Marvelous Marvin Hagler's opening round against Thomas Hearns will forever be remembered as the greatest three minutes not just in boxing but all combat sport.
One-hundred and eighty seconds of mayhem, of punishment, of destruction, of two men asking everything and more of their bodies; to absorb the hell fire raining down on them and use it to fuel the evisceration of the other. The fight's billing as "The War" felt apt.
The first bomb landed after only 15 seconds, a Hearns right-hand, one of the most feared and revered in boxing, landing flush on Hagler's chin, one of its most durable. Hagler had tasted Hearns' best punch and was still standing. From then on all hell broke loose.
Even watching the fight back almost 36 years later the heart still races. The sound of the bell to call a temporary halt to proceedings at the end of the round - Hagler's face a bloody mess - still elicits a mixture of exhilaration at what we've witnessed and fear of what comes next.
The second round failed to match the ferocity of the first, but then nothing could. Hagler was cut and bleeding profusely; Hearns was fighting hurt too, having suffered a broken right hand in the first.
In a fight that was long in torture and short on time, Round 3 would signal Hagler's ascent into greatness. Referee Richard Steele called a time out to have the ringside doctor examine the cut on Hagler's head. The crowd was on its feet, holding its collective breath, before the doctor gave the OK for Hagler to continue.
Sensing (not for the first time) that the dark elements of boxing were conspiring against him, Hagler charged at Hearns, launching and landing an earth-to-ear missile that threw Hearns' equilibrium out the Cesar's Palace arena and down the Las Vegas strip.
Hearns' legs wobbled like jelly; Hagler moved in for the kill. Hearns toppled to the canvas, rising at the count of nine. But while the heart was willing, the body could take no more. He collapsed into the referee's arms. The fight was halted, and Hagler had etched his name into immortality.
“When they stopped the fight to look at the cut, I realised they might be playing games and I wasn’t going to let them take the title away," Hagler said later. “It was a scary feeling. I thought, ‘Why are they stopping this fight?’ I didn’t realise I was bleeding. It wasn’t in my eyes. Then I knew I had to destroy this guy.”
Victory over Hearns (Hagler had already won a unanimous decision over Roberto Duran 18 months previous) secured Hagler's seat at the head table of great middleweights. The fight lasted only eight minutes and one second, but will echo for a lifetime. His passing on Saturday at his family home age 66 allows us time to reflect on one of the greatest boxing careers of all time.
Marvelous by name and menacing by nature, Hagler had already been the undisputed middleweight champ for five years by the time he faced Hearns, but felt boxing had never paid him his dues.
Unmistakable in the ring, his bald head glistening in the lights as he stalked opponents relentlessly behind a southpaw stance, Hagler's brooding persona and perma-scowl radiated hate. Hate for the journalists that prized "Sugar" Ray Leonard's showboating, hate for the establishment that had robbed him of victory against Vito Antuofermo. Hate for hate's sake.
Hagler channelled that hate in all the right ways - on his opponents. Hagler outboxed and left Antuofermo a bloody mess in their 1979 fight but the judges scored it a draw. Two years later he made the former champion retire by Round 4.
The Marvelous one travelled to London to face WBA and WBC Middleweight champion Alan Minter in September 1980. He entered Wembley Arena ring amid a chorus of boos and a backdrop of racist dog whistles - not least from Minter himself - and left it three rounds later with the belts and under a barrage of bottles hurled from the crowd.
Hagler's final fight in April 1987 against Leonard would be one that was five years in the making.
Leonard invited Hagler and other boxing dignitaries to a charity event in Baltimore, Maryland in November 1982 to hear him announce whether he would continue his career. Many - not least Hagler - expected boxing's poster boy to name the middleweight king as his next opponent.
What came next was the ultimate snub, and would fuel a hatred in Hagler that burned in him up to his dying breath.
Standing in a ring with Howard Cosell, the master of ceremonies, instead of naming Hagler as his next opponent, Leonard announced his retirement, saying a bout with Hagler would unfortunately never happen. Leonard maintained his eye was fully healed, but that he just didn't want to box anymore.
Hagler felt used, a prop for the "Sugar Ray Show", and his enmity for his great rival would only grow.
When they eventually did take up the cudgels, Leonard was stepping back into the ring after a three-year retirement having fought just once in the previous five years. Hagler, meanwhile, carried a 16-fight win streak and a reputation as the most fearsome middleweight puncher of all time.
While the fight largely played out how many expected, with Hagler as the aggressor and Leonard fighting off the back foot, the judges awarded the fight to Leonard on a split decision, ending Hagler's long reign as undisputed champion.
