| Marvelous Marvin Hagler | |
|---|---|
| Statistics | |
| Rated at | Middleweight |
| Height | 5 ft 9 1⁄2 in (1.77 m) |
| Reach | 75 in (191 cm) |
| Nationality | American |
| Born | May 23, 1952 Newark, New Jersey, USA |
| Stance | Ambidextrous |
| 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, 1952)[3], is a former professional boxer who was undisputed world middleweight champion between 1980 and 1987. Hagler holds the distinction of having the highest KO% of all middleweight champions at 78%. In 1982, upset that network announcers often did not refer to him by his nickname, "Marvelous", Hagler legally changed his name from "Marvin Nathaniel Hagler" to "Marvelous Marvin Hagler".[1]
Hagler is an inductee of the International Boxing Hall of Fame and the World Boxing Hall of Fame. In 2002 he was named the 17th-greatest fighter of the past 80 years by Ring Magazine. The International Boxing Research Organisation (IBRO) rates Hagler as the sixth-greatest middleweight of all time.[2] Boxrec rates Hagler the fifth-best middleweight of all time.[3] At six years and seven months, Hagler's reign as undisputed middleweight champion is the second longest of the last century, behind only Tony Zale's seven-year reign in the 1940s. Many analysts and boxing writers consider Hagler to have one of the best "chins" in boxing history.
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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 $11 million in property damage was caused by the disorder, which included the destruction of the Hagler family's 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 Atlanta's Terry Dobbs.
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. He lost decisions to Willie Monroe and Bobby 'Boogaloo' Watts.
Hagler avenged his two defeats by knocking out Monroe and Watts in rematches, and won a ten-round decision over Bennie Briscoe. 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.[4]
Antuofermo lost his title later to Alan Minter, who gave Hagler his second title shot. Hagler went to London and beat Minter, who had stated that "No black man is going to take my title,"[5] 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 eight rounds, and then former world champ Antuofermo in a rematch by TKO in four rounds. Both matches were fought at the Boston Garden near Hagler's hometown, endearing him to Boston fight fans. Syrian born Mustafa Hamsho, who would later defeat future world champion Bobby Czyz, became Hagler's next challenger, but he was beaten in 11 rounds. Michigan fighter William "Caveman" Lee lasted only one round, and in a rematch in Italy, Obelmejias lasted five rounds. British champion (and mutual Alan Minter conquerer) Tony Sibson followed in Hagler's ever-growing list of unsuccessful challengers. Sibson provided one of the most entertaining (to this point) fights of Marvelous Marvin's career, but he ultimately fell short, lasting six rounds. Next, came Wilford Scypion, who only lasted four. By then, Hagler was a staple on HBO, the Pay Per View of its time.
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.
Then came Juan Roldán of Argentina, who became the only man to be credited with a knockdown of Hagler, scoring one knockdown seconds into the fight. Hagler protested bitterly that he had been pulled/pushed to the canvas and HBO replay clearly showed that he had indeed been pulled down. Hagler took his revenge though, brutalizing Roldan over ten rounds and stopping him in the middle of round ten. Sugar Ray Leonard was calling the fight ringside with HBO analyst Barry Tompkins. He noted to Tompkins between rounds that Hagler looked older and slower. "Marvin might finally be slowing down, Barry". Leonard remarked. Many people believe this is the fight that gave Sugar Ray Leonard the idea that he could actually win a fight with the aging Hagler. Hamsho was given a rematch, but the Syrian was again TKO'd, this time in three rounds. Hamsho angered Hagler with a trio of intentional headbutts in the second round and a fourth early in the third, goading the normally patient and cautious Hagler into a full-out attack that left Hamsho battered and defensless in a matter of seconds.
On April 15, 1985, Hagler and Thomas Hearns met in what was billed as The Fight; later it would become known as "The War". Hagler, despite a cut to the head and being covered in blood, managed to overpower Hearns in the third round after a glancing right hand followed by two more rights and a left, scoring a decisive knockout. The first round of Hagler v Hearns is one of the best three minutes in boxing in middleweight history as the two fighters stood toe-to-toe trading blows. Rounds two and three cannot live up to the first, as Hearns broke his hand in the first round, but are still very competitive. The fight only lasted eight minutes but it is rightly regarded as a classic.
