On Sunday, Showtime will premiere the first episode of a four-part documentary series titled The Kings which explores the golden era of welterweight champions from 1980 to 1989. These are household names: Roberto Duran, Marvin Hagler, Ray Leonard and Thomas Hearns. These are glorious nicknames: Hands of Stone, Marvelous, Sugar, and The Hitman.
The doc also gives Illustrated Sports the chance to look back at our coverage of a sport at its peak, the characters involved, the motivations, the fights, the iconic covers. The lineup of writers who chronicled this era is as deep and legendary as the boxers themselves. Read what they wrote, see what they saw, and consider that in its long history it DOES covered boxing as well or better than any other sport. Proof? Right here.
SUGAR RAY LEONARD
John Iacono / Sports Illustrated
One more shot
By William Nack
Still unable to find satisfaction in life outside the ring, Sugar Ray Leonard is back for a fifth affair with his first love.
Sugar sure is sweet
By William Nack
In leading to a shot at the welterweight title, Ray Leonard has evoked another Sugar Ray and the venerable Leonard, Benny.
One for the ages
By Pat Putnam
Sugar Ray Leonard, 33, defeated Roberto Durán, 38, in a fight dedicated to posterity
Manny Millán / Sports Illustrated
‘Everything I did worked‘
By William Nack
Sugar Ray Leonard couldn’t help but rejoice over his dislike of Marvelous Marvin Hagler
Manny Millán / Sports Illustrated
The world according to Ray
By Gary Smith
Ray Leonard dreams of peace and detachment, and he only knows one way to keep the dream alive: by returning to the ring, this time to meet Roberto Durán.
John Iacono / Sports Illustrated
Another Classic
By Pat Putnam
Sugar Ray Leonard survived two knockdowns and escaped with a draw in a thrilling rematch against Thomas Hearns
A fulfilled life
By Frank Deford
Ray Leonard was the hit of 81, beating Ayub Kalule and then Thomas Hearns to win a couple of titles.
Walter Iooss Jr./ Sports Illustrated
The big belly ache
By William Nack
In a stunning fall from glory, Roberto Duran, the apostle of machismo, blamed stomach cramps by handing his welterweight title to Sugar Ray Leonard.
One that will heal
By Rick Reilly
The wonderful Marvin Hagler needs Sugar Ray Leonard and vice versa. One of them is about to be fulfilled.
Manny millan
Clearing the way for the big payday
By Pat Putnam
Against a backdrop of lurid traffic, Sugar Ray Leonard and Thomas Hearns won their Houston semifinals and advanced to the welterweight final.
‘There is a burning desire in me’
By William Nack
That’s what Sugar Ray Leonard says about his amazing decision, for someone at once rich, renowned and rusty, to challenge the Marvelous Marvin Hagler.
MARVIN HAGLER
Wonderful was something less than wonderful
By William Nack
Marvin Hagler proved to be the best middleweight on the block, but Roberto Duran proved that he is a fighter for all ages and should again be the subject of celebration.
Manny Millán / Sports Illustrated
Eight minutes of fury
By Pat Putnam
Marvin Hagler unleashed an all-out assault on Thomas Hearns to retain his middleweight crown
A sinister reputation
By Pat Putnam
Left-hander Marvin Hagler puts fighters in hospitals and managers in shock
Back to the ages
By William Nack
Inactive for nearly three years, Sugar Ray Leonard made a spectacular return to the ring by beating Marvin Hagler to win the middleweight title.
What’s in a name?
By William Nack
When middleweight champion Marvin Hagler added Marvelous to his name, he wasn’t on an ego trip, just confirming what the hard work has produced.
With friends like these, who needs Sugar Ray?
By Rick Telender
The wonderful Marvin Hagler has found satisfaction as, of all things, an actor in Italy.
John Iacono / Sports Illustrated
‘Let the world know that I’m fine’
By William Nack
Despite reports to the contrary, Marvin Hagler says he hasn’t left his life in pieces since losing to Sugar Ray Leonard.
THOMAS HEARNS
The last of the legends
By Pat Putnam
Thomas Hearns, unlike three illustrious former companions, is still a champion
John Iacono / Sports Illustrated
The dreamer
By Bob Ottum
Flattery has finally come to Detroit’s Thomas Hearns, and if his greatest visions of glory come true, it will be bad news for Ray Leonard.
Better than a bar fight
By Pat Putnam
Middleweight champion Marvelous Marvin Hagler and challenger Thomas Herans insist their April 15 title fight will go no further than the third round. Don’t bet on that
Manny Millán / Sports Illustrated
Banging and praying
By Jack McCallum
Thomas Hearns stalks a rematch with Sugar Ray Leonard
ROBERTO DURAN
Roberto Durán lost the fight when he let a punch humiliate him
By Bob Ottum
It wasn’t Sugar Ray Leonard’s wild blows or lightning blows that defeated Roberto Duran on November 25; was the fact that Leonard humiliated Duran in Round 7
Manny Millán / Sports Illustrated
Wonderful was something less than wonderful
By William Nack
Marvin Hagler proved to be the best middleweight on the block, but Roberto Duran proved that he is a fighter for all ages and should again be the subject of celebration.
Punch Now Bat Later
By Pat Putnam
He’d rather be shortstop, but Duran saves his hands to hit opponents.
John Iacaono / Sports Illustrated
From Hard Punches, an easy life
By William Nack
Before Roberto Duran’s fight with Sugar Ray Leonard, Stonehands reminds everyone that he is not the only one with weaknesses.
The big belly ache
By William Nack
In a stunning fall from glory, Roberto Duran, the apostle of machismo, blamed stomach cramps by handing his welterweight title to Sugar Ray Leonard.
Neil Leifer / Sports Illustrated
No more, please!
By Leigh Montville
His glory days, but a faint memory, Roberto Duran wants to keep fighting, even after a second uneven loss to Vinny Pazienza.
Lost in translation
By Richard Hoffer
As for the two most famous words in all sports, Roberto Durán never said them. So where did ‘no more’ come from, the most memorable phrase yet for the athletic capitulation?
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Eddie is an Australian news reporter with over 9 years in the industry and has published on Forbes and tech crunch.