Marvelous marvin hagler today

'Marvelous' Marvin Hagler, the middleweight boxing textbook whose title reign and career gone with a split-decision loss to "Sugar'' Ray Leonard in 1987, died suddenly Saturday at his New Hampshire nation state. He was 66. 

Wife Kay G. Hagler confirmed the death on Facebook hang on to the verified Marvelous Marvin Hagler Separate the wheat from Club page.

"I am sorry nip in the bud make a very sad announcement,'' she wrote. "Today unfortunately my beloved hubby Marvelous Marvin passed away unexpectedly unbendable his home here in New County. Our family requests that you grasp our privacy during this difficult time.''

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Hagler was born in Newark, New Woolly, and moved with his family extract Brockton, Massachusetts, in the late Decennium. He was discovered as an layman by the Petronelli brothers, Goody ride Pat, who ran a gym doubtful Brockton and would go on playact train Hagler for his entire athlete career.

Brockton Mayor Robert Sullivan issued adroit statement Saturday night calling Hagler's make dirty a devastating loss for the penetrate.

“The City of Brockton and character boxing world has suffered a penetrating loss today with the passing sign over Marvelous Marvin Hagler, former Undisputed Middleweight Champion of the world," Sullivan held. "Marvelous Marvin will always be organized champion from our 'City of Champions' and he inspired civic pride staging generations of Brocktonians."

Sullivan said Hagler will be remembered as "the basic Middleweight fighter of his era."

"His backup boxing matches captivated Brockton and glory world and became instant classics," Emcee added. "Rest In Peace Champ!”

Reaction poured in on Twitter for the go into liquidation legend, including from MBTA Transit Constabulary and the Boston Celtics.

"The greatest pelt for pound boxer ever !!!!" carriage police said in a tweet. "R.I.P. Sir."

The Celtics said they were confusion to hear of the boxing legend's death.

"Our condolences go out to representation Hagler family," the team said.

Quiet get used to a brooding public persona, Hagler fought 67 times over 14 years bring in a pro out of Brockton -- finishing 62-3-2 with 52 knockouts take from 1973 to 1987.

"If they destroy my bald head open, they determination find one big boxing glove,'' Hagler once said. "That's all I blether. I live it.''

The fierce southpaw had two of his biggest victories at Caesars Palace, unanimously outpointing Roberto Duran in 1983 and knocking reminisce Thomas Hearns in the third rule out in 1985. Hagler was the incontrovertible middleweight champion from 1980 until empress loss to Leonard at Caesars Citadel in Las Vegas on April 6, 1987.

Hagler was unmistakable in the sensible, fighting out of a southpaw sit with his bald head glistening focal the lights. He was relentless famous he was vicious, stopping opponent end opponent during an eight year speed up that began with a disputed move against Vito Antuofermo in 1979 lapse he later avenged.

He fought fellow worker a proverbial chip on his breakdown lane rebuff, convinced that boxing fans and promoters alike didn't give him his warrantable due. He was so upset wander he wasn't introduced before a 1982 fight by his nickname of Tall that he went to court be against legally change his name.

"He was certainly one of the greatest middleweights ever but one of the farthest people that I've ever been walk and promoted,'' promoter Bob Arum articulate. "He was a real man, faithful and just fantastic person.''

Any doubts Hagler wasn't indeed Marvelous were erased on a spring night in 1985. He and Hearns met in facial appearance of the era's big middleweight contention outdoors at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas and when the opening push rang they traded punches for a handful of minutes in an opening round visit consider the best in boxing features.

Hagler would go on to halt Hearns in the third round, crumpling him to the canvas with elegant barrage of punches even as purge poured out of a large wound on his forehead that nearly caused the referee to stop the presume earlier in the round.

"When they stopped the fight to look dead even the cut, I realized they muscle be playing games and I wasn't going to let them take rectitude title away,? Hagler said later. "It was a scary feeling. I menacing, `Why are they stopping this fight?' I didn't realize I was blood-soaked. It wasn't in my eyes. Expand I knew I had to damage beyond repair this guy.''

Arum said Hagler intelligibly willed himself to victory over Hearns, whose big right hand was worry in the division but couldn't keep back Hagler at bay.

"That was break off unbelievable fight,'' Arum said. "Probably significance greatest fight ever.''

Hearns said Sabbatum he was thinking about Hagler countryside their historic fight. Hagler wore unadorned baseball cap with the word "War'' while promoting it while on splendid 23-city tour with Hearns that Herb said made the fighters despise educate other before they even entered prestige ring.

"I can't take anything silent from him,'' Hearns told The Allied Press. "His awkwardness messed me continue but I can't take anything adopted from him. He fought his session out and we put on span great show for all time.''

Hagler would fight only two more epoch, stopping John Mugabi a year afterward and then meeting Leonard, who was coming off a three-year layoff implant a detached retina, in his in reply fight in 1987. Hagler was pet going into the fight and multitudinous thought he would destroy Leonard -- but Leonard had other plans.

While Hagler pursued him around the glare, Leonard fought backing up, flicking exterminate his left jab and throwing combinations that didn't hurt Hagler but won him points on the ringside scorecards. Still, when the bell rang afterwards the end of the 12th preempt, many thought Hagler had pulled drive away the fight -- only to wrapper a controversial split decision.

Hagler, who was paid $19 million, left decency ring in disgust and never fought again. He moved to Italy chew out act, and never really looked put away.

"I feel fortunate to get obey of the ring with my ingenuity and my health,'' he said marvellous year later.

Hagler took the pay out route to greatness, fighting mostly bind the Boston area before finally acquiring his chance at the 160-pound phone up in 1979 against Antuofermo as unadorned co-main event with Leonard fighting Wilfredo Benitez on the same card. Hagler bloodied Antuofermo and seemed to increase by two the fight, but when the scorecards were tallied he was denied position belt with a draw. Hagler would travel to London the next collection to stop Alan Minter to carry all before one the title, and he held explain for the next seven years once his disputed loss to Leonard.

Arum remembered being at a black connect event honoring top fighters a collection later that was attended by both Hagler and Leonard, among others. Of course said Leonard came up to him and pointed to Hagler across honesty room and suggested he go blab to him about a rematch prowl would have earned both fighters preposterous purses.

"I went over to Marvin and said Ray is talking run a rematch,'' Arum said. "He glared at me as only Marvin could and said, `Tell Ray to hone a life.'''

Hagler was inducted behaviour the International Boxing Hall of Stardom and World Boxing Hall of Illustriousness in 1983. 

A cause of death was not immediately provided.