The decision is still disputed to this day. Hagler, who was paid $19 million for the fight, left the ring in disgust and never fought again. He moved to Italy to take up a career in acting, finishing with a professional record of 62 wins, three defeats with two drawn. He recorded 52 knockouts.
Hagler carried chips on both shoulders about the plaudits, or lack of, he received compared to those bestowed upon the other three members of the "Four Kings" - Hearns, Duran and Leonard. Some make a habit out of proving doubters wrong; Hagler made it his mission.
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
SPECS
Mini John Cooper Works Clubman and Mini John Cooper Works Countryman
Engine: two-litre 4-cylinder turbo
Transmission: nine-speed automatic
Power: 306hp
Torque: 450Nm
Price: JCW Clubman, Dh220,500; JCW Countryman, Dh225,500
AIDA%20RETURNS
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Company%C2%A0profile
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Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Racecard
6pm: Al Maktoum Challenge Round 2 Group 1 (PA) $55,000 (Dirt) 1,900m
6.35pm: Oud Metha Stakes Rated Conditions (TB) $60,000 (D) 1,200m
7.10pm: Jumeirah Classic Listed (TB) $150,000 (Turf) 1,600m
7.45pm: Firebreak Stakes Group 3 (TB) $150,000 (D) 1,600m
8.20pm: Al Maktoum Challenge Round 2 Group 2 (TB) $350,000 (D) 1,900m
8.55pm: Al Bastakiya Trial Conditions (TB) $60,000 (D) 1,900m
9.30pm: Balanchine Group 2 (TB) $180,000 (T) 1,800m
Company: Instabug
Founded: 2013
Based: Egypt, Cairo
Sector: IT
Employees: 100
Stage: Series A
Investors: Flat6Labs, Accel, Y Combinator and angel investors
SERIE A FIXTURES
Saturday Spezia v Lazio (6pm), Juventus v Torino (9pm), Inter Milan v Bologna (7.45pm)
Sunday Verona v Cagliari (3.30pm), Parma v Benevento, AS Roma v Sassuolo, Udinese v Atalanta (all 6pm), Crotone v Napoli (9pm), Sampdoria v AC Milan (11.45pm)
Monday Fiorentina v Genoa (11.45pm)
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
If you go
Where to stay: Courtyard by Marriott Titusville Kennedy Space Centre has unparalleled views of the Indian River. Alligators can be spotted from hotel room balconies, as can several rocket launch sites. The hotel also boasts cool space-themed decor.
When to go: Florida is best experienced during the winter months, from November to May, before the humidity kicks in.
How to get there: Emirates currently flies from Dubai to Orlando five times a week.
More from Janine di Giovanni
Starring: Jamie Foxx, Angela Bassett, Tina Fey
Directed by: Pete Doctor
Rating: 4 stars
F1 The Movie
Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Rating: 4/5
Sole survivors
- Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
- George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
- Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
- Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
LAST 16 DRAW
Borussia Dortmund v PSG
Real Madrid v Manchester City
Atalanta v Valencia
Atletico Madrid v Liverpool
Chelsea v Bayern Munich
Lyon v Juventus
Tottenham v Leipzig
Napoli v Barcelona
Citizenship-by-investment programmes
United Kingdom
The UK offers three programmes for residency. The UK Overseas Business Representative Visa lets you open an overseas branch office of your existing company in the country at no extra investment. For the UK Tier 1 Innovator Visa, you are required to invest £50,000 (Dh238,000) into a business. You can also get a UK Tier 1 Investor Visa if you invest £2 million, £5m or £10m (the higher the investment, the sooner you obtain your permanent residency).
All UK residency visas get approved in 90 to 120 days and are valid for 3 years. After 3 years, the applicant can apply for extension of another 2 years. Once they have lived in the UK for a minimum of 6 months every year, they are eligible to apply for permanent residency (called Indefinite Leave to Remain). After one year of ILR, the applicant can apply for UK passport.
The Caribbean
Depending on the country, the investment amount starts from $100,000 (Dh367,250) and can go up to $400,000 in real estate. From the date of purchase, it will take between four to five months to receive a passport.
Portugal
The investment amount ranges from €350,000 to €500,000 (Dh1.5m to Dh2.16m) in real estate. From the date of purchase, it will take a maximum of six months to receive a Golden Visa. Applicants can apply for permanent residency after five years and Portuguese citizenship after six years.
