Home News Tributes pour in for Marvelous Marvin Hagler who dies aged 66

Tributes pour in for Marvelous Marvin Hagler who dies aged 66

Hagler passes away aged 66

By
Jonathan Nagioff
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Middleweight great Marvelous Marvin Hagler has died aged 66
Middleweight great Marvelous Marvin Hagler died aged 66

Tributes have poured in for former undisputed Middleweight champion, Marvelous Marvin Hagler, who has passed away aged 66.

Hagler, widely considered as one of if not the greatest Middleweight of all-time, passed away on Saturday, his wife Kay G. Hagler confirmed on Facebook.

Part of the ‘Fabolous Four’, alongside Sugar Ray Leonard, Thomas Hearns and Roberto Duran, the quartet transcended the sport during a golden period in the 1980s, with all four later inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame.

Tributes

Top Rank promoter Bob Arum posted on Twitter:

Marvelous Marvin Hagler was among the greatest athletes that Top Rank ever promoted. He was a man of honor and a man of his word, and he performed in the ring with unparalleled determination. He was a true athlete and a true man. I will miss him greatly.

Former Featherweight champion Barry McGuigan posted on Twitter:

Shocked and deeply saddened to hear of the passing of the incredible Marvellous Marvin Hagler. I’m honoured to have spent some amazing times with him. My heartfelt sympathies to his wife Kay and his family. Rest in Peace Champ

Former six-weight world champion, Oscar De La Hoya posted on Twitter:

Saddened to hear about the death of Marvelous Marvin Hagler. One of the greatest to ever step in the ring! #RIPMarvelous

Ring announcer Michael Buffer, who lead a 10 bell tribute to Hagler on Saturday’s DAZN card posted on Twitter:

I am crushed at the news that MARVELOUS MARVIN HAGLER has passed away! He was-in his prime-POUND4POUND-the best, going 11yrs in 38 fights w/o defeat! He dominated the MW division 4 a decade!

62 wins/52KOs-3 losses

R.I.P. 4EVER CHAMPION-4EVER REMEMBERED

Hagler was defeated just three times in a decorated 67-fight career, which saw him become the undisputed 160lbs champion with a brutal third round stoppage of Britain’s Alan Minter at Wembley Arena in 1980.

The New Jersey native, who legally changed his name to “Marvelous” Marvin Hagler in 1982 made 12 defences of his undisputed title with victories over the likes of arch-rival Vito Antuofermo in their rematch in 1981, after a split decision draw over three years earlier and over the great Roberto Duran.

Hagler would have arguably his most memorable and publicised night against Thomas Hearns in April 1985 in a three round slugfest at Ceasars Palace, Las Vegas which will live long in the memory, featuring the greatest first round in most fans’ estimations.

The southpaw great knocked out John Mugabi in 11 rounds in his penultimate fight in 1986, before losing in his final bow to Sugar Ray Leonard on a highly-controversial split decision loss in Las Vegas.

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