- 6/30/2025
Marvelous Marvin Hagler defends the Middleweight title in a rematch with Fulgencio Obelmejias on HBO
Category
🎮️
GamingTranscript
00:00And tonight we are live from the Ariston Theatre in San Remo, Italy, as HBO Sports presents
00:06World Championship Boxing.
00:08The undisputed middleweight champion of the world, marvelous Marvin Hagler, defends his
00:13crown against the WBA's number one contender, Fulgencio Obomagias.
00:18It is an event that the city of San Remo has awaited for a long time, and in fact, the
00:23entire country of Italy.
00:25This place is sold out, packed to its 1800 Raptor, and just down the block there's a movie
00:30theater that is showing a closed circuit of this event that is also sold out.
00:34Hello, everybody.
00:35I'm Barry Tompkins, along with the welterweight champion of the world, Sugar Ray Leonard.
00:39Well, while you settle in for an evening of television back home, it is, as Larry Merchant
00:43mentioned, 3 a.m. in the morning here.
00:45It is already All Saints Day.
00:46Halloween comes tomorrow, but as you can see, Ray and I already dressed for the occasion.
00:50We came to this party as penguins.
00:52Got a good fight for you tonight.
00:53Marvin Hagler, Fulgencio Obomagias, Fulio Bell, if you will.
00:57Marvin Hagler, Ray, has been in a ring just 67 seconds in the last year, and I can't help
01:02but wonder if that would have a negative effect on him tonight.
01:05Normally, inactivity does hurt a fighter, but in my case, when I had a rematch with
01:09Roberto Duran, I had the fight, what, five months later.
01:13It didn't bother me at all.
01:14The same with Marvin Hagler.
01:16It shouldn't bother him because he's always in the gym, and he's always in shape.
01:19It shouldn't be a factor.
01:20Fulio Bell is the kind of guy who fights directly at his opponent.
01:23Straight up fighter, comes right at his man.
01:25That's what he did for 37 times coming up to Marvin Hagler.
01:28When he fought Hagler, he came out on the losing end.
01:3138 out of 39, it worked for Fulio Bell, but when he fought Marvin Hagler, it didn't.
01:35But can he change?
01:37Well, a fighter learns from his mistakes, but once you're fighting, you have a certain
01:40style, you can't change.
01:42Fulio Bell cannot change.
01:43The only thing he can improve on is his confidence.
01:45So Fulio Bell, who says he's got nothing but confidence, he said, as a matter of fact,
01:49yesterday when we spoke of the point blank, I am going to win this championship tonight.
01:54Well, doing it the day before the fight and doing it in an 18-foot square ring remains
01:58to be seen.
01:58It is very much two different things.
02:01Right now, let's go to New York and our own Larry Merchant.
02:03Larry?
02:04Larry, one question for Ray.
02:06Ray, we know that prize fighters are used to getting up at all hours of the morning to
02:10train and run.
02:11Have they undergone any special training for a fight at this hour of the morning?
02:16Well, Larry, to be perfectly honest with you, I would prefer to be at a party right now.
02:20It is a pace of transition for a fighter to fight this early in the morning, but it depends
02:25on how Marvin Hagler prepared himself for this fight, whether or not he's able to adjust to
02:29this time.
02:31Only time will tell, and that's a big question.
02:33We'll soon find out in a few moments.
02:36We'll be back to you in a few moments, Ray.
02:38Marvin Hagler says the six-foot, one-inch, broad-shouldered, fully Obelmejias looks like
02:44a light heavyweight.
02:45In two important respects, he's a heavyweight.
02:48He showed in their first fight that he has a big heart, and he's shown again that he has
02:52big political connections.
02:55As undisputed champion, Hagler has to fight the top contender in both the WBC and the WBA
03:00annually.
03:01Obelmejias qualified in the WBC last time, the WBA this time.
03:06In some measure, that can be attributed to the Latin flavor in those bodies, and that
03:11can be traced to the 60s and 70s, when such great champions as Roberto Duran, Carlos Monzon,
03:17and Jose Napolis took economic influence in boxing south of the border.
03:22But at a time when not many middleweights can seriously challenge Hagler, Obelmejias may
03:27be as serious as any of them.
03:29The trick for him tonight will be to recapture the feeling of invincibility he took into
03:34the ring as an unbeaten challenger.
03:36He'll need that conviction to have any chance, and he's working at it.
03:40Here's Barry Tompkins.
03:41Progencia Obelmejias was born in Miranda, Venezuela, and today he is the leading contender for the
03:48middleweight crown.
03:50After an appearance in the 76 Olympics, he turned pro.
03:53After 27 wins, he faced Freddie Johnson here in San Remo.
03:57Against a less than spectacular opponent, Fulio Bell, as he is called by some, displayed some
04:02of the punching power which makes him a threat today.
04:04Then, on October 31st of 1980, American Leroy Green Jr. took on Fulio Bell in Rome.
04:12It was a brutal third-round knockout.
04:15And after his 28th victory, he was the number one contender for Marvin Hagler's crown.
04:20The title shot was in Boston, Massachusetts on January 17th, 1981.
