The great American boxer died Saturday at the family home in Bartlett, New Hampshire, his wife said.
American boxing legend Marvin Hagler, undisputed world middleweight champion from 1980 to 1987, has died, his wife said. He was 66 years old.
In a post on the famous fighter’s Facebook page, Kay G Hagler said her husband died Saturday at the family home in Bartlett, New Hampshire.
“It simply came to our notice then. Today, unfortunately, my beloved husband, the wonderful Marvin, has died unexpectedly at his home in New Hampshire, ”he wrote. “Our family asks you to respect our privacy at this difficult time.”
The “wonderful” Marvin Hagler fought from 1973 to 1987 and made some epic appearances in a golden age of the sport, finishing with a 62-3 record with two draws and 52 playoffs.
The damn most announced victory came in a 1985 match at the Caesars Palace in Las Vegas against Thomas “Hitman” Hearns, which lasted just over eight minutes, but was considered a classic that became known simply as “The war.”
After a first round full of strokes in which Hearns suffered a broken right hand, Hagler suffered a cut to the head early in the second.
An area doctor examined Hagler in the third round and the fight continued. Hagler shook Hearns with a powerful right and sent him to the canvas moments later, Hearns only stood up until he collapsed into the arms of referee Richard Steele.
Hagler won the World Boxing Council and World Boxing Association middleweight title in 1980, stopping Briton Alan Minter in the third round at London’s Wembley Arena and adding the inaugural International Boxing Federation title in 1983.
Marvin Hagler was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1993 [Jumana El-Heloueh/Reuters]
Hagler defended the undisputed crown 12 times, including a 15-round unanimous decision victory over Panama’s Roberto Duran in 1983 and his final victory, an 11th-round knockout of undefeated Ugandan John Mugabi in 1986.
“The wonderful Marvin Hagler was one of the best athletes Top Rank has ever promoted,” said legendary American promoter Bob Arum. “He was a man of honor and a man of his word, and he acted in the ring with unparalleled determination.”
“He was a real athlete and a real man. I’ll miss him a lot, ”added Hagler’s Arum, a member of the“ Four Kings ”middleweight division of the 1980s along with Hearns,“ Sugar, ”Ray Leonard and Duran.
Former wrestler and legendary coach Freddie Roach said Hagler visited Roach’s hometown to see one of his fights.
“Marvin Hagler came to my fight in Boston,” Roach wrote on his social media account. “I appreciated what he told me after my fight.
“Rest in peace, my friend. Condolences to the Hagler family. Thanks to the wonderful Marvin Hagler for all you gave to boxing. “
For a decade from 1976 to 1986, Hagler went undefeated, with 36 wins and a draw.
Named Fighter of the Year in 1983 and 1985 by the Boxing Writers Association of America, he was named Fighter of the Decade in the 1980s by Boxing Illustrated.
He got a 16-win streak in what turned out to be his final fight, a showdown with Leonard in 1987 at the age of 32.
Leonard, who retired from three years at age 30, captured a controversial 12-round split decision and threw his return to the ring while Hagler, angry at the score, said goodbye.
After leaving the ring, Hagler continued to perform in Italy and a career as a boxing commentator. He was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1993.