
00:32:40The right hand that he has
00:32:42And it's very powerful
00:32:44Obel not at all odd
00:32:46And if there's anything you could say
00:32:48You gotta say that
00:32:50He has been calm from the moment he came into the ring
00:32:52At the end of the first round
00:32:54He was exhorting his fans to cheer
00:32:56And they have
00:32:58And even though this is Marvin Hagler's backyard
00:33:00Obel has really got his share of support here in Boston
00:33:02Wild left hand by Hagler
00:33:05That was a beautiful right hand by Obel
00:33:07To Hagler's chin
00:33:09Right between the guards
00:33:11Sweeping left across
00:33:13Hagler with the right hand there
00:33:15To the side of the head of Obel
00:33:17And another combination
00:33:19This time has Obel slowed up just a little bit
00:33:21But Obel stays right in there
00:33:23Stays pretty close to Hagler as a matter of fact
00:33:25Under a minute to go now
00:33:27Here in the second round
00:33:29Marvin Hagler the champion
00:33:31Fulgencio Obel Mahias
00:33:33Fully Obel
00:33:35In the dark trunks on the left of your screen
00:33:37Two quick right hands
00:33:39To the side of the cheek
00:33:41Offered up by Marvin Hagler
00:33:43To clinch
00:33:51Hagler throws a good variety of punches
00:33:53Came with an uppercut that time
00:33:55There's a right hand that does not do a lot of damage
00:33:57Another right hand short by Obel
00:33:59Hagler comes back with two quick jabs
00:34:01To clinch Obel up on the cheek
00:34:03And Obel returns with a jab to the cheek
00:34:05To Marvin Hagler
00:34:07Left hand did score that time for Hagler
00:34:09But Obel not damaged at all so far
00:34:11Here in the second round
00:34:20Combination that time by Obel
00:34:22An exercise to counter with a left
00:34:24As we reach the end of the second round
00:34:26Pretty good pace that time
00:34:28Both fighters really seemingly unafraid of the other
00:34:30At the end of that round Ray
00:34:32Hagler nailed him with a couple of quick punches
00:34:34To the jaw
00:34:36Which was the first time he had hit him
00:34:38I thought in the face
00:34:40What's the problem with reaching at a very tall fellow
00:34:42Let's have a look at this now
00:34:44Well as we see it now
00:34:46Obel who just missed with the left hook
00:34:48He's pretty confident
00:34:50I mean he's prepared to fight to Hagler
00:34:52In fact Hagler seems to be buying time
00:34:54And trying to wait for an opportunity
00:34:56To land a big blow
00:34:58And there Obel lands with a good right hand
00:35:00And both of these fighters are exchanging
00:35:02Dynamite punches here
00:35:04Ray I remember you telling me
00:35:06When we did some fights on HBO back in Colorado
00:35:08That it is easier to fight as the champion
00:35:10Than it is to fight as the challenger
00:35:12And that now is the role that Marvin Hagler has
00:35:14That is
00:35:16As a champion you know fully well
00:35:18That a challenger has to take
00:35:20The belt from you decisively
00:35:22And it's obvious that
00:35:24Fully Obel really realizes that
00:35:26A left hand to the jaw
00:35:28Fully Obel forces it back to the ropes
00:35:30And that brings the crowd here at Boston Garden
00:35:32To its feet
00:35:34Best punch of the fight that time by Marvin Hagler
00:35:36Of course one of the big questions
00:35:38Was whether Obel could take a punch
00:35:40From a fighter in this class of competition
00:35:44Well how long he could take it
00:35:46How many rounds
00:35:56Obel has managed to keep
00:35:58That left hand in the face
00:36:00Of Marvin Hagler
00:36:02At least to
00:36:04With some consistency
00:36:06And that has kept Hagler away
00:36:08From really being able to throw any kind of combinations at him
00:36:10Larry to answer your question about
00:36:12Throwing wide shots
00:36:14It takes the power away from your punches
00:36:18The shorter punches
00:36:20Are far more effective
00:36:22Like Joe Lewis with that 6-inch punch
00:36:26Obel again
00:36:28Wow with a left hand
00:36:30Takes a right hand to the nose
00:36:32And Hagler comes back with a combination of this
00:36:48Clicking right jabs by Hagler
00:36:50Looking for a score
00:36:56Hagler again
00:37:08Hagler again with a quick combination
00:37:10But none of them really doing any serious damage at all
00:37:12In fact only one of the three punches landing
00:37:20Crowd starts to
00:37:22Chant Marvin, Marvin
00:37:24Hometown favorite here
00:37:26Marvin Hagler under a minute to go
00:37:28Round 3, even fight so far
00:37:30Fully Obel on the right
00:37:32Marvin Hagler the middleweight champion on the left