04:26Fulio Bell was described as the middleweight champion's mystery guest.
04:29In the early rounds, Obel surprised Marvelous Marvin, and many at ringside.
04:37But by the seventh round, Obel was dragging from an apparent cold, which he complained of
04:42after the fight.
04:43The number one contender was gasping for air and trying to pressure Hagler with some wild
04:48rights and lefts.
04:49But the relentless champion finally finished the challenger off with some vicious combinations,
04:53which sent Fulio Bell and his faithful Venezuelan followers back home without the title.
04:59When Obel returned to Caracas, he climbed right back into the ring.
05:07Four months later, he met Norberto Cabrera, a respected opponent, and took care of him
05:12in just five rounds.
05:13It was a devastating knockout and symbolic proof that the former Central American champion
05:18would return.
05:22Just three weeks later, Obel continued his climb back to the top of the ratings.
05:25Joe Gonzalez was a stepping stone to another title shot, a very easy second-round knockout.
05:32He was Fulio's 31st victim, and Obel went on to score three more knockouts in 1981.
05:39Then on June 14, 1982, Obel completed his long journey back to the top of the rankings with
05:45this convincing knockout of Rey Escalera.
05:47The WPA placed the Venezuelan as a mandatory challenger to the middleweight crown.
05:54He has come full circle, and now Fulgencia Obel-Majias faces marvelous Marvin Hagler in a rematch
06:00for the undisputed middleweight championship of the world.
06:03I talked to him about the challenge.
06:08Since the first time I met Hagler, I have been thinking about it and trying to do what I wanted
06:18to do.
06:18And now I've been improving all the time for the next match with him.
06:32Fully, it was learned after the fight last time that you had a cold and later that you
06:35had bronchitis.
06:36And yet some of Marvin Hagler's people were in your locker room for the taping.
06:40They said you were shadowboxing.
06:41You were breathing just fine.
06:42And why did it not come out until after the fight?
06:46Everyone in my camp knew about this bronchitis, but it had to be kept as a secret from Marvin
06:54Hagler's trainer.
06:56Fully, you've always been a straight-ahead kind of fighter.
06:58You come right at your man.
06:59You did that with Marvin Hagler last time, and Marvin Hagler knocked you out.
07:0338 out of 39 times it was successful.
07:05But do you have to change your style now?
07:07I will win, and I'll be the new champion.
07:12Words of confidence from a challenger who must now take them from the gym to the ring
07:17as he tests the man who has appeared invincible against the world's middleweights.
07:27Marvin Hagler has dubbed himself Marvelous with a capital M, and he's given us no reason
07:32to think otherwise.
07:33He is, many observers feel, a better fighter now than he was when he won the title more
07:38than two years ago.
07:39He's turned his frustration while struggling toward the top into a positive crusade to stay
07:45there.
07:46In fact, Hagler had to use the same system as Obelmejius, the mandatory challenge, to get
07:51his shot.
07:52In the bad old days of boxing, it was not uncommon for worthy challengers to be overlooked, ignored,
07:57and bypassed.
07:59Especially if, like Hagler, they come from out-of-the-way places without connections in the boxing establishment.
08:05Hagler comes from Brockton, Massachusetts.
08:08Another Brockton product, Rocky Marciano, was welcomed into the establishment because
08:13of his exciting knockout style.
08:16What Marvin Hagler has in common with him is a single-minded toughness that has won him
08:20grudging respect only after he became a champion.
08:24Main Street in Brockton, Massachusetts was once alive with tears for their native son, heavyweight
08:36champion Rocky Marciano, a man allies by the whole town.
08:40And now, some 30 years later, there's a new face.
08:46WBC, WBA, middleweight champion, marvelous Marvin Hagler, who many boxing experts believe
08:53pound for pound is the greatest fighter in the world.
08:57These two celebrated champions had much more in common than just a hometown.
09:02Both struggled for recognition in their early pro careers.
09:06Marciano had 42 fights and Hagler 49 before they were given the opportunity to fulfill a lifelong
09:12dream.
09:14He had had a lot of bad breaks also in the beginning.
09:17I think this is what motivated him.
09:20You know, he had a lot of things against him.
09:22Short arms.
09:22He's only 5'10".
09:24You know, he had a lot of obstacles.
09:26Yet, it was Marvin who faced the toughest challenge.
09:29He lost his first bid for the title on a controversial draw with Vito Anafermo.
09:34I felt as though I won that fight and I still believe that in my heart.
09:38That's something that nobody can take away from me.
09:40I thought right there that I only had one opportunity in life, right?
09:43That they would never give me that opportunity again.
09:46Rocky Marciano did not have to wait for a second chance.
09:49Behind on all three judges' scorecards, he connects with one of the most vicious right
09:53hands in boxing history.
09:55He was the new heavyweight champion of the world.
10:00As for Marvin, Timmy's after his initial disappointment, he too had his day of glory.
10:06I've always said, what do I have to do to get the recognition?
10:11Do I have to kill somebody?
10:13But it was Marvin's life that was in danger.
10:16Angry British fans hurled bows at the man who was the throne belt champion.
10:20The middleweight champion of the world!
