The US boxing nice handed away on Saturday on the household house in Bartlett, New Hampshire, his spouse stated.
American boxing legend Marvin Hagler, the undisputed world middleweight champion from 1980 to 1987, has died, his spouse stated. He was 66.
In a posting on the famed fighter’s Fb web page, Kay G Hagler stated her husband handed away on Saturday on the household house in Bartlett, New Hampshire.
“I’m sorry to make a really unhappy announcement. Immediately sadly my beloved husband Marvellous Marvin handed away unexpectedly at his house right here in New Hampshire,” she wrote. “Our household requests that you simply respect our privateness throughout this troublesome time.”
“Marvellous” Marvin Hagler fought from 1973 to 1987 and delivered some epic bouts in a golden period of the game, ending with a file of 62-3 with two drawn and 52 knockouts.
The southpaw’s most heralded triumph got here in a 1985 matchup at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas towards Thomas “Hitman” Hearns, which lasted simply over eight minutes however was considered a basic that turned identified merely as “The Conflict”.
After a primary spherical stuffed with energy punches through which Hearns suffered a damaged proper hand, Hagler suffered a lower to the top early within the second.
A ringside physician examined Hagler within the third spherical and the battle went on. Hagler wobbled Hearns with a powerhouse proper and despatched him to the canvas moments later, Hearns rising solely to break down into referee Richard Steele’s arms.
Hagler gained the World Boxing Council and World Boxing Affiliation middleweight titles in 1980, stopping Britain’s Alan Minter within the third spherical at London’s Wembley Enviornment, and added the Worldwide Boxing Federation’s inaugural title in 1983.
Marvin Hagler was inducted into the Worldwide Boxing Corridor of Fame in 1993 [Jumana El-Heloueh/Reuters]
Hagler defended the undisputed crown 12 instances, together with a 15-round unanimous choice victory over Panama’s Roberto Duran in 1983 and his closing triumph, an Eleventh-round knockout of unbeaten Ugandan John Mugabi in 1986.
“Marvelous Marvin Hagler was among the many best athletes that Prime Rank ever promoted,” legendary US promoter Bob Arum stated. “He was a person of honour and a person of his phrase, and he carried out within the ring with unparalleled dedication.”
“He was a real athlete and a real man. I’ll miss him vastly,” Arum added of Hagler, a member of the middleweight division’s “4 Kings” of the Eighties together with Hearns, “Sugar” Ray Leonard and Duran.
Former fighter and legendary coach Freddie Roach stated Hagler visited Roach’s hometown to observe one among his fights.
“Marvin Hagler got here to my battle in Boston,” Roach wrote on his social media account. “I appreciated what he stated to me after my battle.
“Relaxation In Peace, my pal. Condolences to the Hagler household. Thanks Marvellous Marvin Hagler for all you gave to boxing.”
Over a decade from 1976 to 1986, Hagler went unbeaten, with 36 wins and a draw.
Named Fighter of the 12 months in 1983 and 1985 by the Boxing Writers Affiliation of America, he was named Fighter of the Decade within the Eighties by Boxing Illustrated.
He carried a 16-fight win streak into what proved to be his closing battle, a showdown with Leonard in 1987 at age 32.
Leonard, coming off three years of retirement at age 30, captured a controversial 12-round break up choice and launched his return to the ring as Hagler – angered by the scoring – bid farewell.
After stepping out of the ring, Hagler pursued performing in Italy and a profession as a boxing commentator. He was inducted into the Worldwide Boxing Corridor of Fame in 1993.