Next was Olympic silver medalist John Mugabi of Uganda, who was 26-0 with 26 knockouts. 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 stopped Mugabi in the 11th round of a brutal fight. Many ringside observers, including analyst Gil Clancy, noticed that Hagler was showing signs of advanced ring wear and age. He was much slower of hand and foot and seemed much easier to hit. He had also completely morphed his ring style from a slick, quick-fisted, boxer/puncher to a strictly flat-footed, stalking, slugger to compensate for his loss of speed and reflexes.
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 Caesars 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, though Leonard's superior speed and boxing skill kept him in the fight. But 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. But 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 ended with Hagler and Leonard exchanging along the ropes. Hagler began dancing in celebration of his performance while a totally exhausted and spent Leonard collapsed to the canvas.[6] Leonard threw 629 punches and landed 306, while Hagler threw 792 and landed 291. Video replay of the fight showed however, that many of Leonard's punches that were credited as landing actually hit only arms and shoulders.[7]
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."[8] 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.[9]
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." [10]
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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Many people feel that the decision and Hagler's title loss was unjust because as the challeger, it was Leonard's responsibility to bring the fight to Hagler, as opposed to retreating from Hagler for most of the fight.
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."[11]
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.
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. Another foray into the entertainment field includes work in the video game Fight Night: Round 3.
Former middleweight southpaw boxer Robbie Sims is Hagler's half brother. Hagler has five children with his first wife, Bertha, including Charelle, Celeste, James, Marvin, Jr., and Gentry.[12] Although he owns a home in Bartlett, New Hampshire, Hagler currently lives in Milan.[13] In May 2000, he married his second wife Kay, an Italian woman, in Pioltello, Italy.[14]
| 62 Wins (52 Knockouts), 3 Defeats, 2 Draws[15] | |||||||
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Type | Rd., Time | Date | Location | Notes |
| Loss | 62-3-2 | Sugar Ray Leonard | SD | 12 | 1987-04-06 | Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, Nevada | Lost The Ring & WBC middleweight titles. The Ring magazine's "Fight of the Year" (1987) |
| Win | 62-2-2 | John Mugabi | KO | 11 (12), 1:29 | 1986-03-10 | Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, Nevada | Retained The Ring, WBC, WBA & IBF middleweight titles. |
| Win | 61-2-2 | Thomas Hearns | TKO | 3 (12), 1:52 | 1985-04-15 | Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, Nevada | Retained The Ring, WBC, WBA & IBF middleweight titles. The Ring magazine's "Fight of the Year" (1985) |
| Win | 60-2-2 | Mustafa Hamsho | TKO | 3 (15), 2:31 | 1984-10-19 | Madison Square Garden, New York, New York | Retained The Ring, WBC, WBA & IBF middleweight titles. |
| Win | 59-2-2 | Juan Roldán | TKO | 10 (12), 0:39 | 1984-03-30 | The Riviera Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada | Retained The Ring, WBC, WBA & IBF middleweight titles. |
| Win | 58-2-2 | Roberto Durán | UD | 15 | 1983-11-10 | Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, Nevada | Retained The Ring, WBC, WBA & IBF middleweight titles. |