10:24Rocky was a wonderful sight for the new middleweight champion.
10:27Marvelous Marvin Hagler received an emotional homecoming and he stood before his adoring fans
10:32as Rocky Marciano had some 30 years earlier.
10:36The same small town in two different eras cheering for their idols.
10:39I feel as though that, you know, to get that belt after all these lickings that you didn't took
10:47and all that hard road work and everything like this,
10:50Ray, you know, they just can't take it away from you.
10:54No two champions ever train harder to retain their titles than Marciano and Hagler.
10:59Rocky used to go into isolation for up to six months before defense
11:03and Marvelous Marvin locks himself up in what he calls jail.
11:08With tremendous will and determination,
11:10both title holders dominated their weight division to such a degree
11:14that neither received the big payday.
11:17Keeping the inflation rate in mind,
11:19both Rocky and Marvin had earned comparable dollars in the ring.
11:23But while Marvin's frustration stemmed from a lack of competition,
11:26Rocky suffered from poor management.
11:29Rocky dreaded the bench to such a degree that he hid most of his money.
11:32And after two years, he calls it quits as undefeated champion.
11:36I would like to announce my retirement from boxing at this time.
11:42Rocky, my brother Goody and I, when Rocky retired,
11:47our plan was to have a gymnasium in Brockton called the Marciano Gym.
11:53But, of course, he had the unfortunate accident.
11:56And when that happened, my brother and I decided, let's go it alone.
11:59You know, we would have been a great team, the Marcianos and the Petronelli's, you know.
12:04Marvin Hagler's career serves as testimony to the Petronelli's success.
12:08On June 13th of 81, there was the revenge of Vito and Afromo.
12:12He charged me, you know what I mean, hit me with the head,
12:14and they tried to blame it on me.
12:16I couldn't let him retire knowing that he's got a draw for Marvin Hagler.
12:20And that fight there, I loved every bit of him.
12:21I was going to put this man's life out.
12:24That was my way I felt.
12:27Vito could not answer the bell for the fifth round.
12:30The long wait was over.
12:33Don't look at these.
12:35If you want me to stop, I'm going to stop.
12:37If you want me to stop, I thank God damn it for when I get first.
12:40But it was Marvin who gave Mustafa Hansel 55 stitches in 11 rounds.
12:45This guy had a big mouth.
12:46Said I was scared of him in the beginning,
12:48because I wouldn't give him a shot at the first luncheon, I'll never forget it.
12:52He said that he would knock me off.
12:54He's got a nasty smile on his face, which I don't like,
12:57and I wanted to take that smile off his face, and which I did.
13:00In his last title defense,
13:01Marvin exposed of a supposed drug caveman lead in just 67 seconds.
13:05I think that it's disgrace when I see people say he was high on something or whatever like that.
13:10That's taking credibility away from me.
13:12And now the rematch with Julio Bell,
13:15who again is the number one contender for his crown.
13:18Julio Bell was a mysterious opponent.
13:23Yet, he claimed he was ill when you beat him.
13:27What are your thoughts on that?
13:29I don't believe that.
13:30I gave this man here the biggest opportunity of his life.
13:33I remember hearing you at ringside,
13:34thought that I would tire myself out throwing so many punches.
13:38But this is the way that I had to fight this guy.
13:40I have to beat him with every punch before he gets off a big one.
13:43You know, I was very glad to see him go down.
13:46And I gave him such a whooping.
13:48It's surprising me today that this man wants to come back for a return match.
13:52Marvin Hagelin is the most imposing figure in boxing,
13:55living with the image of Rocky Marciano.
13:58He will probably go down in history as being one of the greatest middleweight champions ever.
14:03Marvin is content to lead his own lifestyle.
14:05Like Marciano, Marvin Hagelin seeks on to please one person.
14:11And that is himself.
14:19Coming at you.
14:25Go.
14:27Go.
14:28Coming at you.
14:30Coming at you.
14:31So Marvin Hagelin now makes his way out of the locker room.
14:35And there he is coming in toward the ring.
14:37Julio Melda is already in the ring.
14:38Marvin Hagelin really exudes just a picture of confidence at all times.
14:43Well, Marvin is a very proud champion, Barry.
14:45And when he steps into the ring, he's all business.
14:49Looks every bit the part now.
14:50He's looked the part.
14:51And he's been very loose.
14:52And I guess that's really a good sign for a fighter.
14:54You want to be loose before the fight.
14:56And he has been all week.
14:56A lot of mistakes fighters make is they come into the ring and no perspiration.
15:00And he fell off very cold.
15:02He's good to break a very good sweat.
15:04Hagelin's fifth title defense upcoming.
15:06He's 154.
15:07Has the two losses.
15:08A couple of draws.
15:09And they've been a long time.
15:11And each loss and each draw has been retaliated.
15:1445 knockouts.
15:15Five title defenses.
15:17Four title defenses coming into this one.
15:19This is fifth.
15:20The second one against Julio Bell.
15:21He nears the ring now.
15:23Obell has had to stand around for a long time.
15:25We've talked about what a psychological effect that has also, Ray.
15:28Well, for the very first time, it takes his effect.
