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Monday, March 15, 2021

MARVELOUS MARVIN HAGLER HAS PASSED AWAY

 Boxing is called "the sweet science". But there is also a level of brutality, and Marvelous Marvin Hagler exemplified both as one of the greatest middle weight champions of all time. Hagler died this past weekend suddenly and unexpectedly at his home in New Hampshire at age 66. 

Watching him train, Champ Joe Frazier told Hagler in 1980  he had three problems: "You're great. You're black. And you're a left hander." 

Hagler grew up in Newark, New Jersey and lived through the 1967 race riots until his mother moved the family to Brockton, Mass, where Hagler worked construction for the Petrocelli Brothers who also trained fighters. It took 50 bouts for Hagler to get a title shot, and then, in a brutal 15 round match against Champ Vito Antuofermo, the Judges stole it from Hagler and called it a draw. It took the intervention of  Senator Ted Kennedy of all people to get Hagler another title shot, which occurred in London, England, against Alan Minter. "No black man will take my title" Minter said, until Hagler stopped him cold in the third round. The British crowd reacted by throwing bottles and cans and Hagler was hustled out of the ring, becoming the only champion to never be given his belt in the ring. But of course, there is no racism in England, right Meaghan and Harry? 

Hagler remained Middleweight champ for seven years until the Judges again stole his title by giving a controversial and much derided decision to Sugar Ray Leonard, in perhaps one of the worst judged championship fights of all time. But along the way Hagler beat the great Robert Duran (watching Duran sneer at Hagler at the end of the 15th round where Hagler had knocked him around the ring is a great insight into the ornery and bullying champion Duran was), and defended his title against all comers, including, the great Tommy Hearns. 

This may have been the golden age of welterweight/middleweight boxing with Duran, Leonard, Hearns, and Hagler all battling for titles. Hearns was tall with long arms and a rocket right hand that stopped most of his opponents. 

Round One Hagler/Hearns in Las Vegas  1985 is widely considered the greatest round in boxing history. Period, Full stop. Let that sink in. We have it here for you to watch. Hagler ended the round with a cut over his left eye. In round two the boxers re-grouped a bit, recovering from the non-stop brutality in round one. In round three the referee stopped the fight for the fight doctor to examine Hagler's cut. Realizing that once again he may have his title stolen from him, Hagler reached down into the place where only champions go, and stopped Tommy Hearns with a barrage of right hands that sent Hearns down for the count. 

Hagler legally changed his name to Marvelous Marvin Hagler when ring announcers refused to introduce him as he had requested. When he title was stolen from him in the Leonard bout, he quit boxing and went to Italy where he had a successful movie career.  The decision may have saved him from the bitter ending of many of his contemporaries who age with slurred speech and diminished mental capacities.

 Hagler was always the outsider. A black man who didn't play ball and did things his own way. With his bullet shaved head (Telly Savalas was in his locker room for support for the Minter fight in England) and scowl, he fought his way into the title he so richly deserved and then kept it for seven years, showing the world the greatness he always had. 

Hagler was a tremendous athlete, a great champion and a man unbowed who did things his way. He is to be admired and celebrated, coming from an era of overt racism that defeated men not as tenacious as he. 

Here is the greatest round in boxing history. Hagler/Hearns round one. Caesars Palace 1985. 

13 comments:

Anonymous said...

Great post

Phil Maniatty said...

I was at the 1985 Hearns-Hagler fight in Las Vegas.

Anonymous said...

Wow,best round I have ever seen. Two guys with tons of heart.

Michael Feiler said...

Hagler Leonard was a travesty of the highest order. Hagler was begging Leonard to mix it up and Leonard danced around and played slapsies.

You wanna be the man you gotta beat the man.

Anonymous said...

I disagree. Who cares?

REAL FORMER JUDGE said...

That fight was amazing - but could not compare to the POSTMAN - PASETSKY fight of 1990.

