Marvin Nathaniel Hagler, later known as Marvelous Marvin Hagler, was born on May 23, 1954, and passed away on March 13, 2021. He was an American professional boxer and film actor who had a remarkable career in the sport of boxing, spanning from 1973 to 1987.
During his illustrious career, Hagler reigned as the undisputed champion of the middleweight division from 1980 to 1987, successfully defending his title a total of twelve times. His impressive record includes eleven title defenses, with all but one victory achieved via knockout. Notably, Hagler holds the highest knockout percentage of all undisputed middleweight champions, with a staggering 78 percent.
Hagler's reign as undisputed middleweight champion lasted an impressive six years and seven months, making it the longest active reign of the last century. His total time as a middleweight champion is only surpassed by Tony Zale, whose title was not undisputed for the first year of his reign and included several years of inactivity during his service in World War II.
Throughout his career, Hagler earned the nickname "Marvelous," which he initially found frustrating as network announcers often failed to use it. In 1982, he legally changed his name to Marvelous Marvin Hagler, cementing his iconic status in the world of boxing.