00:37:34Hagler with a pretty effective right hand jab right now
00:37:36They haven't had a champion
00:37:38To cheer for here in 19 years
00:37:40Since Paul Pender
00:37:42And that of course was the last championship
00:37:44Bout held here at the Boston Gardens
00:37:46Paul Pender beating Terry Downs
00:37:48Pender is on hand for this one tonight
00:37:51Combination by Obel
00:37:53Both rather wild punches
00:37:55And Obel ducks away from the right hand
00:37:57Offered up by Marvin Hagler
00:38:0315 seconds to go here
00:38:05In round 3
00:38:07Middleweight championship
00:38:21And we've come to the end of the third round
00:38:23I think one observation that you might have to have here
00:38:25Is just the fact that
00:38:27You talk about the fact is
00:38:29Fulgencio Obel Mahias
00:38:31A qualified challenger and so far
00:38:33At least through the first three rounds you have to say
00:38:35He's really been qualified to be in the ring at least
00:38:37All the doubts about him
00:38:39The fears I should really say
00:38:41That he might come in here and just be a complete bust
00:38:43And more or less evaporated
00:38:45Right from the get go
00:38:47Right from the first bell
00:38:50He's shown that he's just come in here to make a fight
00:38:52No awe of the champion
00:38:54And he's very much in the fight
00:38:56I don't think that Hagler has really solved him yet
00:39:00Here's another program note from HBO Sports
00:39:02And it involves yours truly
00:39:04And the man on my right, Larry Merchant
00:39:06We're going to be on hand to bring you
00:39:08The year in review, 1980 in review
00:39:10And that's where we have a chance to recapture
00:39:12The biggest and the most important stories
00:39:14Of the year 1980 in sports
00:39:16So please join Larry Merchant and myself
00:39:18And that happens right here on HBO Monday
00:39:20February 2nd, 7.30, 6.30 central
00:39:24Round four upcoming now
00:39:26Fully O'Bell on the right, Marvin Hagler on the left
00:39:40Short right hand that time by O'Bell
00:39:42Didn't connect but Hagler with a quick right hand
00:39:44Over that short right
00:39:49Marvin seems to be bothered a bit
00:39:51By O'Bell's height
00:39:53And his consistency
00:39:55Because he is a busy fighter
00:40:01O'Bell with a lunging left hand
00:40:03That misses
00:40:05Misses rather poorly as a matter of fact
00:40:07By the same token, Hagler has had that right hand
00:40:09Pretty much in O'Bell's face most of the fight
00:40:11He's kind of kept O'Bell off stride a little bit
00:40:13O'Bell really hasn't had a chance to really get set
00:40:15For any kind of punch
00:40:18He's throwing a lot of windmill both left and right
00:40:23Again another good strong right hand
00:40:25Snapping jab by Marvin Hagler the champion
00:40:29And another one on the forehead
00:40:31Fully O'Bell
00:40:33O'Bell has been most effective
00:40:35When he's been able to get in close
00:40:37It's the right hand that does catch Hagler up on the eyebrow
00:40:39And Hagler comes right back with the right hand
00:40:41In the face of O'Bell
00:40:44I noticed a couple of times
00:40:46O'Bell would stand there
00:40:48And let Marvin Hagler throw punches
00:40:50And what I believe he's trying to do
00:40:52Is gain leverage
00:40:54Because he's trying to use the right hand
00:40:56He looks to me like he's been loading up
00:40:58And looking to throw that right hand
00:41:00And catch Hagler on the way in
00:41:02Two good right sets by Hagler
00:41:04And that staggers O'Bell for just a moment
00:41:06And another combination has O'Bell a little bit wobbly right now
00:41:08O'Bell up against the ropes here
00:41:10As we are just over halfway through the fourth round
00:41:12Another good right hand on the cheek
00:41:14Of Fully O'Bell
00:41:16And a left hand under the cheek
00:41:18And another left gets in the nose
00:41:20And Marvin Hagler now is really taking the fight
00:41:22To the challenge of Fully O'Bell
00:41:24And O'Bell seems a little bit groggy
00:41:26And holding on somewhat
00:41:28O'Bell has been hurt
00:41:30There's no question about it
00:41:32Another right hand sends him back against the ropes
00:41:34And another right hand has O'Bell's legs wobbly once again
00:41:36O'Bell tries to fight back with the right
00:41:38But Hagler comes right back with a right
00:41:40And another right uppercut to the jaw
00:41:46O'Bell just tried to weather the storm
00:41:48Does get a right hand in but it has no sting on it
00:41:50And Hagler right back at it with a left to the jaw
00:41:52And another left to the cheek by Hagler
00:41:54Once again O'Bell up against the ropes
00:41:56The champion Marvin Hagler right on top of him
