Leonard Stuns Hagler

Sugar Ray Leonard returned to the ring in spectacular fashion after a three-year layoff and upset Marvelous Marvin Hagler last night to become middleweight champion.

Leonard won the 12-round bout on a split decision to become boxing's 10th triple champion.

Leonard circled and impressed judges with flurries in the late rounds in one of the great comeback stories in boxing history, although some thought the aggressive Hagler had an edge.

Judge Lou Filippo scored it 115-113 for Hagler while judge Dave Moretti saw it 115-113 and JoJo Guerra had it 118-110, both for Leonard.

The Associated Press favored Hagler, 117-112.

"I see myself taking him out," Leonard said of a dream he had in the days before the fight. Leonard couldn't take him out, but he did what the oddsmakers gave him little chance to do.

Hagler, losing for the first time in 38 fights, dating to 1976, was a 21/2-1 favorite.

"He, to me, is still the champion," the jubilant Leonard said in the ring after the fight, as a sellout throng of 15,366 in an outdoor arena at Caesars Palace cheered him on.

"I didn't want the belt. I just wanted to beat him."

Throughout the fight, Hagler trapped Leonard on the ropes, only to have Leonard flurry to get free.