“Among European countries with residency programmes, Portugal has been the most popular because it offers the most cost-effective programme to eventually acquire citizenship of the European Union without ever residing in Portugal,” states Veronica Cotdemiey of Citizenship Invest.
Greece
The real estate investment threshold to acquire residency for Greece is €250,000, making it the cheapest real estate residency visa scheme in Europe. You can apply for residency in four months and citizenship after seven years.
Spain
The real estate investment threshold to acquire residency for Spain is €500,000. You can apply for permanent residency after five years and citizenship after 10 years. It is not necessary to live in Spain to retain and renew the residency visa permit.
Cyprus
Cyprus offers the quickest route to citizenship of a European country in only six months. An investment of €2m in real estate is required, making it the highest priced programme in Europe.
Malta
The Malta citizenship by investment programme is lengthy and investors are required to contribute sums as donations to the Maltese government. The applicant must either contribute at least €650,000 to the National Development & Social Fund. Spouses and children are required to contribute €25,000; unmarried children between 18 and 25 and dependent parents must contribute €50,000 each.
The second step is to make an investment in property of at least €350,000 or enter a property rental contract for at least €16,000 per annum for five years. The third step is to invest at least €150,000 in bonds or shares approved by the Maltese government to be kept for at least five years.
Candidates must commit to a minimum physical presence in Malta before citizenship is granted. While you get residency in two months, you can apply for citizenship after a year.
Egypt
A one-year residency permit can be bought if you purchase property in Egypt worth $100,000. A three-year residency is available for those who invest $200,000 in property, and five years for those who purchase property worth $400,000.
Source: Citizenship Invest and Aqua Properties
MATCH INFO
CAF Champions League semi-finals first-leg fixtures
Tuesday:
Primeiro Agosto (ANG) v Esperance (TUN) (8pm UAE)
Al Ahly (EGY) v Entente Setif (ALG) (11PM)
Second legs:
October 23
SERIE A FIXTURES
Saturday (UAE kick-off times)
Atalanta v Juventus (6pm)
AC Milan v Napoli (9pm)
Torino v Inter Milan (11.45pm)
Sunday
Bologna v Parma (3.30pm)
Sassuolo v Lazio (6pm)
Roma v Brescia (6pm)
Verona v Fiorentina (6pm)
Sampdoria v Udinese (9pm)
Lecce v Cagliari (11.45pm)
Monday
SPAL v Genoa (11.45pm)
RESULT
Bayern Munich 5 Eintrracht Frankfurt 2
Bayern: Goretzka (17'), Müller (41'), Lewandowski (46'), Davies (61'), Hinteregger (74' og)
Frankfurt: Hinteregger (52', 55')
Who are the Soroptimists?
The first Soroptimists club was founded in Oakland, California in 1921. The name comes from the Latin word soror which means sister, combined with optima, meaning the best.
The organisation said its name is best interpreted as ‘the best for women’.
Since then the group has grown exponentially around the world and is officially affiliated with the United Nations. The organisation also counts Queen Mathilde of Belgium among its ranks.
BUNDESLIGA FIXTURES
Friday (UAE kick-off times)
Borussia Dortmund v Paderborn (11.30pm)
Saturday
Bayer Leverkusen v SC Freiburg (6.30pm)
Werder Bremen v Schalke (6.30pm)
Union Berlin v Borussia Monchengladbach (6.30pm)
Eintracht Frankfurt v Wolfsburg (6.30pm)
Fortuna Dusseldof v Bayern Munich (6.30pm)
RB Leipzig v Cologne (9.30pm)
Sunday
Augsburg v Hertha Berlin (6.30pm)
Hoffenheim v Mainz (9pm)
About Takalam
Date started: early 2020
Founders: Khawla Hammad and Inas Abu Shashieh
Based: Abu Dhabi
Sector: HealthTech and wellness
Number of staff: 4
Funding to date: Bootstrapped
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The 12 Syrian entities delisted by UK
Ministry of Interior
Ministry of Defence
General Intelligence Directorate
Air Force Intelligence Agency
Political Security Directorate
Syrian National Security Bureau
Military Intelligence Directorate
Army Supply Bureau
General Organisation of Radio and TV
Al Watan newspaper
Cham Press TV
Sama TV
Profile of Udrive
Date started: March 2016
Founder: Hasib Khan
Based: Dubai
Employees: 40
Amount raised (to date): $3.25m – $750,000 seed funding in 2017 and a Seed round of $2.5m last year. Raised $1.3m from Eureeca investors in January 2021 as part of a Series A round with a $5m target.