00:41:58Twenty seconds to go here in the fourth round
00:42:00This round has been all the champions
00:42:04Again Hagler just pounding away at O'Bell
00:42:06O'Bell with the right hand but seems to have lost some zip
00:42:08Then a combination by Hagler against the ropes
00:42:10Right over all microphones here
00:42:12And again Hagler with a right and a left
00:42:14And another right
00:42:18Two seconds remaining in the round
00:42:20And we have come to the end of round four
00:42:22A round that was clearly Marvin Hagler
00:42:26Well we also answered another question
00:42:28And that was whether O'Bell could take a punch
00:42:32He certainly stood up to a fierce barrage there
00:42:34So we know he doesn't have a glass jaw
00:42:36Now we have to see if he's able to
00:42:38Come back from that sort of adversity
00:42:40Whether he has the kind of conditioning
00:42:42Necessary to come back from that kind of barrage
00:42:48Let's take a look at that action again
00:42:54Finally got O'Bell measured for his head
00:42:56Two right hands right there
00:42:58And he has him backing up
00:43:00Marvin's really putting his punches together
00:43:02Here he throws a barrage of punches
00:43:04And as you said earlier
00:43:06O'Bell proves he can take a punch
00:43:08And he doesn't have a glass jaw
00:43:14So we come to the fifth round
00:43:16This could be a tell-tale round
00:43:18To see if O'Bell is going to come back
00:43:20Put some hurt on Hagler
00:43:22And turn things around
00:43:24But I don't think so
00:43:26I don't think O'Bell is going to come back
00:43:28Put some hurt on Hagler
00:43:30And turn this around
00:43:32And O'Bell backpedaling right now
00:43:34Still seemingly just a little bit wobbly
00:43:36From that barrage
00:43:38In the fourth round by Hagler
00:43:40Hagler at him again
00:43:42Right against the ropes
00:43:44O'Bell spins away and gets him back in the middle of the ring
00:43:46O'Bell the challenger wants more backpedaling
00:43:48Throwing punches now
00:43:50Very much of an off-balance position
00:43:52Hanging on just a little bit
00:43:54Hagler stalking him
00:43:56Right hand lead again by Hagler
00:43:58Hagler the softball
00:44:00But he will switch hands as we mentioned
00:44:04You notice O'Bell is moving away
00:44:06He's not as aggressive as he was
00:44:08And here he's trying to get his head back together
00:44:10Another flicking jab by Hagler
00:44:12And another one pushes O'Bell into the ropes once more
00:44:14Right hand spins him away
00:44:16And a left hand turns him back into the ropes again
00:44:20O'Bell fights back
00:44:22Gets a couple of right hands in
00:44:24And this time a left hand counterpunch by Hagler
00:44:26Sets O'Bell back on his heels again
00:44:32O'Bell has been most effective when he is in close
00:44:34But he's had a lot of trouble getting in close
00:44:40I notice O'Bell's mouth is open
00:44:42And that is a sign of fatigue
00:44:44He's been knocking out so many fighters
00:44:46He's never really been the distance
00:44:48So this could be a factor in this fight here
00:44:50He's aware of that
00:44:52As we mentioned here in the Boston papers recently
00:44:54There's been a lot of criticism about Philly O'Bell
00:44:56One of the quotes I read was
00:44:58He says he runs 3 or 4 miles a day
00:45:02As if it was a very disbelieving writer who wrote it
00:45:04Well here's a sign of desperation about O'Bell
00:45:06Because he's just winging punches
00:45:08He's not really conscious of where his punches are landing
00:45:10And as we see it now
00:45:12Hagler's very very aggressive
00:45:14O'Bell really has no legs left right now
00:45:16And it's just a question of time
00:45:18Right to the nose of Philly O'Bell
00:45:20Still on his feet though
00:45:22O'Bell very rubber-legged in the center of the ring
00:45:24Backs up on the ropes now
00:45:26Hagler pounds him with a right hand to the cheek
00:45:28And another left and another right to the hand
00:45:32And an uppercut catches O'Bell right under the chin
00:45:34Pops him and lifts him off the ground
00:45:36O'Bell just about a helpless fighter right now
00:45:38Leaning in on Hagler
00:45:40Hagler back with another left to the face
00:45:42And another left to the face
00:45:44Combination misses but a right hand stuns O'Bell again
00:45:46Right to the nose of Philly O'Bell
00:45:48And a left cross and a right cross to the face of O'Bell
00:45:50O'Bell a very weary and a very hurt fighter right now
00:45:52We're in the 5th round
00:45:5430 seconds to go
00:45:58O'Bell stares blankly out at the crowd now
00:46:00Looking all the part of a beaten fighter
