By the end of the second he was severely cut over both eyes. The left eye was particularly bad with an enormous gash. All the damage was caused by legitimate punches and it was an utterly impossible task for Alan's cut man Jackie McCoy from California to staunch the blood. Marvin then went into overdrive snapping back Alan's head time and again. It was a bloodbath and Panamanian referee Carlos Berrocal halted the action to walk Alan up to the ring doctor, who immediately firmly shook his head.
As Marvin sank to his knees in joy, a cascade of beer bottles and beer cans from a alcohol fuelled minority of the crowd started whistling in downward arcs into the ring. Marvin's seconds bravely shielded him and were hit by some of these objects. Vito Antuofermo, who was commentating ringside for Italian Television was punched on the shoulder by a thug. He turned around and flattened the fool with a single right handed blockbuster. As he conceded about the deftly executed coup de grace: "What else could I do?"
It was a terrible and shameful night for British Boxing, and although Marvin graciously acknowledged only a lunatic fringe had been involved, it was clear he'd never return to British shores to fight in a British arena ever again.
The last encounter with an Englishman was with Tony Sibson at the Centrum, Worcester Massachusetts on the night of February 11th 1983. Tony who was a noted puncher himself was actually one inch shorter than Marvin, but for some reason his chunky less chiseled build, reminiscent of a coalman made him look appreciably bigger . Tony landed some thudding blows, but more than plenty replaying impacts returned in from the other direction. Tony who was behind on the cards, decided to go all out for Marvin in the fifth. It was a great competitive round, but a final hurrah. In the next round a flurry of pinpoint blasts put Tony down hard, and he wearily got up to be slammed to the canvass again.
With the Brits out of the way and out of sorts, Marvin went on to win a three round war with Tommy Hearns April 15th 1985. Round one was the most action packed three minutes I've ever seen. Tommy's vaunted mule kick of a straight right wobbled Marvin who was profusely bleeding for a gash on the forehead. Tommy had broken his right hand which was his most formidable weapon. Marvin sliced the distance and firing on all cylinders pounded his six feet two inch tall opponent with punch distilled vigor bordering on controlled mayhem!
Marvin recalls that all those weeks on the road promoting the fight had been claustrophobic and both of them had: "Become thoroughly sick of the sight of each other." Frustration had welled up, spilled over and they threw caution to the wind. Ring dynamite then ignited!
In round three, three huge rights wobbled Tommy and sent him staggering across the ring. An even bigger left flattened him.
Marvin's successful run of twelve defenses didn't extend to lucky thirteen. Sugar Ray Leonard came out of retirement to defeat him with a controversial split decision on April 6th 1987. Ray recalls that his Father in Law questioned his sanity in fighting such a formidable opponent, following retina surgery and a long lay off. Ray chuckles in recalling that when he confided just how much he was getting paid, his Father in law unblinkingly and unswervingly retorted: "So...when do you fight?!" Marvin didn't get the rematch and retired.
Marvin's adopted hometown of Brockton, also fostered the fearsome Rocky Marciano. Marvin often used to relish training at Cape Cod, in blustery isolated out of tourist season months. As tough as old boots, like Rocky he used to train in old Army Boots, scowling in the squalls.
Meeting Marvin at this year's World Boxing Council Convention at the Mirage Hotel in Las Vegas was memorable and remarkable. He was a charming, erudite and commanding interviewee. A man who supplies no nonsense responses to direct questions, Marvin is a pleasure to interview. Fortunately as yet another Brit, I counted myself rather lucky to only be sharing verbal jabs with the champ!
