“A champion shows who he is by what he does when he’s tested. When a person gets up and says ‘I can still do it,’ he’s a champion.”
Undisputed Middleweight Champion,
Marvelous Marvin Hagler
Marvelous Marvin Hagler was one of boxing’s greatest middleweight champions, known for his power, toughness, and relentless style. He reigned as undisputed champion from 1980 to 1987 and earned legendary status with iconic fights and an iron will that defined an era.
| 1954 | 1969 | 1973 | 1979 | 1980 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Born Marvin Nathaniel Hagler on May 23rd in Newark, NJ | Moved to Brockton, MA; trained under Petronelli brothers, Goody and Pat. | Won U.S. National Amateur Middleweight Championship in Boston; turned pro. | Fought Vito Antuofermo for the middleweight title; the bout ended in a controversial draw. | Defeated Alan Minter in London to become the undisputed middleweight champion. |
| 1982 | 1983–1986 | 1987 | Late 1980s–1990s | 2021 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Legally changed his name to Marvelous Marvin Hagler after being frustrated that announcers didn’t use his nickname. | Defended title against Roberto Durán (1983), Thomas Hearns (1985 “War”), John Mugabi (1986) | Lost close decision to Sugar Ray Leonard; retired | Divided his time between New England’s White Mountains and Italy, where he pursued acting, appearing in several films. | Passed away on March 13 in Bartlett, New Hampshire, at age 66. |
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 1954 | Born Marvin Nathaniel Hagler on May 23 in Newark, New Jersey. |
| 1969 | Moved to Brockton, Massachusetts, where he began training under the Petronelli brothers, Goody and Pat. |
| 1973 | Won the U.S. National Amateur Middleweight Championship in Boston. Turned professional later that year. |
| 1979 | Fought Vito Antuofermo for the middleweight title; the bout ended in a controversial draw. |
| 1980 | Defeated Alan Minter in London to become the undisputed middleweight champion. |
| 1982 | Legally changed his name to Marvelous Marvin Hagler after being frustrated that announcers didn’t use his nickname. |
| 1983–1986 | Defended his title successfully against top contenders, including Roberto Durán (1983), Thomas Hearns (1985, in the legendary “War” fight), and John Mugabi (1986). |
| 1987 | Lost close decision to Sugar Ray Leonard; retired |
| Late 1980s–1990s | Divided his time between New England’s White Mountains and Italy, where he pursued acting, appearing in several films. |
| 2021 | Passed away on March 13 in Bartlett, New Hampshire, at age 66. |