00:46:04Hagler once more pounding O'Bell to the head
00:46:06A left hand whips him around
00:46:08And an uppercut
00:46:10Two more left hands to the head
00:46:12O'Bell is showing he can take a shot
00:46:14And he has taken Hagler's best
00:46:16But he is a tired and he is a beaten fighter
00:46:185 seconds to go here in round 5
00:46:20And he will get through this one
00:46:28Crowd on its feet
00:46:30As you look at Philly O'Bell
00:46:32And Hagler is a man in control right now
00:46:34Well O'Bell has also shown us
00:46:36That he's got some courage
00:46:38Let's take a look at the end of that round
00:46:40To see Hagler start to pour it on
00:46:42And Hagler looks like a raging bull right here
00:46:48He knows he has his man hurt
00:46:50He's coming on methodically
00:46:52Not wasting a lot of punches
00:46:58I think that's a very good point Larry
00:47:00About Marvin Hagler
00:47:02He really does not waste too many punches
00:47:04I would say probably connecting on about 65
00:47:06Or 70% of his punches
00:47:08Some other action
00:47:10We can see now the mark of a champion
00:47:12He took his time early on
00:47:14Until he had O'Bell measured a tall opponent
00:47:16A dangerous opponent
00:47:18O'Bell has given his best
00:47:20It's just a question of whether it's enough
00:47:22And whether he has the conditioning to survive
00:47:24Round 6 now
00:47:26Hagler right on Philly O'Bell
00:47:28Right at the start of this round
00:47:30O'Bell even standing in the center of the ring
00:47:32Was doing so on unsteady legs
00:47:34The fight has been all Marvin Hagler
00:47:36For the last two rounds
00:47:38In the corner directly above us
00:47:40Good right uppercut to the jaw of Philly O'Bell
00:47:42And O'Bell remains on his feet
00:47:44Another right overhand
00:47:46And another uppercut
00:47:48And O'Bell backs away again
00:47:50And a left hand and O'Bell is down
00:47:52O'Bell gets to his feet
00:47:54He is wildly
00:47:56Referee Octavio Medan talking to him
00:47:58And asking if he can go on
00:48:00He says he can
00:48:02Left hand right back by Marvin Hagler
00:48:04To the side of the face
00:48:06And another one
00:48:08And a right hand
00:48:10Hagler not wasting any punches
00:48:12Connecting on just about every punch
00:48:14Measuring his man right now
00:48:16Right above us again
00:48:18Hagler is stalking
00:48:20A right and a left to the face
00:48:22An uppercut misses
00:48:24Hagler now goes to the body
00:48:26And Hagler with another right
00:48:28And a left to the head of O'Bell
00:48:30Hagler now biding his time
00:48:32Looking for the good shot
00:48:34Stalking his man
00:48:36He still has confidence in that punch
00:48:38He still hopes that he can somehow
00:48:40Turn the fight by landing one of those big punches
00:48:42O'Bell back against the ropes now
00:48:44He is a tired fighter
00:48:46Hagler measuring him once more
00:48:48A combination although some of the stink
00:48:50For the moment at least has gone out of Marvin Hagler's punches too
00:48:52Left hand misses by Hagler
00:48:54O'Bell now back
00:48:56At least trying to get to the middle of the ring
00:48:58Very wobbly now
00:49:00A left hand and a right to the cheek
00:49:02And O'Bell is staggered once again
00:49:04Another left and a right hand
00:49:06Misses
00:49:08Hagler seemingly one punch away from putting his man out
00:49:10O'Bell gamely tries to fight back
00:49:12Hagler is against the ropes now
00:49:14And a left hand by O'Bell
00:49:16Catches Hagler on the cheek but doesn't hurt him
00:49:20Hagler right back to the offense now
00:49:22One minute left here in round six
00:49:24Combination under the chin of O'Bell
00:49:26And an uppercut
00:49:28Catches O'Bell again
00:49:30Some of the stink might have gone out of Hagler's punches here too
00:49:32So many sets, so many punches
00:49:34I think at this point now Hagler is a little arm weary
00:49:36And O'Bell is holding his own
00:49:38But he is taking a tremendous amount of punishment
00:49:40Hagler is throwing those punches
00:49:42All the way from Provincetown
00:49:44And it's a good thing he spent all that time there
00:49:46To get himself in this shape
00:49:48And O'Bell taking his best shots now
00:49:50Back up against the rope again
00:49:52Referee Octavio Medan taking a close look
00:49:54O'Bell now, O'Bell on very wobbly legs
00:49:56Leading on Marvin Hagler
00:49:58Tries to fight out of him with a left hand
00:50:00But they're really marshmallow punches now
00:50:02Left hand by Hagler pushes O'Bell against the ropes again
00:50:04Two quick rights to the nose
00:50:06And O'Bell bounces off the ropes
