Marvelous Marvin Hagler
| Statistics | |
|---|---|
| Real name | Marvelous Marvin Hagler |
| Rated at | Middleweight |
| Height | 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) |
| Nationality |  American |
| Birth date | May 23, 1954 |
| Birth place | Newark, New Jersey, United States |
| Stance | Southpaw |
| Boxing record | |
| Total fights | 67 |
| Wins | 62 |
| Wins by KO | 52 |
| Losses | 3 |
| Draws | 2 |
| No contests | 0 |
Marvelous Marvin Hagler (born Marvin Nathaniel Hagler, in Newark, New Jersey, May 23, 1954), is a former professional boxer who was undisputed world middleweight champion between 1980 and 1987. He is an inductee of the International Boxing Hall of Fame and the World Boxing Hall of Fame, and in 2002 was named the 17th greatest fighter of the past 80 years by Ring Magazine. In 1982, Hagler legally changed his name from "Marvin Nathaniel Hagler" to "Marvelous Marvin Hagler" to force television networks to refer to him as "Marvelous."[1]
Contents |
[edit] Early life and amateur career
Hagler was raised by his mother in Newark, New Jersey's Central Ward. During the summer of 1967, the Newark Riots occurred July 12–17. Twenty-six people were killed and $10 million worth of property damage was caused by the disorder, which included the destruction of the Hagler family tenement. Following the riots, the Haglers moved to Brockton, Massachusetts where Hagler soon began boxing training at the Petronelli brothers' gym in 1969. In 1973, Hagler became the National AAU 165-pound champion after defeating Terry Dobbs of Atlanta. Hagler was named the outstanding boxer of the tournament, winning four fights, two of them by knockout.
[edit] Professional career
Hagler was a # 1 ranked Middleweight boxer for many years before he could fight for the title. He often had to travel to his opponents' hometowns to get fights, and he even boxed against the best that the city of Philadelphia had to offer. He lost decisions to Willie Monroe and Bobby 'Boogaloo' Watts, and had to suffer while watching less deserving challengers receive title shots against Carlos Monzón and Hugo Corro.
This served for Hagler to build upon a strong character. Hagler avenged his 2 defeats by knocking out Monroe and Watts in rematches, and won a 10-round decision over Bennie Briscoe in a classic Philadelphia confrontation, and by this time he had made fans in both Massachusetts and Philadelphia. By then, promoter Bob Arum took notice and signed him.
In November 1979, Hagler fought World Middleweight Champion Vito Antuofermo at Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas, Nevada. After fifteen rounds, most thought that Hagler had won. Referee Mills Lane directed Hagler to turn and face the television cameras. "Congratulations," he said. "Now stay facing this way until they announce the decision and I raise your arm." Hagler and many others were surprised when the decision was announced as a draw and Antuofermo retained his title. This only added to Hagler's frustrations.[2]
Antuofermo lost his title later to Alan Minter, who gave Hagler his second title shot. Hagler went to London and won the fight in the 3rd round by a TKO, after Minter got cut. Prior to the fight, Hagler refused to shake Minter's hand, along with the words : "I don't touch white flesh."[3]. Minter then stated that "No black man is going to take my title,"[4] in 3 rounds at the Wembley Arena. At the conclusion of this bout a riot broke out, and Hagler and his trainers had to be carried away to their locker rooms by the police, in the middle of a rain of beer bottles and glasses.
Hagler proved a busy world champion, and he defeated future world champion Fulgencio Obelmejias of Venezuela by a knockout in 8 rounds, and then former world champ Antuofermo in a rematch by TKO in 5 rounds. Both matches were fought at the Boston Garden near Hagler's hometown, endearing him to Boston fight fans. Mustafa Hamsho, who would later defeat future world champion Bobby Czyz, followed, and the Syrian fighter was beaten in 11 rounds. Michigan fighter William "Caveman" Lee lasted only 1 round, and in a rematch in Italy, Obelmejias lasted 5 rounds. British champion Tony Sibson followed in Hagler's list of unsuccessful challengers, falling in 6 rounds, and Wilford Scypion went in 4. By then, Hagler was a staple on HBO, the Pay Per View of its time.
[edit] Fight against Roberto Durán
A fight against Roberto Durán followed and Duran was the first challenger to last the distance with Hagler in a world championship bout. Duran was the WBA light middleweight champion and went up in weight to challenge for Hagler's middleweight crown. Hagler won a unanimous 15-round decision, although after 12 rounds two of the judges had Durán ahead in a tough contest. Hagler fought tenaciously over the final three rounds to earn a unanimous decision.