15:31It's a psychological effect.
15:33But Obell's been there.
15:35I don't think it's going to bother him.
15:37So Marvin Hagler comes into the ring now.
15:39He is introduced.
15:41Lionel Conte is the ring announcer.
15:43We have several flags in the ring right now and a whole bunch of people.
15:48Let's take a look at the tail of the tape now.
15:49The ages are really comparable.
15:51Marvin Hagler, a year of the senior of Julio Bell.
15:54And Hagler, of course, giving away 3 1⁄2 inches in height.
15:57And that can be the biggest factor.
15:586'1 for Obell.
15:59Somebody said he was built like a light heavyweight.
16:01Obell also, 3 quarters of a pound heavier than Marvin Hagler.
16:04Obell coming in at 159 1⁄4 to Hagler's 158 1⁄2.
16:07And the reach, despite the 3 1⁄2 inch height advantage, is the same.
16:1175 inches.
16:12So Marvin Hagler, obviously, long arms.
16:14Fully Obell, even though he's 6'1, doesn't have an advantage that you might expect.
16:18No, as a matter of fact, this is a very small ring.
16:20In fact, it can be no larger than 17 by 17.
16:24It's one of the smallest rings I've seen.
16:26Looks like one of those rings in the gym.
16:28Yeah, they said it was 18 by 18, but I think they're lying, to tell you the truth.
16:31Well, maybe from the apron.
16:33But it's a very small ring, and you're going to see a lot of contact early.
16:38All right, right now, let's go up for the ring announcer,
16:40Leonelo Conte, for the introduction of the two fighters.
16:45Repetiamo.
16:45You will hear these introductions, incidentally, in Italian, of course,
16:52seeing as we are on the Italian Riviera in San Remo.
16:57And now let's hear from Leonelo Conte.
16:59Come on, let's hear from Leonelo Conte.
17:02Ripeto, Marvin Agler accusato al peso, biogrammi 71 e 900.
17:10Obell accusato al peso, 72 e 500.
17:17L'incontro è previsto sulla distanza delle 15 riprese di 3 minuti l'una.
17:22Ciao.
17:24Ciao.
17:24Ciao.
17:24Ciao.
17:24Ciao.
17:25Ciao.
17:26Ciao.
17:26Ciao.
17:26Ciao.
17:26Ciao.
17:29Ciao.
17:30Ciao.
17:30Ciao.
17:31Ciao.
17:40Momentary delay here.
17:42There's been a little bit of confusion surrounding this fight,
17:45almost from the day we got to San Remo,
17:48the referee for this fight, Ernesto Magana.
17:51He is from Mexico.
17:52There was some talk that perhaps Marvin Hagler is overlooking this fight.
18:00He was talking to some of the British press about his next fight with Tony Sipson,
18:04and that is a fight that has been guaranteed by the WBC here tonight.
18:08That the winner of this fight will have a mandatory defense against Tony Sipson of England.
18:12But I just can't imagine Marvin Hagler has never been the type of guy to look by anybody.
18:16That doesn't sound like Marvin Hagler.
18:18Listen to his face description.
18:19Marvin turns off for every fight, though.
18:23Marvin, of course, has a training routine that is perhaps even more rigorous than any fighter
18:29around.
18:31We're eavesdropping now on the referee or Ernesto Magana.
18:35Let's listen.
18:36Check your hand and good luck for los dos.
18:40Dense las manos to tengan suerte los dos.
18:42So there you have it.
18:46There is nothing left to do but just settle it.
18:47Marvin Hagler calls his training camp jail.
18:50Well, I think every training camp is a jail, especially my training camp.
18:55Your jail is closed at the moment.
18:56I finally got out of jail.
19:02Trigger Ray Leonard, of course, has been overwhelmed by the media from all over the world that is in
19:07attendance here.
19:07Everybody asking you the same question.
19:10What time is the party?
19:11What time is the party?
19:12That's right.
19:12November 9th, of course, there will be a party in Baltimore, and that will be a party that
19:16not only earns some money for a good cause, but also we will have the long-awaited decision
19:22by Ray Leonard.
19:22I'm not going to ask.
19:24Please.
19:26Just about set for the first round of the middleweight championship in San Remo,
19:30Italy.
19:30There's the bell.
19:30We're underway.
19:32Marvin Hagler on the left of your screen wearing the red trunks, white stripe,
19:35fully obel in the white trunks, wearing red shoes tonight.
19:41The thing to expect in the first round is a lot of action, a lot of punches being thrown.
19:46Again, Barry, very small ring, and obel, he's a tall opponent, and Marvin knows fully
19:52well that he has to get in close to be effective.
19:57Well, obel, as we mentioned, has been a straight-ahead kind of fighter, straight up and down and
20:01straight ahead.
20:01And that just is made to order for Marvin Hagler.
20:05Hagler will switch hands.
20:07Soft ball, but he'll go right-handed.
20:11And also, again, the question that Larry Merchant has, what not Marvin can deal with this time,
20:17fighting at 3 o'clock in the morning?
20:19Well, I asked Steve Wainwright, the attorney and one of the corner men of Marvin Hagler,
20:24and he was saying that Marvin has been working out at night, and usually does, even when
20:30he's back in Provincetown at his training camp.
