Marvelous Marvin Hagler, the great middleweight in boxing history, died Saturday at the age of 66, according to his wife, Kay.
Announcing his death on the Facebook page, Kay wrote, “I am sorry to make a very sad announcement. Today unfortunately my beloved husband Marvelous Marvin passed away unexpectedly at his home here in New Hampshire. Our family requests that you respect our privacy during this difficult time.”
Hagler competed in boxing from 1973 to 1987 and dominated the middleweight classes during that time. Quiet with a brooding public persona, he fought 67 times over the period of 14 years as a pro out of Brockton, Massachusetts.
Once, Hagler said, “If they cut my bald head open, they will find one big boxing glove. That’s all I am. I live it.”
Boxing promoter Bob Arum said, “He was certainly one of the greatest middleweights ever but one of the greatest people that I’ve ever been around and promoted. He was a real man, loyal and just fantastic person.”
Born on May 23, 1954, Hagler spent his early years in the Central Ward of Newark, New Jersey, U.S. In the late 1960s, he moved with his family to Brockton.
Hagler was discovered as an amateur by the Petronelli brothers (Goody and Pat) who ran a gym in Brockton. They went on to train Hagler for his entire pro career.
He is an inductee of the International Boxing Hall of Fame and the World Boxing Hall of Fame
Hagler was named Fighter of the Decade (1980s) by Boxing Illustrated magazine. He was twice named Fighter of the Year by The Ring magazine and the Boxing Writers Association of America.
The International Boxing Research Organization has rated Hagler as the 6th greatest middleweight of all time.
According to many analysts and boxing writers, Hagler was known to have one of the most durable chins in boxing history. He was knocked down only once during his entire professional career. Hagler had five children with his first wife, Bertha. In May 2000, he married his second wife Kay in Pioltello, Italy.