[edit] Defenses
Then came Juan Roldán of Argentina, who became the only man to drop Hagler, scoring a questionable knockdown seconds into the fight, but Hagler got angrier and proceeded to beat Roldan, stopping him in 10 rounds. Hamsho was given a rematch, but the Syrian was again TKO'd, this time in 3 rounds.
[edit] Thomas Hearns
On April 15, 1985, Hagler and Thomas Hearns met in what was billed as The Fight; later it would become known as The War. This fight is widely regarded as one of the most brutal and thrilling boxing matches of all time. Hearns, who was expected to box and take advantage of his superior reach, stood toe to toe with Hagler from early in the first round. The pair fought at a ferocious pace with the crowd giving a standing ovation as the bell sounded to end the 1st round, in which Hearns broke his devastating right hand. Hagler who was pressing for such an exchange was happy to fight on the inside, both fighters landed hurtful punches but Hagler appeared to have the advantage with his more solid chin. Hagler, despite a cut to the head, managed to overpower Hearns in the third round, scoring a decisive knockout.
[edit] Hagler vs Mugabi
Next was John Mugabi of Uganda, who was 26-0 with 26 knockouts and an Olympic silver medalist. The Fight was fought on 10 March 1986 as Hagler had hurt his back and could not fight on the first date booked in 1985. Hagler took Mugabi's best shots and came back handily, stopping Mugabi in the 11th.
[edit] Sugar Ray Leonard
Hagler's next challenger was Sugar Ray Leonard, who was returning to the ring after a three-year retirement. During the pre-fight negotiations, in return for granting Hagler a larger share of the purse Leonard obtained several conditions which would be crucial to his strategy; a large ring (24x24ft), 12oz gloves and the fight was to be over 12 - not 15 - rounds. After the fight it also emerged that Leonard engaged in several real fights behind closed doors in preparation. Hagler, the natural middleweight and the more active fighter, was a heavy betting favorite. The fight took place at Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas on April 6, 1987.
Many were surprised that Hagler, a natural southpaw, opened the fight boxing out of an orthodox stance. After the quick and slick Leonard won the first two rounds on all three scorecards, Hagler started the third round as a southpaw. Hagler did better, but Leonard's superior speed and boxing skill kept him in the fight. By the fifth, Leonard, who was moving a lot, began to tire and Hagler started to get closer. As he tired Leonard began to clinch with more frequency (in total referee Richard Steele gave him over 30 warnings for holding, although never deducted a point). Hagler buckled Leonard's knees with a right uppercut near the end of the round, which finished with Leonard on the ropes. Hagler continued to score effectively in round six. Leonard, having slowed down, was obliged to fight more and run less. However, he was able to outpunch Hagler along the ropes and got the better of several bristling exchanges. In rounds seven and eight, Hagler's southpaw jab was landing solidly and Leonard's counter flurries were less frequent. Round nine was the most exciting round of the fight. Hagler hurt Leonard with a left cross and pinned him in a corner. Leonard looked to be in trouble, but he furiously fought his way out of the corner. The action see-sawed back and forth for the rest of the round, with each man having his moments. Round ten was tame by comparison, as the pace slowed after the furious action of the previous round. Despite Leonard's obvious fatigue, he boxed well in the eleventh. Every time Hagler scored, Leonard came back with something flashier, if not as effective. In the final round, Hagler continued to chase Leonard. He hit Leonard with a big left hand and backed him into a corner. Leonard responded with a furious flurry. Hagler backed off, and Leonard danced away with Hagler in pursuit. The fight end with Hagler and Leonard exchanging along the ropes.[5] Leonard threw 629 punches and landed 306, while Hagler threw 792 and landed 291. [6]
Leonard was awarded a controversial split-decision. Many felt that Hagler deserved the decision because he was the aggressor and landed the harder punches. Hugh McIlvanney wrote in the British Sunday Times that Leonard's plan was to "steal rounds with a few flashy and carefully timed flurries....he was happy to exaggerate hand speed at the expense of power, and neither he nor two of the scorers seemed bothered by the fact that many of the punches landed on the champion's gloves and arms."[7] McIlvanny also referred to Budd Schulberg's contention that simply being more competitive than expected meant that Leonard appeared more effective and to be doing more than he actually was.[8]
Others felt that Leonard deservedly got the decision, arguing that Leonard landed more punches and showed better defense and ring generalship. Jim Murray, long-time sports columnist for the Los Angeles Times, wrote, "It wasn't even close...He didn't just outpoint Hagler, he exposed him. He made him look like a guy chasing a bus. In snowshoes. Leonard repeatedly beat Hagler to the punch. When he did, he hit harder. He hit more often. He made Hagler into what he perceived him to be throughout his career - a brawler, a swarmer, a man who could club you to death only if you stood there and let him. If you moved, he was lost." [9]
To this day, the fight is still hotly debated. The scorecards from the ringside press attest to the closeness of the fight:
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Hagler retired from boxing in June 1988, having been unable to secure a rematch with Leonard: "the only reason I would return would be to regain my title, but since Leonard has been playing games, it would probably take another year to work things out."[10]
[edit] Training style
Hagler had a unique training regimen in which he would hole up on Cape Cod in motels that had closed for the winter. For his "road work" he would take to the pavement in army boots, declaring running shoes "sissy shoes." He would run much of his route backwards to prepare for movements in the boxing ring.
