Jim Murray, long-time sports columnist for the Los Angeles Times felt that Leonard deservedly got the decision, arguing that Leonard showed better defense and ring generalship, landed more punches and writing: Learning the hard way, taking fights against tough opponents for small financial reward, Hagler became something of an avoided man. As a southpaw, leading with the right hand instead of the normal left, he had an awkward style as well as a near freakish ability to take punches without them having any discernible effect. Two early defeats, on points, hardened his resolve. Obviously, Hagler was the aggressor, but he was not the effective aggressor. You can't chase and get hit and chase and get hit, and get credit for it. Besides, the hardest punching was by Leonard. [34] Young Talent Dominates Boxing Bouts In Boston". AAU News. Amateur Athletic Union. 1973. p.172 – via Google Books.

Golden Plate Awardees of the American Academy of Achievement". achievement.org. American Academy of Achievement.

Marvin Hagler t-shirts are a great way to show your appreciation for one of the greatest boxers in history. Showcase his iconic face and powerful punches with these t-shirts. Featuring images from Hagler's decade long reign as middleweight champion, these unique pieces are sure to stand out. Born in Newark, NJ, Marvin Hagler fought in 67 professional fights and won 62 of them - 52 by knockout! Get your hands on one of these stylish tees and wear a piece of boxing history proudly.

Their meeting was marketed simply by the promoter Bob Arum as The Fight, though this astonishing contest became known as The War in the years thereafter. With both men casting caution to the wind, the normally slow-starting Hagler elected to meet the big-punching “Hitman” Hearns head-on in an opening round of frightening ferocity. Although the Marvelous one was asked to return, amid much speculation that there would be a money-spinning rematch with Leonard, his retirement proved to be permanent. Never the chosen one, and not given to colourful pre-fight hyperbole, he preferred to speak though his performances.

Hagler Retires From Ring". The New York Times. New York City. June 13, 1988 . Retrieved April 21, 2021. Wainwright, Anson (April 20, 2020). "Best I Faced: Marvelous Marvin Hagler". The Ring (published May 2014) . Retrieved June 24, 2021. The scorecards from the ringside press and broadcast media attest to the polarizing views and opinions of the fight: The former champion was hurt badly and shaken by the shot and it ended up altering his game plan drastically. Hagler had accumulated a large amount of scar tissue around his eyebrows and Leonard planned to exploit this. The 1987 bout for the WBC middleweight championship of the world will be forever remembered in historyBut those days in the sun were only the final chapter of a long, complicated journey filled with dead ends and denied opportunities wrought by the machinations of the sport’s dark forces. Just because you’re paranoid doesn’t mean they’re not out to get you. After conquering Hamsho again, Hagler met Thomas Hearns on April 15, 1985, in what was billed as The Fight; it became known as " The War". Marvin Hagler on his way to victory against Britain’s Alan Minter in 1980 at Wembley Arena. The referee stopped the fight in the third round. Photograph: AP The fight lasted only eight minutes and one second, but it was regarded as a classic. Commentator Al Michaels uttered the famous line, "It didn't go very far, but it was a beauty!" The fight was named " Fight of the Year" by The Ring.

Self-defense Guerra Brushes Off Critics, Praises Leonard Performance". The Inquirer. April 8, 1987 . Retrieved May 16, 2014. He told how he had walked into a gym run by Pat and Goody Petronelli in 1969, after being roughed up on the street by a young hard man who was a local boxer. His mission was to learn to fight, and soon his aptitude was clear as he won the US amateur national title in 1973, before turning professional later in the year. On March 13, 2021, Hagler's wife, Kay, announced that he had died of natural causes at his home in New Hampshire at the age of 66. His son James said his father was taken to a New Hampshire hospital after experiencing chest pains and difficulty breathing. [46] [47] [48] Professional boxing record [ edit ] 67fights Leonard outpunched Hagler, outsmarted him, outboxed him. He looked just great. Sugar Ray Leonard was making him miss a lot, and then counterpunching him. Sugar Ray Leonard was beating him to the punch. They should call him Marvelous Sugar Ray Leonard. Boxing is the art of self-defense, and Sugar Ray was in command at all times. He was very fast and he was very clever. He made Marvin Hagler come to him. He dictated the fight. [30] [31]Both men were landing huge punches, but when Hagler sustained a deep cut on his forehead in the third round it was clear the contest could not conceivably last the full 15 rounds. As blood gushed into Hagler’s eyes, the referee Richard Steele was forced to call the ringside doctor to examine the wound. When asked if he could see, Hagler replied: “I ain’t missing him, am I?” and this has become one of the great quotes of boxing folklore. Minter was given a savage beating. The referee Carlos Berrocal halted the contest in the third round with Minter horribly cut around his eyes. Fleeing the ring, Hagler had to be shielded from bottles and glasses as he was pelted with missiles on one of British boxing’s most shameful nights. Judge Lou Filippo, who scored it 115–113 for Hagler and felt that Hagler's bodyshots and aggression earned him the nod, said: The 10 Longest Middleweight Boxing Title Reigns". Goliath. July 4, 2017. Archived from the original on November 12, 2021 . Retrieved November 12, 2021.

Marvin Hagler Amateur Record". Boxing-Records.com. March 1, 2006. Archived from the original on July 19, 2006. The fight was available on pay-per-view to about three million homes in the United States, and there were between 1,500 and 1,600 closed circuit locations, with about three million seats, in the United States and Canada. The fight was also televised in about 75 foreign countries. Marvin Hagler (centre) strikes a pose with Nelson Mandela and Lennox Lewis in 2001. Photograph: Juda Ngwenya/Reuters Division-By-Division – The Greatest Fighters of All-Time". Boxrec.com. March 13, 2013 . Retrieved May 16, 2014.Clive Gammon (October 6, 1980). "It Was Blood, Sweat And Beers". Sports Illustrated . Retrieved May 16, 2014. Winderman, Ira (April 5, 1987). "After A Year's Prefight, Bell Tolls For These". Sun-Sentinel. Fort Lauderdale. Archived from the original on November 12, 2016 . Retrieved December 16, 2014. After the loss to Leonard, Hagler moved to Italy, where he became a well-known star of action films. His roles included a U.S. Marine in the films Indio (1989) and Indio 2 (1991). In 1997, he starred alongside Terence Hill and Giselle Blondet in Virtual Weapon. Hagler also provided boxing commentary for British television. Another foray by Hagler into the entertainment field included work on the video game Fight Night: Round 3.