By David Martinez / Boxing Historian / dmboxing.com
Upon learning of the sudden death of Marvin Hagler on March 13, 2021 at his New Hampshire home at the age of 66, my mind instantly switched into the mode of years-gone-by as I relived memories of this great fighter . Hagler along with Alexis Arguello are my favorite boxers.
Marvin Hagler was born on May 23, 1954 in Newark, New Jersey, and in his childhood years moved to Brockton, Massachusetts.
In 1969, Hagler took up boxing and met Pat and Goody Petronelli at their Brockton boxing gym . They would become his trainers and managers throughout his amateur and professional careers.
In 1973, Hagler won the National AAU 165-pound championship by defeating U.S . Marine standout Terry Dobbs and that same year also won the USA National title. His amateur record was 55 wins, with only one loss.
Hagler started his professional career, after his outstanding time as an amateur, in March 1973. He was 17-0 when he drew with Sugar Ray Seals, and was 25-0-1 when he lost for the first time in January 1976, a decision to Bobby “Boogaloo” Watts in Philadelphia . Two fights later he lost a decision to Willie “The Worm” Monroe, also in Philadelphia.
Hagler fought Seals three times going 2-0-1 . After the loss to Watts, he then knocked “Boogaloo” out in a rematch. After the loss to Monroe, he then fought “The Worm” twice more, knocking him out both times. He would never lose a fight in an eleven year span of thirty-seven bouts until losing a controversial split decision to Sugar Ray Leonard on April 6, 1987, in Las Vegas.
Hagler won the middleweight championship for the first time on September 27, 1980 in London, England, via third round TKO over Alan Minter when Minter’s corner advised referee Carlos Berrocal to stop the fight. He would successfully defend his title twelve times before the loss to Leonard. He then retired from the ring after that fight and stayed retired, which many boxers in the game often never do.
In his career he fought all the contenders, ducking nobody. He posted an outstanding ring record of 62 wins, 3 losses, and 2 draws, with 52 wins by knockout. An amazing feat is that in sixty-seven professional fights he was only officially knocked down once, by Juan Domingo Roldan, and was never knocked out.
His fight with Thomas Hearns on April 15, 1985 in Las Vegas, when Hagler posted a third round knockout, is considered by many boxing experts to be the three greatest rounds in boxing history.
A southpaw, Hagler threw a lead right hand jab that was unbelievably devastating. His first round with Thomas Hearns and sixth round with John Mugabi are highlight reels for every fight fan.
Hagler was inducted into the World Boxing Hall of Fame in 1992, and the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1993.
I personally rate Hagler one of the greatest middleweights of all time. On that list I rank him #4, noting that I have placed Sugar Ray Robinson #1 on my welterweight list.
Here is my list of the top dozen (12) greatest middleweights of all time, at the height, peak, prime, pinnacle of their careers, and their ring records.
1) Harry Greb (107-8-3 / 48 by KO)
2) Carlos Monzon (87-3-9 / 59 by KO)
3) Tommy Ryan (84-2-11 / 70 by KO)
4) Marvin Hagler (62-3-2 / 52 by KO)
5) Stanley Ketchel (49-5-3 / 46 by KO)
6) Mickey Walker (94-19-4 / 60 by KO)
7) Tiger Flowers (118-15-8 / 54 by KO)
8) Charley Burley (83-12-2 / 50 by KO)
9) Marcel Cerdan (110-4 / 65 by KO)
10) Mike Gibbons (65-3-4 / 38 by KO)
11) Freddie Steele (123-5-11 / 58 by KO)
12) Les Dracy (46-4 / 29 by KO)
Such a true champion and gentleman, may Marvelous Marvin Hagler never be forgotten. I have always had a special corner in my dmboxing.com office with his photos, posters, ticket stubs, pins, t-shirts, hats, autographs and other related memorabilia on display.