20:32He usually works out between 7 and 9 at night, so he didn't seem to feel that it was going
20:35to have an appreciable effect.
20:45Either one of those punches doing a lot of down.
20:47If the crowd comes alive here, though, Fulio Bell, very popular here, but so too is Marvin Hagler.
20:51Hagler actually burst into prominence here in San Remo on the undercard of another contest
21:00between Vito Antifermo and Hugo Coro.
21:07I'm looking forward to a replay of the first fight.
21:10Marvin goes to the body, he wears down Fulio Bell, goes to the head, and the rest is history.
21:15That is exactly what happened.
21:17Hagler, you saw slip a little bit.
21:18In a couple of the fights earlier, we saw some fighters slip in that ring, although it
21:21does not appear to be damp.
21:28First round coming up on one minute remaining now.
21:33Right hand scored, but was worn for a little bit of a low blow by Ernesto Magana.
21:37Well, I see some change in O'Bell.
21:39He's starting to throw punches under instead of over, like he did in the first fight.
21:45We'll keep looking at those things, try to point out some of the changes in the style of Fulio Bell.
21:49He is obviously going to have to make some.
21:50Good right hand by Hagler, scored on the face of Fulio Bell.
21:53O'Bell trying to go downstairs early here.
22:04Hagler, remember, had that rib injury.
22:07That was another low blow, and Hagler indicates so, although referee Ernesto Magana said nothing about it.
22:13Right hand scores by O'Bell as we wind down 10 seconds remaining in the round.
22:25End of the first round, and that fell was about seven seconds early, and let's go into Marvin Hagler's corner now.
22:31Okay, man, look, keep that, you know, use that, uh, use that jab more often now, more jab on it.
22:49He comes into me a little bit now, so he's trying to do jab.
22:51So use that jab more, you can catch him with that jab, and time, watch the uppercut, see what he's doing.
22:58Robbie, this way.
22:59People get to watch.
23:00Get behind Steve a little bit.
23:02Yeah.
23:02Now you get that first run out of here.
23:04And he hits in the brake two miles.
23:06All right.
23:08Okay.
23:08Okay, man.
23:09Pretty good indication.
23:11A calm corner, Red.
23:12You've talked about that on numerous occasions.
23:14No excitement in the corner.
23:16Well, it takes a professional corner to have a professional fighter.
23:21Marvin Hagler remaining very calm.
23:23We await the start of the second round here.
23:25The second round.
23:26The first.
23:30The first.
23:33Cleo Bell held his own pretty well in the first round.
23:37Marvin had instructions to throw more jabs and also to watch those uppercuts.
23:41I think if anything, you should watch the low blows.
23:45And Obell going downstairs with the right hand.
23:47He has done that consistently here.
23:50And tries to do it again and again.
23:52That came up a little bit low.
23:56That left hand after Obell slipped a little bit.
23:59Scoring by Marvin Hagler.
24:04Obell is a rangy fighter.
24:06He gets very good leverage in his punches.
24:07He just stays, he stays too high up on his toes.
24:13He needs to come down a little, he comes down flat foot.
24:20Well, Obell has had great success, but there is an awful lot of discussion here, and in fact everywhere.
24:25And Larry Merchant alluded to that earlier, that a lot of politics involved in Julio Bell being the number one contender.
24:31And Obell continues to try to go downstairs that has not seemingly bothered Marvin Hagler so far tonight.
24:59Right hand by Obell, what a little good right hand.
25:17And that hurt Marvin Hagler a little bit.
25:19Hagler comes back with a right hand of his own.
25:20And an uppercut and another right hand, so Obell's scoring rather freely here.
25:30Well, Marvin has changed himself from the first fight because he's moving back and giving Julio Bell the opportunity to game on men and throw those overhand rights.
25:41Hagler seems a little bit bothered, although he does not seem to be hurt by Obell.
25:45He does not seem to be hurt by Obell.
26:00Hagler a very patient fighter.
26:01He will pace himself.
26:02He did that in the first fight as well.
26:04Long right hand.
26:05Marvin has that very stiff right jab.
26:08It comes out.
