Marvelous Marvin Hagler dominated in the ring and left the sport on his own terms. He’s a legend for more than one reason, writes Mark Kriegel.
The great fighter retires with his fortune and his faculties intact. Then he stays retired — resisting the urgings of the promoters, the public and the ferocious power of his own ego, that which made him great in the first place. It’s boxing’s most unlikely story. And its happiest. And it’s Marvelous Marvin Hagler’s, forever. «When I question myself, as to what the hell was I doing in boxing all these years, I think of Marvin Hagler,» Bob Arum said Saturday, shortly after being informed of Hagler’s passing. «He was the most loyal, dedicated fighter I ever promoted.» That’s from a man with 55 years in the business, a guy who couldn’t talk Hagler into one more comeback. Not for lack of trying, though, and no matter the price. Arum recalls being at Caesars Palace in the late 1980s. Muhammad Ali was there. Tommy Hearns was there. So were Roberto Duran and Ray Leonard, about a year after Leonard won his controversial decision over Hagler. «Tell Marvin we should do it again, a rematch,» Leonard told Arum. «We’ll make a fortune. Tell him.» As Leonard’s logic was unassailable, Arum delivered the message. Hagler glared down at the promoter. «Tell Ray to get a life,» he said. No aspersions to the great Leonard, but that’s the hardest part. For fighters, fighting is the easy stuff. Not fighting is harder. Having a life, being happy and healthy and wealthy enough to enjoy yourself after the fighting, is the most difficult proposition of all. And when you assess Hagler’s place in boxing history — the ever-disputed decision to Leonard, the less ambiguous decision over Duran, the stoppages of Alan Minter, Vito Antuofermo, Hearns ( watch on ESPN+) and John Mugabi — that should count as his greatest victory.