| Win | 57-2-2 | Wilford Scypion | KO | 4 (15), 2:47 | 1983-05-27 | Providence Civic Center, Providence, Rhode Island | Retained The Ring & won vacant IBF middleweight titles. |
| Win | 56-2-2 | Tony Sibson | TKO | 6 (15), 2:40 | 1983-02-11 | Centrum, Worcester, Massachusetts | Retained The Ring, WBC & WBA middleweight titles. |
| Win | 55-2-2 | Fulgencio Obelmejias | TKO | 5 (15), 2:35 | 1982-10-30 | Teatro Ariston, San Remo, Liguria | Retained The Ring, WBC & WBA middleweight titles. |
| Win | 54-2-2 | William Lee | TKO | 1 (15), 1:07 | 1982-03-07 | Bally's Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey | Retained The Ring, WBC & WBA middleweight titles. |
| Win | 54-2-2 | Mustafa Hamsho | TKO | 11 (15), 2:09 | 1981-10-03 | Rosemont Horizon, Rosemont, Illinois | Retained The Ring, WBC & WBA middleweight titles. |
| Win | 53-2-2 | Vito Antuofermo | RTD | 4 (15) | 1981-06-13 | Boston Garden, Boston, Massachusetts | Retained The Ring, WBC & WBA middleweight titles. |
| Win | 52-2-2 | Fulgencio Obelmejias | TKO | 8 (15), 0:20 | 1981-01-17 | Boston Garden, Boston, Massachusetts | Retained The Ring, WBC & WBA middleweight titles. |
| Win | 51-2-2 | Alan Minter | TKO | 3 (15), 1:45 | 1980-09-27 | Wembley Arena, Wembley, London | Won The Ring, WBC & WBA middleweight titles. |
| Win | 50-2-2 | Marcos Geraldo | UD | 10 | 1980-05-17 | Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, Nevada | |
| Win | 49-2-2 | Bobby Watts | TKO | 2 (10) | 1980-04-19 | Cumberland County Civic Center, Portland, Maine | |
| Win | 48-2-2 | Loucif Hamani | KO | 2 (10), 1:42 | 1980-02-16 | Cumberland County Civic Center, Portland, Maine | |
| Draw | 47-2-2 | Vito Antuofermo | PTS | 15 | 1979-11-30 | Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, Nevada | For The Ring, WBC & WBA middleweight titles. |
| Win | 46-2-1 | Norberto Rufino Cabrera | RTD | 8 (10) | 1979-06-30 | Esplanade de Fontvieille, Monte Carlo | |
| Win | 45-2-1 | Jamie Thomas | TKO | 3 (10) | 1979-05-26 | Cumberland County Civic Center, Portland, Maine | |
| Win | 44-2-1 | Bob Patterson | TKO | 3 (10) | 1979-03-12 | Providence Civic Center, Providence, Rhode Island | |
| Win | 43-2-1 | Sugar Ray Seales | TKO | 1 (10), 1:26 | 1979-02-03 | Boston Garden, Boston, Massachusetts | |
| Win | 42-2-1 | Willie Warren | TKO | 7 (10) | 1978-11-11 | Boston Garden, Boston, Massachusetts | |
| Win | 41-2-1 | Bennie Briscoe | UD | 10 | 1978-08-24 | The Spectrum, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | |
| Win | 40-2-1 | Kevin Finnegan | TKO | 7 (10) | 1978-05-13 | Boston Garden, Boston, Massachusetts | |
| Win | 39-2-1 | Doug Demmings | TKO | 8 (10) | 1978-04-07 | Grand Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California | |
| Win | 38-2-1 | Kevin Finnegan | TKO | 9 (10) | 1978-03-04 | Boston Garden, Boston, Massachusetts | |
| Win | 37-2-1 | Mike Colbert | TKO | 12 (15) | 1977-11-26 | Boston Garden, Boston, Massachusetts | |
| Win | 36-2-1 | Jim Henry | UD | 10) | 1977-10-15 | Marvel Gymnasium, Providence, Rhode Island | |
| Win | 35-2-1 | Ray Phillips | TKO | 7 (10), 1:11) | 1977-09-24 | Boston Garden, Boston, Massachusetts | |
| Win | 34-2-1 | Willie Monroe | TKO | 2 (10), 1:46) | 1977-08-23 | The Spectrum, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | |
| Win | 33-2-1 | Roy Jones | TKO | 3 (10), 2:10) | 1977-06-10 | Hartford Civic Center, Hartford, Connecticut | |
| Win | 32-2-1 | Reggie Ford | KO | 3 (10), 2:14) | 1977-03-16 | Boston Arena, Boston, Massachusetts | |
| Win | 31-2-1 | Willie Monroe | TKO | 12 (12), 1:20) | 1977-02-15 | Hynes Auditorium, Boston, Massachusetts | |
| Win | 30-2-1 | George Davis | TKO | 6 (10), 2:56) | 1976-12-21 | Hynes Auditorium, Boston, Massachusetts | |
