Marvin Hagler (left) during a game against Sugar Ray Leonard in Las Vegas in 1987. -

LENNOX MCLENDON / AP / SIPA

The boxing world is in mourning.

Legend Marvin Hagler, a formidable fighter and undisputed middleweight champion from 1980 to 1987, has passed away suddenly at the age of 66, his wife announced on Saturday.

“I'm sorry to bring you some very sad news.

Today, unfortunately, my beloved "Marvelous" husband Marvin unexpectedly passed away at his home here in New Hampshire, "she wrote on her husband's Facebook page.

Hagler will go down as one of the greatest boxers of all time, of those who made middleweight a premier category in the 1980s, offering fans of the noble art memorable fights with Sugar Ray Leonard, Thomas Hearns and Panamanian Roberto. Duran.

Between 1980 and 1987, the American retained the WBA, WBC and IBF titles with twelve consecutive victorious defenses, which was the second longest unifying reign in boxing history.

An excellent finisher

Marvin Hagler's aggressive and powerful boxing made him an outstanding finisher.

Of his 62 victories in 67 professional fights, 52 were by knockout.

Born on May 23, 1954 in Newark, New Jersey, Marvin Nathaniel Hagler, whose real name was, however, took a long time to reach the heights.

He started his career in 1973 and won the WBA and WBC middleweight titles seven years later at the expense of England's Alan Minter.

If we were to retain three of his fights, the first would be his victory in 1983 at the expense of Duran, by unanimous decision of the judges, at the end of a fierce confrontation against the so-called "hands of stone".

And what about "the war" so designated in the media, and a violence rarely seen in a ring, against Hearns two years later ... The two boxers had surrendered blow for blow, without retreating and Hagler, cut to the forehead and risking a stop by the referee at his expense at any time, then managed to send to the carpet "The Hitman" after three anthology rounds, which constituted the fight of the year 1985.

The fall in 1987

Finally, his last battle was that of 1987 which cost him his titles against Leonard, just out of retirement after an operation to one eye and who, unlike the "former victims" of "Marvelous", avoided his blows.

The judges thus praised this performance rather than Hagler's efforts to box ahead.

After his career, Hagler went to live in Italy for a while and tried a career in cinema, with much less prominent roles in B or Z series.

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