00:50:08And ties Hagler up in the corner
00:50:12O'Bell bleeding from the inside of the mouth now
00:50:14Whistling right cross by Hagler that time
00:50:16And a left hand up the side of the head
00:50:18Uppercut, still O'Bell does not go down
00:50:20O'Bell against the ropes
00:50:22He has been down once, the bell sounds
00:50:24The end of round six, it is a game challenger
00:50:26That we're looking at
00:50:28I'm curious to see whether or not O'Bell
00:50:30Comes out for the next round
00:50:32Because he took so much
00:50:34And Hagler showed that he was the champion
00:50:36Referee Octavio Medan
00:50:38Took two very, very close looks
00:50:40At Fully O'Bell once after the knockdown
00:50:42And another time at the ropes
00:50:44On the other side of the ring from our broadcast position
00:50:46Looked at him very, very closely
00:50:48And decided the fight could go on
00:50:50O'Bell just kind of sagged down into his corner
00:50:52And you look at his handlers
00:50:54Just trying to tend to their man
00:50:56Hagler seemed to get though Larry
00:50:58A little bit arm weary at the end of that round
00:51:00I think he's probably a little surprised
00:51:02That Fully is still upright
00:51:06And he did throw a lot of punches
00:51:10I think we have to give the challenger credit
00:51:12He's a legitimate challenger
00:51:14Whoever our doubts were
00:51:16And our doubts were very legitimate
00:51:18We didn't know about his record
00:51:20He's shown us that he has some of the real qualities
00:51:22Of a fighter
00:51:24Really does and there was a lot of question about the fact
00:51:26That he was the number one ranked challenger
00:51:28Everybody was talking about the fact that
00:51:30How can this man be the number one challenger
00:51:32When in fact he hasn't really fought anybody
00:51:34He's been a very game fighter
00:51:36And he's in there against maybe the best middleweight in the world
00:51:38And maybe the best middleweight in a long time
00:51:40Bleeding rather heavily now from the mouth
00:51:42O'Bell against the ropes and Hagler pounds at him
00:51:44Unmercifully once more
00:51:48Hagler is not missing punches
00:51:50It is really amazing that O'Bell has just managed
00:51:52To stay on his feet as long as he has
00:51:54He went down from a left hand
00:51:56It has been the only knockdown of the fight
00:51:58For three rounds now the fight has belonged
00:52:00To Marvin Hagler the champion
00:52:06This guy is incredible
00:52:08O'Bell is truly a determined fighter
00:52:14Had something in that left hand too
00:52:16Marvin Hagler's nose that time
00:52:18Look at this he's coming on
00:52:20O'Bell has Hagler against the ropes now
00:52:22Now Hagler gets out of there and figures enough of this nonsense
00:52:24Sticks a right hand and then a left to O'Bell's face
00:52:28O'Bell may be tired but he still packs a punch
00:52:30I mean he's winning those punches
00:52:32And he's waiting to get an opportunity
00:52:34To throw a shadow on Hagler
00:52:36And Hagler's a little awkward from throwing so many punches
00:52:40O'Bell bleeding from the mouth
00:52:42It does seem to be bothering him
00:52:44He's a good fighter but I'm not too sure
00:52:46That Marvin Hagler is a little bit tired too
00:52:48Right hand O'Bell comes back with a right hand of his own
00:52:52Hagler with a right hand again
00:52:54Left hand right to the nose
00:52:56Whistling right to the side of the head
00:52:58And a left uppercut and another left hand
00:53:00And now Marvin Hagler has cut a little bit on the lip
00:53:02Although that doesn't seem to be anything that is too serious
00:53:04Right overhand that time
00:53:06From the side of the face of O'Bell
00:53:08And another right hand
00:53:10And O'Bell remains on his feet
00:53:12Hagler against the ropes
00:53:14Left hand to the body by O'Bell
00:53:18Hagler stopped there for a second to look at him
00:53:20And said hey what's going on here
00:53:22This wasn't in the script
00:53:24What are you doing here
00:53:26One minute remains here in the seventh round
00:53:32Hagler does seem to be just a little bit frustrated
00:53:34About the fact that he could not put his man away
00:53:36He's not doing anything wrong
00:53:38Another left hook right to the mouth
00:53:40He's not doing anything right
00:53:42It's just that O'Bell is not cooperating
00:53:44Didn't read the script
00:53:50The combination by Hagler
00:53:52Staggers O'Bell again
00:53:54And there's a right hand to the top of the head
00:53:56And O'Bell once more is staggered
00:53:58But comes back with a left hand of his own
00:54:00O'Bell, he's fighting sheer determination