| Win | 29-2-1 | Eugene Hart | RTD | 8 (10) | 1976-09-14 | The Spectrum, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | |
| Win | 28-2-1 | DC Walker | TKO | 6 (10) | 1976-08-03 | Arena, North Providence, Rhode Island | |
| Win | 27-2-1 | Bob Smith | TKO | 5 (10), 2:05 | 1976-06-02 | Roseland Ballroom, Taunton, Massachusetts | |
| Loss | 26-2-1 | Willie Monroe | UD | 10 | 1976-03-09 | The Spectrum, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | |
| Win | 26-1-1 | Matt Donovan | TKO | 2 (10), 2:40 | 1976-02-07 | Boston Arena, Boston, Massachusetts | |
| Loss | 25-1-1 | Bobby Watts | MD | 10 | 1976-01-13 | The Spectrum, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | |
| Win | 25-0-1 | Johnny Baldwin | UD | 10 | 1975-12-20 | Hynes Auditorium, Boston, Massachusetts | |
| Win | 24-0-1 | Lamont Lovelady | TKO | 7 (10) | 1975-09-30 | Boston Garden, Boston, Massachusetts | |
| Win | 23-0-1 | Jesse Bender | KO | 1 (10), 1:38 | 1975-08-07 | Exposition Building, Portland, Maine | |
| Win | 22-0-1 | Jimmy Owens | DQ | 6 (10) | 1975-05-24 | Brockton High School Gymnasium, Brockton, Massachusetts | |
| Win | 21-0-1 | Jimmy Owens | SD | 10 | 1975-04-14 | Boston Arena, Boston, Massachusetts | |
| Win | 20-0-1 | Joey Blair | KO | 2 (10), 2:22 | 1975-03-31 | Harvard Club of Boston, Boston, Massachusetts | |
| Win | 19-0-1 | Dornell Wigfall | KO | 6 (10), 1:25 | 1975-02-15 | Brockton High School Gymnasium, Brockton, Massachusetts | |
| Win | 18-0-1 | DC Walker | TKO | 2 (10) | 1974-12-20 | Boston Garden, Boston, Massachusetts | |
| Draw | 17-0-1 | Sugar Ray Seales | PTS | 10 | 1974-11-26 | Seattle Center Coliseum, Seattle, Washington | |
| Win | 17-0 | George Green | KO | 1 (10), 0:30 | 1974-11-16 | Brockton, Massachusetts | |
| Win | 16-0 | Morris Jordan | TKO | 4 (10), 2:20 | 1974-10-29 | Brockton High School Gymnasium, Brockton, Massachusetts | |
| Win | 15-0 | Sugar Ray Seales | UD | 10 | 1974-08-30 | WNAC-TV Studio, Boston, Massachusetts | |
| Win | 14-0 | Peachy Davis | KO | 1 (10), 1:00 | 1974-08-13 | Sargent Field, New Bedford, Massachusetts | |
| Win | 13-0 | Bobby Williams | TKO | 3 (10) | 1974-07-16 | Boston Arena, Boston, Massachusetts | |
| Win | 12-0 | Curtis Phillips | TKO | 5 (10) | 1974-05-30 | Exposition Building, Portland, Maine | |
| Win | 11-0 | James Redford | TKO | 2 (10) | 1974-05-04 | Brockton High School Gymnasium, Brockton, Massachusetts | |
| Win | 10-0 | Tracy Morrison | TKO | 8 (10) | 1974-04-05 | WNAC-TV Studio, Boston, Massachusetts | |
| Win | 9-0 | Bob Harrington | KO | 5 (10) | 1974-02-05 | Boston Garden, Boston, Massachusetts | |
| Win | 8-0 | James Redford | KO | 4 (8) | 1973-12-18 | Boston, Massachusetts | |
| Win | 7-0 | Manny Freitas | TKO | 1 (8), 1:33 | 1973-12-06 | Exposition Building, Portland, Maine | |
| Win | 6-0 | Cocoa Kid | KO | 2 (8) | 1973-11-17 | Brockton, Massachusetts | |
| Win | 5-0 | Cove Green | TKO | 4 (8) | 1973-10-26 | Brockton High School Gymnasium, Brockton, Massachusetts | |
| Win | 4-0 | Dornell Wigfall | PTS | 8 | 1973-10-06 | Brockton High School Gymnasium, Brockton, Massachusetts | |
| Win | 3-0 | Muhammed Smith | KO | 2 (6) | 1973-08-08 | Boston Arena, Boston, Massachusetts | |
| Win | 2-0 | Sonny Williams | UD | 6 | 1973-07-25 | Boston Arena, Boston, Massachusetts | |
| Win | 1-0 | Terry Ryan | KO | 2 (4) | 1973-05-18 | Brockton High School Gymnasium, Brockton, Massachusetts | Professional Debut |
| Achievements | ||
|---|---|---|
| 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
Alan Minter |
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 Aaron Pryor |
BWAA 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 |
| Preceded by Thomas Hearns |
BWAA Fighter of the Year 1985 |
Succeeded by Mike Tyson |