Whatever Happened To Marvelous Marvin Hagler?
By Robert Brizel, Head Real Combat Media Boxing Correspondent
Originally from Newark, New Jersey, Marvelous Marvin Hagler was oonly the second famous fighter to train out of Brockton, Massachusetts, after Brockton’s native son Rocky Marciano. Hagler was a southpaw middleweight world champion. Hagler compiled a record of 62 wins, three losses, and two draws as a professional between 1973 and 1987. Hagler retired after losing the WBC Version of the world middleweight title on a 12 round split decision to Sugar Ray Leonard. He had many good years left, but Hagler just walked away from the boxing game, and the United States as well. Hagler had a record of 13-1-1 in world title bouts at 160 pounds.
Hagler held the middleweight title for six years and four months, coming in the era after Carlos Monzon. BoxRec rates him the number six middleweight all-time, behind Sugar Ray Robinson, Harry Greb, Carlos Monzon, Dick Tiger, and Mickey Walker.
In retirement, Hagler had starred in action films in Italy, and provided commentary for boxing on British television. Divorced with five children, he married his Italian wife in 2000. He resides in Milan, Italy, and also owns a home in New Hampshire. Hagler faded off the American scene and off the circles of high profile boxing individuals. From a boxing point of view, Hagler disappeared from the map, forgotten to obscurity by his own choosing. he still had substantial boxing promise. One can only conclude Hagler lost his ‘Eye of The Tiger’ and his taste for competition after losing to Leonard, and gave up the sport.
Hagler still scores high in boxing circles among historians as one of the most consistent boxers at 160 pounds, and for his marvelous chin, which was never dented. Perhaps Hagler will be best remembered for his over hyped and bloody three round bout with Thomas Hearns in April 1985. The first round of their bout is considered the most action packed to be seen in the middleweight division, perhaps the best middleweight round ever.
Hagler was also the half brother of middleweight Robbie Simms, who also beat Roberto Duran like his brother Marvin, and who lost his two world title opportunities to WBA Middleweight champion Sumbu Kalambay in 1985, and WBO Middleweight champion Doug DeWitt in 1986. Simms had a career record of 38 wins, ten losses and two draws between 1980 and 1996. Hagler paralleled Marciano in only one respect besides Brockton: both Hagler and Marciano retired at age 32 while on top, their faculties intact.
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