VCR alert: Hagler-Antuofermo I

21/12/2006

VCR alert: Hagler-Antuofermo I

Press Release: On Thursday, January 4, 2007, at 9 p.m. ET, VERSUS (formerly OLN) will televise  the sixth installment of "Fight Night: Top Rank's Legends of the Ring," hosted by Michael Buffer.  January's episode will feature the rarely-seen first fight between world middleweight champion Vito Antuofermo against the legendary Marvin Hagler on November 30, 1979. It looked like Hagler would be the new middleweight champion after the 10th round, but Hagler then got cautious and stayed that way. Whether he or his corner was nervous about going the full 15 rounds, Hagler pulled back, seemingly trying to save himself for the later rounds, thus letting the defending champion, Antuofermo, back into the fight.  Hagler boxed nicely and sharply but Antuofermo’s hustling made it too close, producing a draw.  It was after this fight that Hagler went into his “Destruct & Destroy” mode which produced sixteen consecutive victories, 14 of them by knockout, including Antuofermo, in their June 13, 1981 rematch at the Boston Garden.