26:09is is a powerful right jab but that's the opponent here's back and puts him in position
26:14so he told that left hand crowd support early on here pretty much in favor of folio bell
26:24end of round two
26:28we'll go into the corner of fulgencia oval mejias now and see if we can pick up what's going on here
26:34this conversation will be spanish however we do have a spanish interpreter here
26:38rings that's why i don't know that's why i don't know that's why i don't know
26:45let's make a move one of the best uh coaches
26:51oh the old bell comes with that overhand right he catches marvin on the side of the face
26:55it was a pretty good punch yet it wasn't fresh in the chin again he lands with that
27:02overhand right to the chin of marvin marvin started pretty soon after the second round
27:06so marvin and we talked about the fact that he's only had 67 seconds
27:13another very calm corner
27:25third round and folio bell holding his own here for the first two against the champion marvelous marvin
27:30haggler should point out that marvelous marvin haggler is the man's legal name now
27:37and he would like to be referred as marvelous marvin at all times so we will do our best to accommodate
27:43that was hackler's best combination
27:58you'll see now more cautious marvin and also you'll see you'll see that his punches will become more
28:03accurate and he'll put them together uh in combinations another low blow there by folio bell
28:14see one punch doesn't catch a tall opponent you have to put them in a series in the sets three four
28:19or five punches
28:21haggler's starting to straighten his punches out actually obel's legs wobbled a little bit
28:25and it wasn't that hard to punch
28:27you know what had happened very um accidentally marvin stepped on his foot
28:31you can almost sense marvin haggler starting to get in gear a little bit get into a rhythm
28:42and that's what it takes it takes a rhythm from a fighter uh the bad bad thing to do is to fight
28:48the opponent's pace
28:51there was a good left hand by haggler that caught obel right on the chin haggler working to the stomach
28:56now as well comes overhand to the right and scores and obel gets out of there obel retreating against
29:01marvin haggler a little bit here in this round inside for hencio he can't deal with marvin
29:06because marvin is is the short of the two and can put his punches together a lot well better far
29:11better than uh obel
29:20house has a different story because obel is taller and he gets more five better levels in marvin
29:27a pretty obel complained loudly after the fight last time about bronchitis or absurd bad cold said it
29:35affected his breathing he just didn't have any energy so this time around it's all spare
29:41the right hand that caught marvin mostly on the gloves
29:52i hate it for hope
29:55neither man has really been hurt we're in the third round middleweight championship right from the top
29:59of the head by obel
30:03and obel with a good counter puncher's left marvin what's marvin trying to do trying to counter
30:08obel's punches he'll let obel throw a shot he'll wait and come back with something
30:15marvin haggler's been a very patient fighter
30:22he knows marvin trying to set him up with that left hand
30:24end of the third round and now we're going to marvin haggler's corner let's listen to goody petronelli
30:32and now we're going to get a better round
30:40what do you think about uh pastor general right-handed
30:42is he going to help any
30:43yeah he's going to get jealous
30:47he's going to get jealous getting caught
30:49he's getting jealous he's going to start slowing down
30:51put the pressure on him
30:53and you're moving your head nice too much
30:55keep both hands up nice and high
30:56you're doing all right
31:01he's gonna make that one mistake
31:03well world championship boxing continues in two weeks right here on hbo and we do have a good one
31:08for you we'll be bringing you the battle of champions wba junior welterweight champion
31:11aaron prior taking on lightweight champion alexis arguello will be going for an unprecedented
31:17fourth title in four weight divisions live friday november 12th
31:21nine o'clock eastern from the orange bowl in miami ray that should be a good fight
31:24i can't wait it's going to be a dynamite fight
31:29expect a pretty good crowd down in the orange bowl too we heard some stories that tickets were
31:32in excess of 30 000 so far so there'll be a great crowd on hand for that fight
31:37two very diverse styles we have a couple of diverse styles here too
31:40marvin haggler fully obel are in the fourth round of the middleweight championship we're in san
31:44remo italy marvin's quite very pleased with where he's fighting right there he's been moving his
31:51head and uh he's getting inside and they feel that a fully obel is starting to slow down now
31:56i think you might have heard goodie petronelli say that to marvin haggler he'll slow down he'll get
32:00careless is what they said and haggler is a fun enough fighter you can't afford a mistake
32:04you see how the tables have turned now obel is moving away
32:13and the fight shaping up right now very much like the first one as you mentioned
32:27a good punch that marvin throws you have to watch very carefully for it he throws that upward right jab
32:35he dips and it comes up like a like a missile there was a left hand and that hurtfully obel
32:41who covers up for the moment comes back with the left hand with his arm
32:50the best punch on the toe on southpaw is that good left hook or an overhand right
32:56also that looping right hand that obel was able to catch marvin with earlier
33:04a little bit awkward with some of his punches
33:10agler misses a wild right hand
33:13and he heard him right there as obel gets out of there and takes another right hand and also
33:26takes an uppercut but those uppercuts really do a lot of damage to fighters and it works with the
33:32body and back up to the head it raises them up and you're able to come across with the right hand
33:36just like marvin just did
33:49just like marvin just did
33:52screaming right hand obel back with a left hand of his own and takes the left hand from
33:55agler watch the uppercut very effective once the fighters down we see they're crouched those uppercut
34:03up in line for a combination and there was a combination of three punches culminated by a right
34:10hand by agler and another right hand again watch the uppercut once agler gets inside to work those
34:17uppercuts 10 seconds remaining in the round here this is the fourth round it went eight the first time
34:22obel taking a beating of this round from agler another chopping right hand and here's the uppercut at the bell
