elgigante
03-02-2005, 04:22 PM
http://akter.kulichki.net/boxing/ih/MarvinHagler.jpg
Marvelous" Marvin Hagler
Fight Record: 62 wins 3 defeats 2 draws 52 KO's
Weight:160lbs
Notable Wins :Thomas Hearns, Roberto Duran, John Mugabi
Marvin Hagler was born in Newark New Jersey but for the majority of his career he fought based out of Brockton Massachusetts. Hagler epitomised the spirit of his adopted home town as he was a hard nose brawler who had worked his way up through the tough Philadelphia fight circuit in becoming one of the top middleweight contenders of the late 1970's - early 1980's. He would lose two fights in Philadelphia, both close decisions to a Boogaloo Watts and to Willie Monroe, both experienced tough as nails middleweights who had more fights under their belt than Hagler at the time and whom no ranked middleweights would get anywhere near. Hagler not only avenged both defeats but did so by KO in both cases. After a ten round decision over Bennie Briscoe, a philly middlewieght who was considered by many the best to never win a title in the Philly area, Hagler graduated from the Philly fight scene and was ready for his first title shot.
Hagler recieved his first title shot in 1979 against then champ Vito Antufuermo. Hagler controlled a majority of the action but the judges saw it differently and called the fight a draw that evening. Hagler would not get another belt shot until late 1980 when he took on Alan Minter, the man who had dethroned Antufuermo earlier in the year. The bout took place in England (Minter's home country) and not only did Hagler win the belt, he beat Minter bloody en route to a 3rd round tko which had the fans throwing bottles at him on his way from the arena. Once Hagler had the title, it began a long and glorious reign for him as middlweight champ.
I could go on all day about his defenses but i want to highlight two of them which stood out to me and show why i love Hagler and his style of fighting. The first defense was against a Man named Mustafa Hamsho in 1984. Hagler had already defended his belt against Hamsho three years earlier and won by 11th round TKO but the fight itself was dirty(Mainly Hamsho's doing) and it would have gone to decision if Hamsho had not been stopped on cuts. In the 2nd go a round between these two Hamsho tried the dirty tactics again but Hagler was downright vicious with his punching (IMO He was the hardest punching middleweight of his time) and accurate as well and by the time the third round came he had Hamsho on the floor and bloodied at which time his corner stopped the fight. The other defense ill tell you all about was one of the greatest fights i have ever seen.
In 1985 there was a young middleweight star by the name of Thomas Hearns who was coming off an impressive 2nd round destruction of Roberto Duran in 1984. Hearns had it all, power ,speed ,and he was the Crown Jewel of the famed Kronk Boxing gym out of Detroit. Leading up to the fight Hearns talked an inordinate amount of trash about how he was going to KO Hagler and take his belt. When fight time came many even had Hearns pegged to win. In the ring that night there was one of the greatest displays of toughness and power that Hagler had ever put on. In the 1st round Hearns nailed Hagler with a tremendous right hand and had him almost out on his feet with a minute to go. Hagler was able to hold on and survive the round but was still woozy leading into round two. Round two was very even as Hagler regained his senses and seemed like he was getting the better of Hearns. Round three came and late into it came one of the knockouts that made me become a boxing fan in the first place. Hagler caught Hearns with a HUGE right hand and hearns became very rubber legged and it almost seemed like he was being led on strings the way he was falling around the ring. Hagler followed up with several more vicious shots and the fight was stopped. It was one of the most brutal matches i have ever seen and also one of my three alltime favorites. Hagler again was underappreciated going into the fight but showed his tenacity and incredible power to maintain his position as one of the best middleweights in the world.
Marvin Hagler would fight only twice more after the Hearns Fight. A KO victory over John Mugabi in 1986 and his controversial split decision loss to Sugar Ray Leonard in 1987. After the Leonard loss he would retire from boxing, never to return and he went on to a successful film career in Italy, where he still resides. Marvin Hagler to me deserves to be called one of the greatest middleweight of all time because he took on all comers and beat them and fought with a tenacity not seen until Tyson came upon the scene. Marvin Hagler.. A true middleweight legend.