[edit] Awards and recognition
- Named Ring Magazine Fighter of the Year for 1983 and 1985.
- Inducted into both the International Boxing Hall of Fame and the World Boxing Hall of Fame in 1993.
[edit] Career after boxing
After the loss to Leonard, Hagler moved to Italy, where he became a well-known star of action films. His roles include a US Marine in the films Indio and Indio 2. Other notable films starring Hagler include Brutal Bonanza, Geno's Plan and Lethal Lunch Date. In 1995, he starred alongside Giselle Blondet in the low-budget thriller Black Market Wedding. Hagler does boxing commentary for British television. Other forays into the entertainment field include work in the video game Fight Night: Round 3 and the American film Diggstown.
[edit] Trivia
 |
Lists of miscellaneous information should be avoided. Please relocate any relevant information into appropriate sections or articles. (December 2009) |
- Boxer Robbie Sims is Hagler's half brother.
- Hagler now lives in Italy.
- Hagler has five children with his first wife, Bertha.
- On May 2000, he married his second wife Kay, an Italian woman, in Pioltello, Italy.[11]
- Hagler has a home in Bartlett, New Hampshire.
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
- Official Web Site
- Professional boxing record for Marvelous Marvin Hagler from BoxRec
- Marvin Hagler's Amateur Boxing Record
- Marvin Hagler at the Internet Movie Database
| Sporting positions | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Alan Minter |
WBA Middleweight Champion September 27, 1980 – March 10, 1987 Stripped |
Vacant
Title next held by
Sumbu Kalambay |
| WBC Middleweight Champion The Ring Magazine Middleweight Champion September 27, 1980 – April 6, 1987 |
Succeeded by Sugar Ray Leonard |
|
| Inaugural Champion | IBF Middleweight Champion May 27, 1983 – April 6, 1987 Stripped |
Vacant
Title next held by
Frank Tate |
| Vacant
Title last held by
Carlos Monzón |
World Middleweight Champion May 27, 1983 – April 6, 1987 Titles fractured |
Vacant
Title next held by
Bernard Hopkins |
| Awards | ||
| Preceded by Larry Holmes |
Ring Magazine Fighter of the Year 1983 |
Succeeded by Thomas Hearns |
| Preceded by Thomas Hearns |
Ring Magazine Fighter of the Year Shared award with Donald Curry 1985 |
Succeeded by Mike Tyson |
[edit] Notes
- ^ Carter, Bob. "[1]", ESPN.com, September 26, 2006. Accessed August 26, 2010.
- ^ Sports Illustrated December 10, 1979
- ^ Michael D. Smith (Ph. D.), Violence and sport, Butterworths, 1983
- ^ Kimball, George. "Look Back in Anger: Hagler-Minter, Wembley Arena, London, September 27, 1980". http://www.thesweetscience.com/boxing-article/4729/look-back-anger-hagler-minter-wembley-arena-london-sept-1980/.
- ^ Sugar Ray...Still In Style, Nigel Collins, The Ring August 1987
- ^ New York Times, 9 April 1987
- ^ The Hardest Game, Hugh McIlvanney, Contemporary Books, 2002
- ^ [2]
- ^ Sugar Ray Exposed Him, Jim Murray, 1987
- ^ [3]
- ^ Marvin Hagler - Corriere.it News Article
