Sad to report that legendary middleweight champion “Marvelous” Marvin Hagler has passed away at the age of 66. No cause of death was mentioned. Reportedly he was having chest pains and trouble breathing.
This message was posted on Facebook by his wife:
I am sorry to make a very sad announcement. 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. With love, Kay G. Hagler
Hagler compiled a pro record of 62-3-2 with 52 KOs. He held the middleweight title from 1980 until 1987, finally losing the belt in a controversial split decision to Sugar Ray Leonard. He never fought again after that bout.
“Marvelous Marvin Hagler was among the greatest athletes that Top Rank ever promoted,” said Hall of Fame promoter Bob Arum. “He was a man of honor and a man of his word, and he performed in the ring with unparalleled determination. He was a true athlete and a true man. I will miss him greatly.”
Not just one of the beast Middleweights ever, one of the best fighters ever.
Terrible. Rip to one of the greatest champs of my lifetime
R.I.P Marvelous Marvin Hagler. Too young. Thoughts go out to all the family and friends.
Wow awful news. He was my childhood hero. Rest In Peace Marvelous Marvin and thanks for all the great fights and class you showed in and out of the ring.
When I logged in a while ago I saw this online and was hoping it wasn’t true at all. But unfortunately it is and even tho dying is normal, reading about such a great human being and a truly boxing legend that has passed, always gets me hard. May he rest in peace and may God comfort his family and loved ones…
I think “hits you hard” is probably what you meant and would be more appropriate than “gets you hard”. The “gets you hard” statement makes it seem like you were watching gay porn or something. Pause.
Hagler vs Leonard was great! Hagler vs Hearns was a barn burner! RIP champ!
Truth. The only other in that category was Lyle vs Foreman.
In my book and my book only. I have him number 2 at middleweight behind Sugar Ray Robinson.
Marvin would have destroyed Sugar Ray at 160. He was no Jake LaMotta. He was the consummate tough guy who could box, punch, countersunk, and all with a granite chin.
Marvin was just plain mean in the ring. Nobody was gonna out tough him and he was superbly skilled and conditioned. He walked right through Mugabi when everyone was terrified of him. Iron willed and iron chinned. He lived up to his nickname. RIP to a real all-time great.
No, Hagler would not have “destroyed” Sugar Ray Robinson. Just like he did not destroy Sugar Ray Leonard.
If the two of them fought three times, Hagler would’ve won one of the three times. They both had great chins and power, but Robinson was an overall better fighter. That is why he is considered the greatest pound for pound fighter of all time.
I would put Hagler as the third best middleweight ever behind Robinson and Monzon.
Robinson was beaten by Lamotta, Basilio, and Fullmer. Hagler was levels above all those guys. Marvin would have beaten Robinson 8 out of ten times had they fought ten times. And he would have stopped Monzon who had legs like celery sticks and was too predictable. Marvin would have destroyed Monzon with inside fighting because Monzon was a weak inside fighter. He wouldn’t have been able to hold himself up on those celery stalk legs after that assault.
I know you are overcome with grief with Hagler’s passing, but you still have to be honest. Hagler would not have beaten Robinson 8 out of 10 times. That comment is just absurd. No boxing historian would agree with that. You say he was beaten by LaMotta , Fullmer, and Basilio. What you did not say was they were all great Hall of Famers and Robinson beat them in rematches. Hagler lost to Bobby “Bugaboo” Watts and Willie “The Worm” Monroe. Need I say more? Robinson beat ten Hall of Famers in his career (6 at middleweight). Hagler beat 2 (Duran and Hearts). Needless to say they moved up in weight to fight Hagler. Monzon also fought better quality opponents and retired on top. He was head and shoulders above the rest of his division during his time.
The fact that they were hall of famers doesn’t make them Marvin Hagler. And none of them possessed marvins skill, toughness, heart, and determination. And the fact is all three beat robinson and I’m convinced marvin would have as well. Robinson was not as defensively sound as many suggests and took a lot of punishment in his fights. He also carried his hands low something marvin would have exploited. All marvins losses were avenged by brutal kos. And in both losses many believed marvin won. Not to mention this was way before his prime and peak. Duran, Hearns, and Leonard, campaigned at or around middleweight before facing marvin. They had fully grown into the weight and were far from blown up lightweights and welterweights marvin beat duran convincingly despite what the biased announcers were saying. Al Bernstein was the only announcer calling that fight right that night. And he said marvin was completely outboxing and outbanging duran which he was. He destroyed hearns in three rounds. And beat leonard but they stole the decision. He beat all these all time greats while being past his prime and on the decline. He peaked early and the long road to the title diminished his skills overtime. Considering he didn’t get his first title shot until his 49th fight. No one monzon faced would have beaten mustafa hamsho who was probably the least known and less skilled than the other opponents marvin faced. But was a dangerous tough and skilled fighter in his own right when you really study him. He had a chin like an anvil, was too tough, dirty and relentless. Not mention all the other fighters marvin fought. Who were less known but better than the competition monzon faced in my opinion. Marvin would have dissected, broken down, and stopped, monzon late. Monzon was too predictable a weak inside fighter and operated on unsteady legs.
