RIP Marvelous Marvin Hagler

I remember watching Marvin Hagler’s second attempt to win a World Title against Britain’s Alan Minter at Wembley Arena in 1980. This was a good era for British boxing and fights were regularly televised. Minter, Tony Sibson, Jim Watt, Herol Graham, Dave “Boy” Green they were all given air time and everyone knew their names, and they fought some of the best in the world. This was a time when World Titles were not ten-a-penny, and if you wanted to be a Champion you had to beat the best.

Despite being a teenager I recall feeling uncomfortable about the comment made by Alan Minter leading into the fight, one that he always said he had uttered by mistake, “”No black man is going to take my title.” Minter always said that he meant to say “that black man.” Kevin Finnegan who had fought both boxers favoured his fellow countryman, and declared that he ‘hated’ Hagler, and that he was one of the dirtiest fighters he had ever fought.

Hagler did not need any motivation, he wanted to be World Champion and after his first World Title bout with Italy’s Vito Antuofermo had been declared a draw, he had expected a rematch. Hagler had fought the Italian Champion in November of 1979. Minter fought him in March of 1980 and again it was a split decision in favour of the Champion. Minter was granted a rematch in June and won the World Title. Hagler understandably was miffed.

It is fair to say that what followed in September of 1980 was a destruction. Hagler took Minter apart. Face bleeding profusely the bout was stopped at one minute and 45 seconds of the third round. Hagler was the new WBA, WBC, and The Ring middleweight World Champion.

Sadly his moment of glory was soured. English fans who found it hard to believe the fight was over started hurling anything they could find into the ring. Hagler was forced to take cover in his corner, with his cornermen shielding him, before being given a police escort back to his changing room. Famed British commentator Harry Carpenter was hit by a flying bottle, but being the professional he was continued to commentate. It was a dreadful night for English boxing. One no one wanted to repeat.

Hagler never looked back from that point on. Yet still throughout his career very few gave him credit for the great boxer that he was. Early in his career when he had struggled to find opponents because as a Southpaw he was too difficult an opponent, Joe Frazier told him “You have three strikes against you, “You’re black, you’re a southpaw, and you’re good,” so he re-trained himself to fight as an orthodox boxer.

Over the next six years Hagler would defend his title against the cream of the middleweight division. At this time the cream was the best there was with Roberto Duran and Thomas “the hitman” Hearns and Sugar Ray Leonard. There can be no doubt that Sugar Ray Leonard avoided a bout with Hagler. If you read the excellent “Four Kings” by George Kimball that becomes even clearer. Leonard some would argue was more interested in the business side of boxing, and so he wanted to make sure that when the fight happened it was going to be lucrative. Yet Leonard was also a wily individual. He did not want to fight Hagler at his peak as he knew that his chances of victory were greatly diminished. It would be one of the most anticipated fights of all time.

They would finally meet in Casesar’s Palace in Las Vegas in April 1987.

It is still one fight that is talked about and debated as fans question the final outcome. Leonard was announced as the winner and new middleweight champion of the world by split decision (118–110, 115–113, 113–115). Many fans, pundits, journalists and boxers dispute the result. Especially the margin given by judge JoJo Guerra of 118-110 for Leonard. After the bout Duane Ford, chairman of the Nevada State Athletic Commission, commented that Guerra probably would not be invited back to Las Vegas to judge a fight in the near future.

The great British boxing writer Hugh McIlvanney famously wrote “He (Leonard) had said beforehand that the way to beat Hagler was to give him a distorted picture. But this shrewdest of fighters knew it was even more important to distort the picture for the judges. His plan was to “steal” rounds with a few flashy and carefully timed flurries and to make the rest of each three-minute session as unproductive as possible for Hagler by circling briskly away from the latter’s persistent pursuit.”

Hagler asked for a rematch. Leonard once again retired, for the third time.

Fourteen months after their fight, Marvellous Marvin Hagler retired from boxing in June 1988, declaring that he was “tired of waiting” for Leonard to grant him a rematch. A month after Hagler’s retirement announcement, Leonard announced another boxing comeback to fight against WBC light-heavyweight champion Donny Lalonde. An offer of a rematch is said to have then been tabled but Hagler who was all class declined stating that his career was over. There would be no climbing back through the ropes again, he would not be lured out of retirement.

I was fortunate when writing the biography of Azumah Nelson to meet Marvellous Marvin Hagler on a number of occasions. The first time, I will admit that I could not believe that I was face to face with this truly great boxer. I remember saying to him that I wanted to say two things. The first was as an Englishman I wanted to apologise for what happened when he finally won his World Title and how that moment was forever tarnished. The second was that I, like many, felt that he had won the bout with Sugar Ray Leonard. Instead of brushing me aside with a platitude, he invited me to sit with him, and we chatted for over half an hour.

Since that first meeting we met on other occasions I had tried over a number of years to convince him to come to Perth for a visit, and prior to the outbreak of Covid it had looked as if it may happen, but sadly it never will now.

Marvelous Marvin Hagler was one of the greatest boxers in not only the middleweight division but of all time. His record is outstanding, but sadly often he was never given the credit he deserved. Why? Possibly because he was not as flamboyant as some of those he shared the ring with. He was an artisan that climbed through the ropes and did the job he was paid to do.

His passing over the weekend came far too early, and our thoughts are with his family. Hopefully now he will be remembered for the Champion that he was, and given more credit than many gave him in his lifetime.

I will remember him as a supreme boxer, a true Champion, a man who overcame much, but most of all overcame those who tried to keep him down. However his status is elevated due to the time he gave me, just to talk. He had class, that he showed wherever he went. As much as that defeat clearly hurt, and he definitely believed he had won, he kept much of that to himself, and was a gentleman and never stirred the pot.

True Champions are great at what they do, but they also carry that greatness wherever they go and with humility. Marvelous Marvin Hagler was a true champion. May he forever rest in peace.