Boxing lost one of its great champions as former Middleweight Champion, Marvin Hagler died today at the age of 66. It is not known at this time how he passed away.
Hagler debuted in 1973 and due to being a southpaw, he struggled for years to find credible opponents. After amassing 46 wins against 2 defeats, Hagler finally got a World Middleweight Title shot against the Vito Antuofermo, but he was unable to win, as the match went to a 15-round draw. A year later, in 1980, Hagler defeated Alan Minter from the United Kingdom to win the title.
Hagler would dominate the division, first dispatching Fulgencio Obelmeijas of Columbia, and successfully defending against the man he could beat before, Antuofermo. After five more title defences, Panama’s Roberto Duran took his shot at the champion, but was beat by Hagler by unanimous decision. Hagler beat two more challengers before beating Thomas Hearns in a three-round slugfest. He then beat John Mugabi for his twelfth consecutive title defence, and it set up a super-fight against Sugar Rey Leonard, the former World Welterweight Champion, who had retired three years earlier.
The contest between Leonard and Hagler was arguably the biggest non-Heavyweight fight of the decade, which was won by Leonard by split decision. It was a highly polarizing fight, but one that screamed for a rematch.
Leonard retired again afterward, and when he came out of retirement, he offered Hagler a rematch. Hagler, by this point, had retired himself, having grown weary of awaiting a rematch, and was content to stay retired.
Hagler overall have a record of 62-3-2 with 52 KOs.
We here at Notinhalloffame.com would like to extend our condolences to the fans, friends and family of Marvin Hagler.
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