00:54:02And confidence
00:54:04And it's unbelievable
00:54:07Hagler leans on his man
00:54:09Throws nothing but combinations
00:54:11Almost all his punches are connecting
00:54:13And O'Bell remains standing
00:54:15I'd be surprised if O'Bell comes out for the next round
00:54:17Look at his legs, they're wobbly
00:54:21Well he's gonna go out on his shield
00:54:23When and if he goes out
00:54:25So credit to Philly O'Bell
00:54:27Certainly gotta give credit to champion Marvin Hagler too
00:54:29He's really taken the fight to Philly O'Bell
00:54:31And has really hit him with everything
00:54:33Except the chair that he's sitting on right now
00:54:36But you gotta credit the challenger
00:54:38Oh I give him a lot of credit
00:54:40You know something, I was thinking about being a middleweight
00:54:42I changed my mind
00:54:48Now Philly O'Bell actually
00:54:50Looking at him in his corner in this round
00:54:52He looks to be a little bit more fit than he was in the last round
00:54:54He was really a beaten fighter in the last round
00:54:56He didn't really get tagged
00:54:58As bad in the 7th round as he did in the 6th round
00:55:00Or for that matter in the 5th round
00:55:02There's a doctor in the corner
00:55:04Examining his eyes
00:55:06O'Bell looked at him
00:55:08And it seemed clear eyed
00:55:10Well the interesting thing is here too
00:55:12In the state of Massachusetts
00:55:14The doctor cannot stop the fight
00:55:16He can only advise the referee Octavio Medard
00:55:18To stop the fight
00:55:20Round 8 upcoming now
00:55:22And Philly O'Bell still on his feet
00:55:24And Hagler stalks his man once more
00:55:26O'Bell comes back with a combination
00:55:28And misses though
00:55:30And 3, 4 quick punches
00:55:32And a right hand to the top of the head
00:55:34Staggers O'Bell over the end of the ropes
00:55:36Octavio Medard says that's all
00:55:38That's enough
00:55:40Marvin Hagler is still the champion of the world
00:55:46And the crowd here loves it
00:55:48And they are very appreciative
00:55:50Of a very fine effort
00:55:52By the challenger from Venezuela
00:55:54Fulgencio O'Bell Maez
00:55:56He took everything that Marvin Hagler
00:55:58Could dish out
00:56:00I'm quite impressed with O'Bell
00:56:02But he has nothing to feel sorry about
00:56:04He fought a great champion
00:56:06He definitely did
00:56:08Marvin Hagler
00:56:10Really is the eternal professional
00:56:12In my opinion at least
00:56:14He doesn't waste any punches
00:56:16I think we may mention the fact that 70-75%
00:56:18Of his punches landed tonight
00:56:20He put on a dynamite display of punches
00:56:24And everybody rushing into the ring
00:56:26Mrs. Fulgencio O'Bell Maez
00:56:28Rushes over to her husband
00:56:30Bertha Hagler
00:56:32Formerly Bertha Washington
00:56:34Lifelong friend of the champion
00:56:36Rushes in to greet her husband Marvin Hagler
00:56:38Retains the championship of the world
00:56:40Both the WBA and the WBC
00:56:42It was a pretty good fight all around
00:56:44Just in looking at it from the pure sport itself
00:56:46You have to say this is a pretty good fight
00:56:48From round one up until the end
00:56:52Fully O'Bell just gave it everything
00:56:54And as we mentioned earlier
00:56:56There was great consternation here
00:56:58Not only in the city of Boston but in fact in the boxing community in general
00:57:00That this was a guy who really didn't belong
00:57:02In the same ring with Marvin Hagler
00:57:04He was a guy that even though he was undefeated
00:57:06Even though he had 28 knockouts
00:57:08That he really did belong in with the champion
00:57:10Marvin Hagler
00:57:12He proved tonight
00:57:14That he definitely not only belonged
00:57:16But he gave Marvin Hagler everything he wanted
00:57:18And a little bit more
00:57:20Marvin Hagler though still the champion
00:57:22And let's go now up to Larry Merchant
00:57:24Who is with the champion
00:57:26Marvin Hagler
00:57:28Alright I'm with Marvin Hagler and a few hundred other people
00:57:30Marvin
00:57:32I guess he's a little tougher than you thought
00:57:34He was, he was a lot tougher than I thought
00:57:36I had to weigh him down
00:57:38I realized I was in good shape
00:57:40And I know he trained real hard for this fight
00:57:42But I told him
00:57:44I don't want anybody like Marvin Hagler
00:57:46In order for me to go here he's going to have to hit me with that ring post
00:57:48I'm showing the world
00:57:50That I should have been champion a long time ago
00:57:52And I feel very good
00:57:54I got the best trainer and manager in the world
00:57:56Did he ever hurt you?
