BREAKING NEWS: Former undisputed middleweight champion Marvelous Marvin Hagler passes away ‘unexpectedly at his home’ aged 66
- Marvelous Marvin Hagler passed away in his New Hampshire home aged 66
- Hagler was the undisputed middleweight champion between 1980 and 1987
- He was the 1980s Fighter of the Decade and was inducted into the Hall of Fame
- His wife Kay announced his death on Saturday, claiming it was ‘unexpected’
- Members of the boxing community have paid tribute to Hagler’s life and career
Undisputed boxing middleweight champion Marvelous Marvin Hagler has passed away at the age of 66.
During the 1970s and 1980s, the American dominated the middleweight division which he was the champion of between 1980 and 1987.
Hagler’s wife, Kay, announced the boxer’s passing on social media and revealed his death was ‘unexpected’.
Undisputed boxing champion Marvelous Marvin Hagler has passed away at the age of 66
Hagler’s wife, Kay (left), announced her husband’s passing on social media on Saturday
She wrote on Saturday night: ‘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.’
Hagler had a 14-year boxing career starting in 1973 and ended with a 62-3 record, including 52 victories via knockout and 12 consecutive defences of his middleweight title.
He therefore holds the third-longest unified championship reign in boxing history and was inducted into the International and Boxing Hall of Fame in 1993.
Hagler was the middleweight champion between 1980 and 1987 – he defended his title 12 times
The American boxer – born in Newark, New Jersey – was also named as the Fighter of the Decade for the 1980s by Boxing Illustrated magazine and won the Ring Magazine Fighter of the Year award twice.
Reacting to Hagler’s death, promoter Frank Warren claimed boxing lost ‘an all-time great’. Eddie Hearn announced that ring announcer Michael Buffer will lead a ten-bell tribute at the rematch between Juan Francisco Estrada and Roman ‘Chocolatito’ Gonzalez II on Saturday.
Buffer himself tweeted: ‘I am crushed at the news that MARVELOUS MARVIN HAGLER has passed away! He was-in his prime-POUND4POUND-the best, going 11yrs in 38 fights w/o defeat! He dominated the MW division 4 a decade! 62 wins/52KOs-3 losses R.I.P. 4EVER CHAMPION-4EVER REMEMBERED’
Members of the boxing community paid tribute to Hagler after his death was announced
Hagler won the middleweight title by beating British boxer Alan Minter in a 1980 fight at Wembley Arena via a third round technical knockout.
His run came to an end at the 12th time of asking in controversial circumstances, with fellow countryman Sugar Ray Leonard beating him by split decision in Nevada.
Hagler asked for a rematch but Leonard opted to retire for the third time in his career. ‘Marvelous’ followed suit in June 1988 after waiting for his rival to grant him another fight.
More to follow.