Boxing legend Marvin Hagler, famously known as “Marvelous Marvin”, died Saturday at 66 years old.
As the undisputed middleweight champion from 1980 to 1987, Hagler holds the highest knockout percentage in that weight class at 78 percent. He also holds the third-longest unified championship reign in boxing history with 12 consecutive defenses.
At six years and seven months, the reign as undisputed middleweight champion is the second-longest of the last century. Hagler was arguably the greatest southpaw fighter of any era.
In a three round slugfest that was dubbed “The War” , he defeated Tommy Hearns in 1985. On April 6, 1987 he lost a split decision in what was billed as the “Super Fight” against Sugar Ray Leonard. Leonard came out of retirement for that bout. Afterwards, Leonard said it was the worst beating he took in his career.
“Marvelous Marvin” was named Fighter of the Decade for the 1980s by Boxing Illustrated magazine. He was twice named Fighter of the Year by The Ring magazine and the Boxing Writers Association of America. He finished with a record of 62-3-2 in his 67 career fights, 52 of those wins by K.O.
Hagler was inducted into the Nevada Boxing Hall of Fame in 2015. He is also an inductee to the World Boxing Hall of Fame.
According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Hagler’s wife Kay said in a posting on Hagler’s Facebook page that her husband died at the family home in New Hampshire.
“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,” she wrote. “Our family requests that you respect our privacy during this difficult time.”
Boxing legend Marvin Hagler died on Saturday, according to his wife, Kay. Hagler was 66 years old. “Today unfortunately my beloved husband Marvelous Marvin passed away unexpectedly at his home here in New Hampshire,” Kay Hagler wrote on her husband’s Facebook page. pic.twitter.com/AQlILpmQEa
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 14, 2021
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