By TIM DAHLBERG
Marvelous Marvin Hagler stopped Thomas Hearns in a fight that lasted less than eight minutes, and was so epic that it still lives in boxing tradition. Two years later, he was so disgusted after losing a decision to Sugar Ray Leonard – which according to the judges was stolen – that he never fought again.
One of the great middleweights in boxing history, Hagler passed away on Saturday at the age of 66. His wife, Kay, announced his death on the Facebook page for Hagler’s fans.
“I’m sorry to make a very sad announcement,” she wrote. “Today my beloved husband, Marvelous Marvin, passed away unexpectedly in his home here in New Hampshire. Our family asks that you respect our privacy during this difficult time. ”
Hagler fought against his biggest names on the biggest shift of boxing as he, Leonard, Hearns and Roberto Duran dominated the middleweight classes during a golden age for boxing in the 1980s. Hagler was quiet with a brooding public persona and fought 14 times 67 times as a pro from Brockton, Massachusetts, finishing 62-3-2 with 52 knockouts.
“If they cut open my bald head, they’ll find one big boxing glove,” Hagler once said. “That’s all I am. I live it. ”
Hagler was unmistakably in the ring and fighting from a south-legged stance with his bald head glistening in the light. He was relentless and he was vicious and blocked opponent after opponent during an eight-year run that started with a controversial draw against Vito Antuofermo in 1979 which he later avenged.
He fought with a proverbial chip on his shoulder, and was convinced that boxing supporters and promoters did not deserve him properly. He was so upset that he was not introduced to his nickname Marvelous before a fight in 1982, that he went to court to legally change his name.
“He was definitely one of the greatest middleweights ever, but one of the greatest people I have ever had and promoted,” said promoter Bob Arum. “He was a real man, loyal and fantastic person.”
Any doubt that Hagler was indeed not wonderful was erased on a spring evening in 1985. He and Hearns met in one of the big midfield clashes outdoors at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, and when the opening bell rang, they considered three minutes into an opening round much like the best in boxing history.
Hagler continues to stop Hearns in the third round and crumples him on the canvas with an avalanche of blows, even as blood flows from a large skin on his forehead, causing the referee to almost stop the fight earlier in the round .
“When they stop the fight to stop the track, I realize they might be playing games and I’m not going to let them take away the title,” Hagler later said. It was a narrow feeling. I thought, ‘Why are they stopping this fight?’ I did not realize that I was bleeding. It was not in my eyes. Then I knew I had to destroy this man. ‘
According to Arum, Hagler simply wants to win himself over with the win over Hearns, whose big right hand is feared in the division, but Hagler cannot stop it.
“It was an incredible fight,” Arum said. “Probably the biggest fight ever.”
Hearns said Saturday he thinks of Hagler and their historic battle. Hagler wore a baseball cap with the word “War” on it as he promoted it when on 23 city tour with Hearns, according to Arum, the fighters despised each other before they even entered the ring.
“I can take nothing away from him,” Hearns told the Associated Press. “His discomfort confused me, but I can not take anything away from him. He touched his heart and we put on a great show for all time. ”
Hagler would only fight twice more, John Mugabi stopped a year later and met Leonard, who resigned from a stand-alone retina three years ago, in his last fight in 1987. Hagler was preferred to the fight and many thought he would Leonard destroyed – but Leonard had other plans.
While Hagler chased him around the ring, Leonard fought for backup, swung his left out and threw combinations that did not hurt Hagler but won him points on the ring’s scorecard. Yet, when the bell rang at the end of the twelfth round, many thought Hagler had won the battle – only to lose a controversial split decision.
Hagler, who was paid $ 19 million, left the ring in disgust and never fought again. He moves to Italy to perform, and never really looks back.
“I feel happy to get out of the ring with my faculties and health,” he said a year later.
Hagler took the long road to greatness and fought mostly in the Boston area before finally getting his chance at the 160-pound title in 1979 against Antuofermo as a major event, while Leonard Wilfredo Benitez would fight on the same card. Hagler made Antuofermo bloody and apparently won the battle, but when the scorecards were counted, he was denied the belt with a draw.
Hagler would travel to London the following year to stop Alan Minter from winning the title, and he held it for the next seven years before his controversial loss to Leonard.
Arum recalled attending a black tie event a year later honoring the best fighters attended by Hagler and Leonard, among others. He said Leonard came up to him and pointed to Hagler across the room and suggested he go talk to him about a second chance that would have earned both fighters incredible wallets.
“I went to Marvin and said Ray was talking about a second chance,” Arum said. “He glared at me like only Marvin could do it and said, ‘Tell Ray to get a life. ”
Hagler was born in Newark, New Jersey, and moved with his family to Brockton in the late 1960s. He was discovered as an amateur by the Petronelli brothers, Goody and Pat, who ran a gym in Brockton and trained Hagler for his entire professional career.
He was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1993.