00:57:58No I was never hurt
00:58:00I just had to get things together
00:58:02Don't go with too much power
00:58:04Stay loose
00:58:06And I figured I would get him with speed
00:58:08Early on you seemed to be measuring him
00:58:10For two or three rounds you had a little bit of a problem
00:58:12I didn't want to rush my way in
00:58:14Didn't want to run into anything on the way in
00:58:16We worked very hard
00:58:18I'd like to thank all the people down at my training camp
00:58:20In Provincetown
00:58:22And also I'd like to say
00:58:24That uh
00:58:26This is
00:58:28This day here
00:58:30Is a good win
00:58:32And I want to give this win here
00:58:34To the people from United Cerebral Palsy
00:58:36I've been working for United Cerebral Palsy
00:58:38For four or five years
00:58:40And I just missed this year
00:58:42But I'm hoping everybody gives
00:58:44You seem like a man on a mission
00:58:46As a fighter
00:58:48Is that because you had to wait so long to get this
00:58:50And that you really have a chance to value it
00:58:52They only made me meaner
00:58:54The longer they kept me away
00:58:56I should have been there about three years ago
00:58:58I wanted to show the world that I
00:59:00I belong there
00:59:02Now I earned this right here
00:59:04And we've brung it right back here to Boston
00:59:06And this is where it belongs
00:59:08I'm not planning on giving this away
00:59:10Until I'm ready
00:59:12Who is your next challenger?
00:59:14Right now we got
00:59:16A lot of people in mind
00:59:18But you know right now they come out of the woodwork
00:59:20Before we couldn't find them
00:59:22Are you going to fight Vito Antefermo again?
00:59:24I have something there with Antefermo
00:59:26I beat him there
00:59:28He got a gift that night
00:59:30And if the money's right, we want him
00:59:32What about Ray Leonard?
00:59:34He's been talking about becoming a middleweight
00:59:36There's money down there
00:59:38He knows
00:59:40I figured that I'm the best in the world in my division
00:59:42This is what I've been trying to prove for so long
00:59:44And I've done it
00:59:46Thank you very much
00:59:48Now back to ringside
00:59:50We're going to have an opportunity to look at
00:59:52Both the knockdown earlier
00:59:54And of course how the fight ended
00:59:56Let's take a look now at the knockdown
00:59:58Ray, this was earlier in the fight
01:00:00And Marvin Hagler, as we mentioned
01:00:02Just came up with a tremendous left hook
01:00:04That's what I call a technician
01:00:06And I consider very few fighters technicians
01:00:08Because he puts his punches together
01:00:10And he put Obel down with a beautiful left hook
01:00:12Now this is the end of the fight
01:00:14So why don't you talk us through this
01:00:16What do you see here?
01:00:18Well, as you see now, Hagler's very aggressive
01:00:20He's very confident
01:00:22He knows exactly what he wants to do
01:00:24And he sees that Obel's not aggressive anymore
01:00:26He's backing away
01:00:28And that shows a sign of fatigue and hurt
01:00:30And Hagler's beginning to throw his body shots
01:00:32Put his punches together
01:00:34And here it's just a matter of time
01:00:36Before the fight is stopped
01:00:38Marvin Hagler really
01:00:40He mentioned the fact that he felt
01:00:42Fully Obel in order to win the fight
01:00:44Would have to hit him with everything
01:00:46Including the rigged post
01:00:48I think Marvin Hagler did hit him with the rigged post
01:00:50And he still didn't go down
01:00:52Well as we see here, more action
01:00:54He hit with more than rigged post
01:00:56And he was determined to retain his title
01:00:58And Marvin Hagler did just that
01:01:00It makes him that much meaner
01:01:02And I think if descriptions or anything
01:01:04In the way of talking about a fighter
01:01:06Or creating a legend
01:01:08I think maybe Red Smith, the famed New York Times
01:01:10Columnist and a guy who's written an awful lot about boxing
01:01:12Maybe more words than anybody else
01:01:14Said about Marvin Hagler
01:01:16He said with his shaven head and Mephistophelian whiskers
01:01:18He looks like the embodiment of evil
01:01:20Well there folks is the embodiment of evil
01:01:22If that's true, talking right now to some
01:01:24Venezuelan television folks
01:01:26Fully Obel was really supported here today
01:01:28By the shaved head of Marvin Hagler
01:01:30And even a couple of his corner men had shaved heads
01:01:32I don't know if you noticed that
01:01:34He said that he did that because of the success of
01:01:36Hurricane Carter and Jack Johnson
01:01:38And there were a couple of pretty good champions
01:01:40In and of themselves
01:01:42We're going to have an opportunity
01:01:44To go back up into the ring now
01:01:46To Larry Merchant
01:01:48And let's do that right now
01:01:50With Vito Antefermo
01:01:52Who probably gave Marvin Hagler
01:01:54The toughest fight of his career
01:01:56What were your thoughts on the fight?