Marvelous" Marvin Hagler
Fight Record: 62 wins 3 defeats 2 draws 52 KO's
Weight:160lbs
Notable Wins :Thomas Hearns, Roberto Duran, John Mugabi
Marvin Hagler was born in Newark New Jersey but for the majority of his career he fought based out of Brockton Massachusetts. Hagler epitomised the spirit of his adopted home town as he was a hard nose brawler who had worked his way up through the tough Philadelphia fight circuit in becoming one of the top middleweight contenders of the late 1970's - early 1980's. He would lose two fights in Philadelphia, both close decisions to a Boogaloo Watts and to Willie Monroe, both experienced tough as nails middleweights who had more fights under their belt than Hagler at the time and whom no ranked middleweights would get anywhere near. Hagler not only avenged both defeats but did so by KO in both cases. After a ten round decision over Bennie Briscoe, a philly middlewieght who was considered by many the best to never win a title in the Philly area, Hagler graduated from the Philly fight scene and was ready for his first title shot.
Hagler recieved his first title shot in 1979 against then champ Vito Antufuermo. Hagler controlled a majority of the action but the judges saw it differently and called the fight a draw that evening. Hagler would not get another belt shot until late 1980 when he took on Alan Minter, the man who had dethroned Antufuermo earlier in the year. The bout took place in England (Minter's home country) and not only did Hagler win the belt, he beat Minter bloody en route to a 3rd round tko which had the fans throwing bottles at him on his way from the arena. Once Hagler had the title, it began a long and glorious reign for him as middlweight champ.
I could go on all day about his defenses but i want to highlight two of them which stood out to me and show why i love Hagler and his style of fighting. The first defense was against a Man named Mustafa Hamsho in 1984. Hagler had already defended his belt against Hamsho three years earlier and won by 11th round TKO but the fight itself was dirty(Mainly Hamsho's doing) and it would have gone to decision if Hamsho had not been stopped on cuts. In the 2nd go a round between these two Hamsho tried the dirty tactics again but Hagler was downright vicious with his punching (IMO He was the hardest punching middleweight of his time) and accurate as well and by the time the third round came he had Hamsho on the floor and bloodied at which time his corner stopped the fight. The other defense ill tell you all about was one of the greatest fights i have ever seen.
In 1985 there was a young middleweight star by the name of Thomas Hearns who was coming off an impressive 2nd round destruction of Roberto Duran in 1984. Hearns had it all, power ,speed ,and he was the Crown Jewel of the famed Kronk Boxing gym out of Detroit. Leading up to the fight Hearns talked an inordinate amount of trash about how he was going to KO Hagler and take his belt. When fight time came many even had Hearns pegged to win. In the ring that night there was one of the greatest displays of toughness and power that Hagler had ever put on. In the 1st round Hearns nailed Hagler with a tremendous right hand and had him almost out on his feet with a minute to go. Hagler was able to hold on and survive the round but was still woozy leading into round two. Round two was very even as Hagler regained his senses and seemed like he was getting the better of Hearns. Round three came and late into it came one of the knockouts that made me become a boxing fan in the first place. Hagler caught Hearns with a HUGE right hand and hearns became very rubber legged and it almost seemed like he was being led on strings the way he was falling around the ring. Hagler followed up with several more vicious shots and the fight was stopped. It was one of the most brutal matches i have ever seen and also one of my three alltime favorites. Hagler again was underappreciated going into the fight but showed his tenacity and incredible power to maintain his position as one of the best middleweights in the world.
Marvin Hagler would fight only twice more after the Hearns Fight. A KO victory over John Mugabi in 1986 and his controversial split decision loss to Sugar Ray Leonard in 1987. After the Leonard loss he would retire from boxing, never to return and he went on to a successful film career in Italy, where he still resides. Marvin Hagler to me deserves to be called one of the greatest middleweight of all time because he took on all comers and beat them and fought with a tenacity not seen until Tyson came upon the scene. Marvin Hagler.. A true middleweight legend.