Marvin Hagler gained the World Boxing Council and World Boxing Affiliation middleweight titles in 1980.
Washington:
Boxing legend Marvin Hagler, the undisputed middleweight champion from 1980 to 1987, died on Saturday at age 66, his spouse stated.
In a posting on the famed fighter’s Fb web page, Kay G. Hagler stated her husband handed away on the household house.
“I’m sorry to make a really unhappy announcement. As we speak sadly my beloved husband Marvelous Marvin handed away unexpectedly at his house right here in New Hampshire,” she wrote. “Our household requests that you just respect our privateness throughout this tough time.”
“Marvelous” Marvin Hagler fought from 1973 to 1987 and delivered a number of the epic bouts in a golden period of the game, ending with a file of 62-3 with two drawn and 52 knockouts.
The southpaw’s most heralded triumph got here in a 1985 matchup at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas in opposition to Thomas “Hitman” Hearns that lasted solely a tick over eight minutes however was thought to be a traditional.
After a primary spherical stuffed with energy punches during which Hearns suffered a damaged proper hand, Hagler suffered a lower to the top early within the second.
A ringside physician examined Hagler within the third spherical and the struggle went on. Hagler wobbled Hearns with a powerhouse proper and despatched him to the canvas moments later, Hearns rising solely to break down into referee Richard Steele’s arms.
Hagler gained the World Boxing Council and World Boxing Affiliation middleweight titles in 1980, stopping Britain’s Alan Minter within the third spherical at London’s Wembley Area, and added the Worldwide Boxing Federation’s inaugural title in 1983.
Hagler defended the undisputed crown 12 occasions, together with a 15-round unanimous resolution victory over Panama’s Roberto Duran in 1983 and his ultimate triumph, an Eleventh-round knockout of unbeaten Ugandan John Mugabi in 1986.
Over a decade from 1976 to 1986, Hagler went unbeaten with 36 wins and a draw and carried a 16-fight win streak into what proved to be his ultimate struggle, a showdown with “Sugar” Ray Leonard in 1987 at age 32.
Leonard, coming off three years of retirement at age 30, captured a controversial 12-round cut up resolution and launched his return to the ring as Hagler bid farewell.
Hagler was inducted into the Worldwide Boxing Corridor of Fame and after stepping out of the ring served as an actor and a boxing commentator.
(Aside from the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV workers and is printed from a syndicated feed.)