Judge Postman won with a knock out on election night. It was close, but “The Postman” gave it all he had.

Anonymous said...

He actually changed his first name to "Marvelous" so people would have to call him "Marvelous"?

Anonymous said...

I disagree on Hagler-Leonard too. I saw the fight closed circuit. (Didn’t notice you there Phil M...) I thought Leonard outpointed him, didn’t hurt him, but you could say, or rather I would say, stole or won the fight on points and ring generalship etc. I don’t claim to be an expert but I saw most of the big fights closed circuit in that time frame, including Hagler Hearns. Back to Hagler, truly great fighter, not afraid of anyone, much respect. RIP

CAPTAIN JUSTICE said...

The Captain Reports:

COVID-19 ADVISORY #75

SELF-MONITORING NOTICE

An individual who worked in the locations and on the dates listed below has tested positive for COVID-19.

Persons identified as having been in close proximity to the confirmed individual are being notified and will be asked to take all necessary precautions.

Lawson E. Thomas Courthouse Center, 175 NW 1st Ave.:
Room 1829 between March 1-5 and March 9-11, 2021
Room 1846 on March 1-5 and March 9-11, 2021
Room 2114 on March 3, 2021
Room 3020 on March 3, 2021
Room 3022 between March 1-5 and March 9-11, 2021
Room 3028 between March 1-5 and March 9-11, 2021

Richard E. Gerstein Justice Building, 1351 NW 12 St.:
Courtroom 1-4 on March 11, 2021
Courtroom 5-7 on March 11, 2021
Courtroom 6-5 on March 11, 2021
Courtroom 6-7 on March 11, 2021
Room 204 on March 4, 2021
Room 215 on March 4, 2021
Room 223 on March 10, 2021
Room 408 on March 5, 2021
Room 423 on March 5, 2021
Room 603 on March 11, 2021
Room 617 on March 4, 2021

Miami-Dade Children’s Courthouse, 155 NW 3rd St.:
Courtroom 12-1 on March 5, 2021


Last date worked: March 11, 2021


Persons who were in these locations recently should follow self-monitoring steps for the next 14 days as outlined in the Centers for Disease Control website at:

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/php/public-health-recommendations.html

CAPTAIN JUSTICE said...


COVID-19 ADVISORY #74

[AMENDED]

SELF-MONITORING NOTICE

An individual who worked in the location and on the dates listed below has tested positive for COVID-19.

Persons identified as having been in close proximity to the confirmed individual are being notified and will be asked to take all necessary precautions.

Lawson E. Thomas Courthouse Center, 175 NW 1st Ave.:
Room 1840 on Feb. 25-26, 2021 and March 1-3, 2021
Room 1815 on March 1, 2021

Last date worked: March 3, 2021


Persons who were in these locations recently should follow self-monitoring steps for the next 14 days as outlined in the Centers for Disease Control website at:

Anonymous said...

Before the fight Hagler said that Tommy would have to "hit him with the ring post" to stop him. After the Fight, when Hearns was asked what he was thinking going back to his corner after round 1? He responded "I was looking for the ring post". The fight was not only spectacular but the camera work took the viewer in closer than the referee. What is not conveyed is the overwhelming punching power displayed by Hearns with a string of spectacular knockouts by Hearns over a series of fighters that included great champions in their prime like Pipino Cuevas. The fans who followed the careers of Hagler and Hearns leading up to the fight were rightfully shocked that Marvelous Marvin was able to take Hearns best punches and come out on top. Bob Arum appropriately and definitively captured the essence of Marvin Hagler. He called him "a real man". He was that and much more.

Anonymous said...

When Phil says he was in Vegas for Hagler/Hearns that means he was at a 10-20 no limit table at the Mirage, check-raising fish and racking stacks of checks.

Phil Maniatty said...

2:15 p.m., I did play some poker while I was in Vegas for the fight, but it was at the Stardust. They had the best poker room in town back then. I don't think the Mirage even existed in 1985.