34:33the bell saved him yeah the bell saved him out
34:46that's good yeah you rough that bass like you really had him going
34:49honest to god you turn right hand on him too and you get that rhythm going you're banging in tight
34:54good well we have an opportunity to see some of the punches that were thrown by marvin
34:58those uppercuts are very effective against a guy inside
35:02and you see here marvin brings his head up and connects with the overhand right and follows
35:06through very well marvin has become very aggressive in that fourth round and for little bell tries
35:12to come back but he's starting to tired now barry obel seems like he's starting to get discouraged
35:18now you heard goody petronelli say that the bell saved him this is a little bit later in the fourth round
35:23that's that up with uh right jab i was talking about that marvin has
35:26and come to the center of the ring the start of round five i also heard somebody in hagler's corner
35:34say get it over with so let's see if marvin has it does here in the fifth round
35:37this may be the round that marvin gets obel out of there because obel's moving around he doesn't seem
35:48as confident as he was left to the right hand by hackler heard obel there and hackler's doing good
35:54combinations now too oh he's getting close to that and that right jab is getting closer
35:58that up again that up with jab and the uppercut is very effective
36:12obel with a little bit of swelling on his right cheek right now wild left hand this is by marvin
36:21you see obel doesn't want to fight anymore he's moving away
36:24and at this point is that he's just trying to survive obel bleeding from the nose also now
36:33all right if marvin get a couple of those uppercuts in and raise the head of obel
36:38i'm sure he could finish him off this round there's a right hand didn't quite get all of it
36:46this is a wild right hand obel staying close now that's very dangerous territory backs away with
36:52the left hand but he didn't have any leverage behind the punch
36:57that was the left hand that did score on marvin haggler
37:01obel's making a mistake of slapping but he's not getting he's not balling his fist up so the
37:06punches are not that effective with him
37:08marvin on the other hand puts everything behind those punches
37:18yeah marvin haggler always on balance when he throws a punch and i think you got a good example
37:22of someone who is and someone who isn't here you know this way marvin throws those body shots
37:28they take a toll on the fighter i think they're taking his toll on obel obel looks like a tired
37:35fighter here in the fifth round he's taken a pretty good beating so far from marvin haggler just in the
37:39the last two rounds
37:45and referee ernesto mangania says watch your head
37:49there's an uppercut that scores and a right hand that scores and a bell still in close and still
37:54taking punishment and another right hand and kind of goes what a right hand for marvin haggler
38:04those uppercuts were very effective raises head and he's over he's too burned this one is all over
38:11and that was a smashing right hand that did it
38:15marvin put some beautiful combinations together he was a technician tonight with this morning i may
38:22say and you can really see him start to get in a rhythm after about the second round
38:26marvin haggler's handlers have him up on their shoulder now
38:32two minutes 40 seconds of the fifth round the official time
38:37and marvin did break a sweat and i think he had a pretty good work
38:41i think it's a work that he will say he really needed
38:44again the fact that that long layoff that marvin had was not effective
38:48but he had to take him four or five minutes just to kind of get into the flow
38:54just to get back to the groove um he worked for the first uh four rounds and all of a sudden
38:59then a gentleman stopped flowing bird he put his punches together very well
39:06well marvin haggler the winner by a knockout here and i can't really say that there are too many
39:10people in this theater and let's take another look at it who are surprised
39:14well here we see marvin just taking control now he feels very confident his punches are very accurate
39:20he comes across with that oh good overhand right hook that sends fully obel to the canvas
39:26and the way obel fell his left leg really fold under him there was no doubt about it it was a
39:33classic one punch knockout even though obel had taken quite a lot of punishment right up to that point
39:38if marvin he laid up to that knockout in fact the question was going he started to a ball right jab
39:45he started going to the body a lot more the up cuts once again was very effective
39:51well after about the second round there was really no doubt about it do you question the way
39:55that fully obel went about fighting this fight he started to go downstairs early on he did score
39:59early on but he never did hurt marvin haggler there's nothing you can really say that was
40:04disappointed as far as fully obel is concerned right because again you can't change a fighter
40:08especially a fight like fully obel he is designed to fight that particular style straight ahead he
40:14tried to change with marvin it's tough to change against the fighter of marvin haggler's caliber so
40:19maybe what you have to question is the fact that here is a guy who was at two title shots
40:23you might have to say did he earn one did he earn two well whatever the case is he was in with marvin
40:30haggler marvelous marvin haggler let me give you a hypothetical now i realize this is a hypothetical
40:35situation how would you fight a marvin haggler if i a hypothetical answer i would box marvin
40:45one more look at the knockout from another angle then we had a better shot we saw the power
40:51of marvin haggler's right hook but we talked about the fact also that marvin haggler's guy who always
40:57seems to be on balance and he certainly was on balance with that punch never really got completely
41:02up on his toes even though it was a long right hand mark that burger never behind that right hook
41:07in fact he was close that's reason the power was there well let's let's make another assumption now
41:14let's make another assumption that that sugar ray leonard is not going to be around to contest marvin
41:20haggler what's next for a guy like marvin haggler well i don't know i mean he's defeated everybody and
41:27the way this crowd is accepted marvin it's just an ovation well we should point out we're in a movie
41:35theater here so when marvin haggler has a stage in this case we mean it literally he is on stage right
41:41now and marvin has really done a job tonight there's no question about it but again i think you really have