01:01:58Yeah well I figured the fight
01:02:00Was going to wind up like this
01:02:02But I gave Fully Obel
01:02:04More chance, at least to go 15 rounds
01:02:06With him
01:02:08But what I see, the punch must have hit him on the neck
01:02:10Must have hit some nervous on the neck
01:02:12And that's what got him
01:02:14Out of there
01:02:16So you thought actually that Fully Obel would give him
01:02:18A really tough fight, not that he was
01:02:20Some pushover, some unknown fellow
01:02:22From South America
01:02:24I've fought Fully Obel before and I've seen him
01:02:26He's a very good fighter
01:02:28And not only because he was a good fighter
01:02:30That's because he had a side, the guy was a 6'2
01:02:32And I figured maybe the height would give Hagler
01:02:34A little trouble
01:02:36Do you have a contract for a return match with Hagler?
01:02:38Well I have no contract
01:02:40But the promoter promised me
01:02:42By May
01:02:44He will be able to do something
01:02:46With me and Hagler
01:02:48Thank you very much Vito
01:02:50Now back to you Ray and Barry
01:02:52Thank you very much Larry Merchant and Vito Antefermo
01:02:54You had a chance to see Marvin Hagler
01:02:56Fight Vito Antefermo, although I'm sure Ray
01:02:58Your mind wasn't so much on that fight
01:03:00Because you had a rather important fight that same night
01:03:02Against Orfeito Benitez
01:03:04But what did you think of that fight?
01:03:06That was probably the toughest fight that Marvin Hagler
01:03:08Has ever had, it wound up as a draw
01:03:10The first draw in a championship fight since 1973
01:03:12And with that, Antefermo retained his title at that time
01:03:14Everybody thought that Marvin Hagler won that fight
01:03:16Well it was a very very close fight
01:03:18And both guys put up a
01:03:20Tremendous fight
01:03:22And as it was, it was a controversial
01:03:24Type of decision
01:03:26And Hagler proves that he is the champion
01:03:28And he exemplified that tonight
01:03:30Well I think Marvin Hagler
01:03:32And so many words have been said and written
01:03:34About the fact that he was a neglected fighter
01:03:36Don King took three fighters that Hagler
01:03:38Had beaten into that ill-fated ABC tournament
01:03:40To decide all the US champions if you remember
01:03:42And Marvin really felt neglected about that
01:03:44He felt neglected because the TV networks
01:03:46Just didn't give him a shot
01:03:48He felt neglected because he was promised title shots
01:03:50But he wasn't given them, particularly by
01:03:52Rodrigo Valdez who had the championship for quite a while
01:03:54So he was a man who really felt he was maligned
01:03:56And tonight I think he took a giant step back
01:03:58As you see him now waving to the fans
01:04:00Here in Boston
01:04:02And they are fans that have supported him
01:04:04Right from the very beginning
01:04:06He is an extremely popular fighter here in Boston
01:04:08The important thing about Marvin Hagler
01:04:10Is that he took all the anger he had
01:04:12For all those years
01:04:14And he turned it in a positive direction
01:04:16He didn't let it beat him down
01:04:18It's easy to get beat down by that
01:04:20And you can even understand somebody
01:04:22Who throws up his arms
01:04:24But this is a guy with a mission
01:04:26And he stuck with it
01:04:28And he should be widely applauded for that
01:04:30I completely concur, he is the champion's champion
01:04:32Right now, let's take a look at highlights
01:04:34Of a fight we recorded earlier
01:04:36Between Robbie Sims and Richie Harrington
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