Marvelous Marvin Hagler kicked the bucket Saturday at 66 years old, one of the best middleweights in boxing history. His better half, Kay, declared his passing on the Facebook page for Hagler’s fans.
“I am sorry to make a very sad announcement,” she wrote. “Today unfortunately my beloved husband Marvelous Marvin passed away unexpectedly at his home here in New Hampshire. Our family requests that you respect our privacy during this difficult time.”
Hagler battled on boxing’s greatest stages against its greatest names. Sugar Ray Leonard, Thomas “The Hitman” Hearns, and Roberto Duran overwhelmed the middleweight classes during a notable brilliant time of confining the 1980s.
He won a 15-round decision over Roberto Duran, knocked out Hearns, and lost Leonard’s controversial decision. Together, those four were dubbed “The Four Kings” and dominated boxing during that era.
Hagler was obvious in the ring, battling out of a southpaw position with his bare head shimmering in the lights. He was tireless, and he was awful, being purposeful about each hit to his rivals. He battled multiple times more than 14 years as a professional out of Brockton, Massachusetts, completing 62-3-2 with 52 knockouts.
He ruled as undisputed middleweight champion from 1980 to 1987, making twelve effective protections of that title, and holds the most elevated knockout level of all undisputed middleweight champions. His rule as undisputed middleweight champion is the second-longest of the most recent century.
“If they cut my bald head open, they will find one big boxing glove,” Hagler once said. “That’s all I am. I live it.”