41:47to say consider the source there was never a doubt about this fight i don't think not at all in fact
41:52where i say it would be probably a replay of the first fight marvin he's just an all-around champion
41:58i mean he can do everything well marvin haggler you look at right now with the petronelli brothers
42:04goody and pat steve wainwright behind him with his paint very similar to that of the champion marvin haggler
42:11and marvin is on his way over to talk with us now that's right that's right keep him back that's
42:18right that's right that's right
42:24see a little bit of confusion going on right now we're trying to get marvin haggler in here and we
42:27will in just a moment look good baby all right you know i felt good i think the rest did me real
42:45good you know i came out real strong i knew i was ready for 15 if i had to go to 15. also i understand
42:51how generous letters i'm hoping that we can get together in there and make this big money that
42:55we've been talking about let's get this on here about all over and uh the people want to see it
43:01lenny we don't want you to retire yet until you come with the marvelous one okay it's got to be the
43:05big one right that is the biggest one all right i heard that too right on three o'clock in the morning
43:12not gonna fight at three o'clock in the morning did that have any effect no i don't think so i kind
43:16of psyched myself up getting ready i went with the uh american time back home and uh it did me a lot
43:22of good plus by uh i don't like obel anyway nothing personal but you know uh you just got a nasty
43:29attitude about him and that made me just want to screw him that much more we were saying that it
43:33looked to us like it took you about two or three minutes to get into a rhythm it did because uh you
43:36know he came out with a different style this time he was trying to catch me coming into the uh the
43:40uppercut and uh it was a good thing that we practiced for that punch doing uh doing our workouts
43:45one punch knockout marvin haggler doesn't do one punch knockouts usually no way i like for him to go out
43:50professionally right what about you you got a question i was saying that you're up because
43:56was so effective marcus he got inside and work it was just a replay of the first fight exactly
44:00well that's what i figured that it would take me time in order to start uh recording what happened
44:05the first time you know but like he tried to stand up a little bit tied out box me in the
44:09beginning which we figured that he would uh i take nothing away from old bell he's a very strong
44:13opponent and i believe that he'll give any of the contenders that's on the way up a fit do you
44:18think he changes style yes uh you know he tried to outbox me more where in the first fight he was
44:24more aggressive because of you know he's been knocking everybody out but there's where that
44:28professional uh aspect comes from you know where you uh you don't fight the guy's fight you make
44:34them fight your own fight talk us through the knockout here we just saw it i think we'll get
44:37another chance to see it marvin tell us a little bit about it how you set it up and i don't think there's
44:41any doubt as soon as the punch landed you had to know the man was out i knew it was out because it felt
44:45beautiful on my hand i just i heard my corner saying that uh just a matter of time i'm keeping
44:50pumping them and just put them together i figured that i stung them in the third round and the fourth
44:54round i just started punishing them and the fifth round just started putting the things together let's
44:59assume for just a minute that the guy on my right does say that's it i'm not going to have another go
45:03at it what is next in that case there still is the simple fact that there hasn't been the big money
45:07but they always bring me for the headbutt and it's not true overall bringing his head forward
45:11the belly shot make matter of fact bring the man forward into you naturally what i have to be is
45:16underneath him and that's what i'm trying to get and if there's a headbutt there's many headbutts from
45:21him on my head then with the referee uh i didn't go for that though you know all right let me go back
45:26to that question once more then if ray leonard does decide that's enough i've had it i'm not going to
45:30have a going to do that i'm going to make some of that money i'm tired of people telling me how
45:35generous he is and how good friends we go if i'm such a good friend give me that big payday then
45:40that's what we want we want to show real artiste and everything else out there and i believe that
45:45it's us that can do it all right i like that mike trying to sign me up yeah you heard that right on
45:52hbo i'd like to thank hbo really for uh putting on some great fights for me because they gave me the
45:58biggest opportunity that i've had in a long time by them showing me on on cable television i'm hoping
46:04that i'm at the right time at the right place because everybody knows the luck the bad luck that
46:08i've been having but it's a good way to end this this year off and this fight here is not only for
46:14myself this fight is for somebody that they don't know but it's their birthday these two guys my trainer
46:19manager they've been hiding they never tell you about it so happy birthday happy birthday and this
46:26victory is for you guys thank you thank you all right marvin you've always given us a good show
46:32too thank you and we at hbo want to thank you because you always give us good television i got
46:36to say that what i'd like to do is i'd like to thank god for giving me the strength and the courage
46:40and to all my loved ones and good friends old friends down in north new jersey all right all right
46:44you got a lot of friends here in san rimo italy too defending his title and we got zoo parade right
46:53here i'll tell you that haven't answered too many questions about what's next but marvin hackler did
46:57answer one very serious question and that is the simple fact that there's really right nobody in the
47:02middleweight division i don't think who can touch marvin hackler right now well that's true i think
47:06that's true and uh he is a true champion he wants me i'm gonna think about it all right you got to
47:17think about it we'll find out exactly what you are thinking in just about a week november 9th that's the
47:21day the sugar ray letter will tell us exactly what sugar ray letter is all about we got a knockdown
47:25going on right side the camera here right now let's go to new york and larry merchant larry
Recommended
1:04:41
|
Up next
2:43
1:06:08
1:10:18
58:56
1:07:29
48:12
1:08:28
1:26:13
1:05:17
43:23