Robinson was overrated. He never fought an all time great. Just the mickey walkers of his era. B C and D level fighters
That’s right and he lost against some of those b and c level fighters.
I am hoping Fightnews will add a lengthy Tribute to Marvin in the weeks to come ……………
There has not been an old school Beast of a fighter like Marvin in tge last 35 years.
Condolences to his Family.
R.I.P Champ
I echo your comments Ian. I posted something similar.
Truly a great champion, gentleman, and a pleasure to watch. God bless you Champ. RIP.
An awesome fighter and I really can’t think of anyone who was better than him at Middleweight.Sadly another Superstar is gone but will always be remembered for what he brought to the ring !!
REST IN PARADISE CHAMP!
Many Prayers for His loved ones. much respect for his skills and endurance. God’s speed
Damn, this one really stings. Marvin was one of the top 5 middleweights who ever laced on a pair of gloves. RIP!
RIP CHAMP
One of the greatest of all time, rest in peace champ!
One of my hero’s in boxing. So determined and absolutely fearless. Well spoken and a truly great representative of our beloved sport. Rightfully recognized as one of the greatest fighters ever not just in the middleweight division. Farewell champion we love you.
Was great for boxing. Never turned down a challenge. Went out of the country to win the title.He had it all. Could punch with both hands. Never tired, had the best chin in boxing. Stopped a prime Hearns n Mugabi who were murderous punchers. A compliment to boxing. The way a fighter should be. RIP Champ!
RIP Champ, thank you for all the memories, especially those wars in Philly at The Spectrum
So young. Such a terrible news. RIP., my all-time favorite fighter.
No words! He kicked Minter’s ass & won the world middleweight title on my 15th birthday! RIP always Champ!!
I hope this isn’t covid related. RIP Mr Hagler!
It is, he passed due to getting the mRNA vaccine!!
They are saying he died after taking the mRNA vaccine.
Heart attack. Even the family is saying there’s no COVID association.
Amazing fighter!!!! To bad fighters aren’t like him anymore. RIP. Champ, and thank you for the awesome memories. So very sad!
Wow!! What a super sad loss. His fight with Tommy Hears was legendary. Always fought the best available opponent. Would of given Canelo a great fight. Too bad they were in different eras. His era was one of the best other than maybe the 40s and 50s. My condolences to his family.
Nothing was better than watching the set of a Hagler fight with good friends, a case of beer and a bag of peanuts. Ugghhh. The good days of boxing gone.
BTW champ you got ripped of by Leonard.
While I like Canelo and give him the credit he is due, let’s be real and remember that he lost the first GGG fight and the second was a draw. Marvelous was a diff animal all together. Even Hopkins, who I love, would not have beaten him in his prime. Too tough, too skilled, two handed fighter. Only Roy, the last 35 years or so would beat Hagler. And I bet Roy might’ve tasted canvas in that fight.
Roy lost the last half of the fight with Hopkins because of the Hopkins pressure. Marvin would have been applying that pressure from round one and I’m convinced would have stopped Roy late. Marvin was a different beast than Hopkins, Toney, and Roy.
The greatest middle ever, so sad, and he looked so healthy. R.I.P. champ.
Feels like we’ve lost a relative. A Marvelous champion who ducked no one. Floyd fan boys will never understand the difference between Hagler who took fights when it counted and Floyd who decimated the sport and is responsible for the Jake Paul’s of the world. RIP champion. You will be missed.
I’m with you 100 on this one Big boy. Hagler was a true champion warrior in other words the polar opposite of Little Floyd.
RIP champ and thank you for all the wonderful memories!
Unlike so many of the boxers today with meaningless sanctioning body trinkets, Marvin was THE MAN.
My heart is all messed up right now because “Marvelous” Marvin Hagler was a marvelous sportsman. Hagler was a marvelous fighter who had a marvelous work ethic and had a marvelous human spirit. Rest In Peace, “Marvelous” Marvin Hagler.
My all-time favorite boxer who was a very technically proficient fighter. You add his ability to switch from orthodox to southpaw seamlessly to create angles, his granite chin, his endless stamina and power in both hands and you have the greatest middleweight who ever lived. Love and condolences to his family.
RIP Marvin and thanks for the thrilling fights
RIP Legendary Champ. Condolences to the Hagler family. This one stings :(. I will be going on a little binge watching everything Haglar.
