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Marvin Hagler stood in his corner, seemingly stunned as the decision was read. November 30, 1979, was Hagler’s first and long awaited shot at the Middleweight title.
The fight was broadcast live on ABC Wide World of Sports. Prior to the decision being announced, Mills Lane, who refereed the bout, congratulated Hagler and instructed him, “Now stay facing this way until they announce the decision and I raise your arm.”
As the anticipation built, ring announcer Chuck Hull then read the scorecards. Antuofuermo, the champion, had survived the 15-round battle with a draw. The overflow crowd in attendance at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas voiced their displeasure, jeering the decision.
Ringside, Howard Cosell described the scene, “Hagler absolutely disgusted. Well, you can understand his emotions. But you have got to give it to that man. He did come on strongly, he changed the pace and flow of the contest.”
Indeed, the fight was a back-and-forth affair with both men having their moments in a close, hard fought clash. Many believed Hagler had done enough to earn the victory.
After the controversial decision was announced, Cosell caught up with Antuofuermo who praised Hagler as a good fighter and spoke of giving him a rematch. Hagler abruptly left the ring.
Hagler’s irritation was compounded when he did not get an immediate rematch.
Just five months later, Antuofuermo defended his titles against Alan Minter. Minter won a split decision and lifted the Middleweight crown from Antuofuermo. An immediate rematch was scheduled. Minter landed a cruel blow to Antuofuermo by delivering an eighth-round TKO.
After stopping Antuofuermo, Minter met Hagler at Wembley Arena in London, England. Hagler was on the warpath as he made quick work of Minter by knocking him out in the third round. He had realized his dream and was now the undisputed Middleweight champion of the world.
On June 13, 1981, the famed Boston Garden hosted the second installment of Hagler vs. Antuofuermo. In an ironic turn of events, it was Hagler giving Antuofuermo the rematch.
The 29-year-old Hagler (51-2-2, 42 KOs) viewed Antuofuermo as a rival, a nemesis, and throughout the build-up to the fight referred to him as “Vito the Mosquito.”
He seemed almost tormented after the draw in their first bout, feeling that he was robbed. Although now the champion, this was still a chance to enact revenge.
Born in Italy, Antuofuermo (46-5-2, 19 KOs) was on record saying that he never hated a man as much as he hated Hagler. Antuofuermo had rightfully earned a reputation as a gritty, rugged and tough fighter with a propensity to bleed heavily. In between rounds, his trainer’s instructions were often given while furious work was done to close wounds and stop the inevitable flow of blood.
Hagler, from Brockton Massachusetts, felt a sort of “home field advantage” fighting in Boston. Fans packed the Garden and cheered wildly for their man.
Antuofuermo, at 28 years of age, made his way to the ring first. Led by trainers Panama Lewis and Freddie Brown, he wore red trimmed with white. He had weighed in at 158 pounds and looked ripped and ready to go. The crowd booed as he sprinted to and then climbed into the ring.
After waiting about two minutes, Hagler appeared from his dressing room, bouncing on his toes before a crowd that rose to its feet and roared. As Barry Tompkins suggested, “A man who could right now be elected mayor here in Boston.”
Led by trainers Goody and Pat Petronelli, Hagler was draped in a burgundy robe. He entered the ring and continued to bounce in his corner wearing blue trunks trimmed in white. He too looked to be in supreme condition weighing in at the 160 pound limit.
Ring announcer Nuno Cam introduced the referee, Davey Pearl and next the fighters. After quick instructions, a full house inside the Boston Garden was ready to come unglued.
The rematch, scheduled for 15 rounds, was aired live on HBO. At ringside, Tompkins, Larry Merchant and referee Arthur Mercante called the action.
The bell sounded and the first round was underway. Hagler, a southpaw, was the aggressor and pumped his long right jab at Antuofuermo. Knees bent and in a low crouch, Antuofuermo let his own jab go.
Just 45 seconds into the fight, Antuofuermo leaped in to punch and the two collided heads. Tompkins saw blood, “A butt has opened the forehead, right below the hairline of Antuofuermo. It is a nasty cut!”
The style of Antuofuermo, coming in and attacking Hagler caused the fighters heads to collide. As the round came to a close, blood littered his face as Merchant chimed in, “The real question is whether the blood is getting into Antuofuermo’s eyes.”
As the bell sounded for Round 2, Brown and Lewis unloaded on Pearle and refused to allow Antuofuermo to leave his corner. After much screaming, Antuofuermo wanted to fight as much as he didn’t want to risk disqualification.
The delay, and the bickering, lasted several minutes. The bell then sounded a second time and the round got underway. The crowd again roared as the fighters met at center ring and began launching bombs. As Antuofuermo swarmed Hagler, the champion switched from his southpaw stance and occasionally fought in a conventional style.
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The blood continued to flow from Antuofuermo’s forehead as the bout developed into the boxer-puncher, Hagler, versus the stalking puncher, Antuofuermo. The bell sounded to end the round and the two fighters exchanged words on the way back to their corners.
Antuofuermo’s corner worked feverishly on the bleeding in between rounds. There was no delay as the third round got underway. As the two began mixing it up, there was now a cut under the left eye of Antuofuermo.
As Merchant pointed out that there was a new cut, he was interrupted by Tompkins as Hagler landed a vicious left hand that dropped his nemesis. “And there is a left hand to the forehead by Marvin Hagler that put him on his backside!”
The challenger leaped to his feet and took the standing eight-count from Pearl. He immediately went back on the attack, stalking Hagler. The two stood toe-to-toe as the round came to a close.
The fourth round began like the third ended as both men threw and landed brutal bombs. The champion had the advantage as he was getting his punches off first and appeared to be a hair quicker than his challenger. Hagler began forcing the action and pounding Antuofuermo. As the two met inside, their heads again collided just before the bell, causing a nasty gash over the challenger’s right eye.
As both fighters returned to their corners, all eyes were on Antuofuermo. Brown again went ballistic in the corner pointing and screaming at Pearl. They wanted to place the blame at Hagler’s doorstep. The corner insisted that Pearl stop the fight. On cue, Pearl walked across the ring and raised the hand of Hagler calling a halt to the action.
The booing of the crowd quickly turned to cheering for their hometown hero as Hagler celebrated the victory.
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Merchant, now in the ring, asked Hagler about the battle and the damage done to his challenger. Hagler summed it up with eloquent simplicity, “The blood got in his eyes, where he couldn’t see and I maybe could have damaged him real bad. But as for myself, I didn’t care. I just wanted to swat that mosquito.”
After losing to Hagler, Antuofuermo would never climb onto the big stage again. He would win four of his next five fights before retiring in 1985. Acting seemed like a much safer choice as he landed roles in both Godfather III and The Sopranos.
Hagler went on to fight 11 more times including battles against Tommy Hearns, John Mugabi and Sugar Ray Leonard. Many boxing writers and organizations rank Hagler towards the top of their lists for best fighters and best Middleweights of all time. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1993. He too embarked on a successful acting career.
In the ring, however, both men acted like champions with the heart and determination that leaves us talking about them some 30 years later.
