{"id":19629,"date":"2021-03-18T02:55:06","date_gmt":"2021-03-18T07:55:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/myboysay.com\/blog\/?p=19629"},"modified":"2021-03-18T02:55:37","modified_gmt":"2021-03-18T07:55:37","slug":"marvin-hagler-who-died-on-march-13-fought-through-the-ranks-to-become-one-of-the-greatest-middleweights","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/myboysay.com\/blog\/?p=19629","title":{"rendered":"Marvin Hagler, who died on March 13, fought through the ranks to become one of the greatest middleweights OF ALL TIME"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u2018He\u2019ll always be the champ\u2019: Marvin Hagler was a throwback<\/h1>\n
\n
\n
\n
\"Marvin
Middleweight boxer Marvelous Marvin Hagler\u00a0 <\/span><\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\n

With the exception of his first name, which he legally changed to \u201cMarvelous,\u201d everything about boxing legend Marvin Hagler was a throwback, from his shaved head to his no-nonsense style of fighting.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Hagler did not have the benefit of participating in the Olympics to help kick-start his professional career, unlike Sugar Ray Leonard and many others who became media darlings. But he managed to rise through the ranks and became a boxing champion in 1980 after his 54th fight.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Fans grew to appreciate the self-made boxer, who would become one of the greatest middleweights of all time. He exercised a reign of terror over the division from 1980 to 1987. His 12 title defenses (11 by knockout) rank him third all time in the division behind Bernard Hopkins (20) and Carlos Monzon (14).<\/strong><\/p>\n

Hagler retired in 1987 after a still-disputed loss to Leonard and, despite attempts to lure him back for a rematch, remained retired. He became an actor and action hero in Italy.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\n
\"\"<\/strong>
World middleweight boxing champion Marvelous Marvin Hagler (left) strikes a familiar pose with challenger Sugar Ray Leonard (right) at a Boston news conference to help promote their bout scheduled for April 6, 1987, in Las Vegas.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Peter Southwick\/AP Photo<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

Hagler died on March 13<\/a> in New Hampshire at age 66. The news was announced by his wife, Kay, on his fan club\u2019s Facebook page. Details of the cause of death have not been released.<\/strong><\/p>\n

He\u2019s survived by five children (Charelle, Celeste, James, Marvin Jr. and Gentry), all by his first wife, Bertha, whom he divorced in 1990.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Legendary promoter Don King said Hagler\u2019s life is an example for many to live by.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cHagler continued to fight for what was right, and that takes out the skin color, the creed, the religion and the language, it all comes down to manhood and he exemplified and illustrated that,\u201d King said to The Undefeated. \u201cHe\u2019s an example for young people to realize how high they can move up and get what you want if you want it bad enough.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

Hagler\u2019s rise began shortly after his mother moved the family to Brockton, Massachusetts, from Newark, New Jersey, in 1967 after an uprising over police brutality<\/a> left 26 people dead, many others injured and millions of dollars in property damage. Brockton was much different from Newark. It was an old blue-collar town with a small percentage of Black people and Latinos. Hagler adjusted. As a young teenager, Hagler joined a boxing club run by brothers Goody and Pat Petronelli, who would train and manage him for his entire amateur and pro career.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Hagler\u2019s amateur career was outstanding. He won the national Golden Gloves title before turning pro in 1973. But the early part of his pro career was unspectacular. He fought in high school gyms and even in a television studio. He also fought many times in Philadelphia, a hotbed for middleweights in the early 1970s, and faced guys such as Bobby \u201cBoogaloo\u201d Watts, Willie \u201dThe Worm\u201d Monroe and Eugene \u201cCyclone\u201d Hart.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Questionable scoring for Hagler by the judges began early in his career. His second fight against Olympian Sugar Ray Seales was ruled a draw, despite Hagler dominating the fight. And Hagler entered a period of losing two out of three fights in Philadelphia that many considered hometown decisions.<\/strong><\/p>\n