A gentleman in and out of the ring and best southpaw ever!
Condolences to his family,
R.I.P Champ !
RIP SIR !!!
Hagler represented everything great about boxing: The menacing bald head, masterful at the sweet science, KO Power, always in shape, unwavering confidence and toughness, never backed down or ducked anyone, and was the undisputed champion in an era of greatness and when titles really meant something. Thank you Marvin Hagler! May you rest easy!
Genuine All Time Great
This is heavy. Never expected it. He was my favorite fighter ever. Dominate, never ducked anybody. Remember Hagler vs Mugabi anyone? Rest easy Champ.Thank you. This hits hard
Marvelous, I saw you get robbed bigtime in ’87 against Leonard. I knew going in it would happen, and it did. May you RIP, Champ.
At the time, I was hoping Sugar would win, and he was ‘given’ that fight that night. Watching it several times years later, I realized that Leonard didn’t actually come to fight, he just ran around the ring all night long, pitter-pattering with his soft punches. Hagler took it to him every single round. So, I admit I was wrong on fight night. Marvelous should have been awarded that win, probably by an easy 5 to 6 points. 63-2-2 / 52 KOs.
If you ever want to break bread with someone and watch a classic.Check out Hagler Vs Geraldo!! Tough Scrap. Maybe Haglers toughest fight in my opinion.
He made it look tougher than it was to get another title shot.
RIP. Classy bloke and classy statement from Kay. His boxing record speaks for itself
OMG. This is terrible news since it was so sudden and marvelous Marvin seem like he was in good shape and spirits whenever you saw him on tv. He must have had some type of underlying health condition that just mastocized. RIP champ, and you beat sugar Ray Leonard when you guys fought.
Staggeringly tragic news! I always felt Hagler was the greatest of Middleweights. Full of character, depth, substance, discipline, dignity, resolve, power, determination, grit, and humility, he took on all comers. He prevailed against one of the toughest and most talented of group of fighters throughout his career, fighting many of them more than once. He represented the best of the sport, yet never got the recognition that he deserved in doing so. Hagler was a champion among champions.
He retired after losing to Ray Leonard, and I feel that the disappointment and disgust he felt because of that loss, haunted and tormented him for the rest of his life. Nevertheless, he will always be one of the greatest of champions and fighters in my book. Gone too soon!
May he rest in peace.
What a really bad news today! My youth boxing idol passed away. I grew up watching your fights with my father! A true warrior who ducked no one and beat down one after the other the title contenders! An example to follow for some “champions” nowdays… Condoliance to the family. Everybody missing you, I’ll miss you so much! Absolutely one of the best outclassing champ ever! RIP
One of the best ever..Rip
Last year it was Kobe. This year it’s the marvelous one. I hope Marvelous gets the same degree of respect & treatment that Kobe got last year.
R.I.P. Marvelous Marvin Hagler.
One of the worlds greatest sportsman.RIP.
Very sad. RIP Marvelous. Actually his record should be 63-2-2 / 52 KO’s, Sugar ran all night.
Really sorry to hear this. One of the greatest fighters I’ve seen in all of my time watching boxing. I remember all the hype surrounding Marvin’s fights with Hearns and Mugabi, with both fights living up to the hype. Marvin victorious in both. RIP Champ.
So sad to hear about Marvin passing. The word great is vastly overused these days but he was a truly great fighter, he had no weaknesses in the ring and lived the life out of it. you never saw him walk around much above 160 and was always prepared. In my eyes there is only Ray Robinson above him at middleweight.
Rest in peace champ you will be sorely missed
A big reason i became a boxing fan has a kid in the 70s and 80s was because of Marvelous Marvin Hagler. RIP Champ
A National Treasure. I hope his life gets the respect it deserves. He deserves a 5 gun salute, the flag, and all the beautiful perks that come with being a great American.
Marvelous Marvin will be missed.
One of the greatest passed away and all you did was print one small headline??? This is a “Stop the presses” type event. I find it disrespectful and hurtful not only to the legend himself, but also to his family and to all his fans. REST IN PEACE MARVELOUS ONE!!!!! Thank you for so many incredible moments.
Exactly, this needs to be a MAJOR headline with a video clip of his greatest achievements.
Thomas Hearns insta said he was ill after taking the covid vaccine !!
Indeed, and it will be very interesting to see how the MSM spins the cause of death.
One of the Greatest Ever, Always came ready to fight, he earned what he got, because no one gave it to him, he came up the old fashioned way, He beat some great fighters and wasn’t afraid to fight anyone, could he have beaten Robinson? Who knows, it’s only one mans opinion from another, did he loose to Leonard? on the Score Cards Yes, but in the peoples eyes, again one mans opinion from another, Was Hew Great? YES
RIP Champ. You were some Fighter!