Finally breaking through to win his first world championship, the late Marvin Hagler produced a definitive end to one of the most heated rivalries in boxing history.
Making his name on the East Coast early in his pro career, the decorated Marvin Hagler had to wait a staggering 53 fights to produce his first of many title fight victories.
And making his single career trip to the United Kingdom, Hagler faced off with a controversial defending champion.
On enemy territory to boot, Hagler began his historic title reign at the middleweight limit with a savage beating following weeks of goading.
- THROWBACK โ Manny Pacquiao revealed the heaviest hitter he ever facedโฆ โI can still feel the punchesโ
Marvin Hagler sliced Alan Minter following ugly race row
Competing just a single time in England during his illustrious career, on this day in 1980, the late Hagler would be involved in a disgraceful race row with defending WBA, WBC, and The Ring middleweight kingpin Alan Minter in the weeks ahead of the clash.
Claiming he would never lose his championship to a โblack manโ, Minter was largely criticized for his comments ahead of the Wembley showdown.
Attempting to clear up his comments, Minter boldly claimed he was solely referring to Hagler with his previous statement, before entering the ring with โMarvellousโ.
Slicing the cut-prone Minter throughout the early goings of their title clash in the capital, Hagler would prevail with a third-round TKO stoppage, with the bloodied Minter stopped from continuing by the referee.
With a post-fight brawl and riot breaking out at the arena following the clash, Hagler and his team were corralled by policemen, who escorted the newly minted champion backstage away from a partisan crowd.
Now boasting the undisputed middleweight crown, Hagler would embark on one of the most dominant reigns as titleholder in the history of the entire sport.
Marvin Haglerโs spectacular middleweight title run
Holding his middleweight crown for six dominant years at the time of his retirement, Hagler would suffer just a single defeat during his championship run, in the form of a dubious loss to Sugar Ray Leonard.
But during his time as champion, Hagler, who holds a staggering 78% knockout rate as middleweight champion โ the most of any titleholder in the history of the weight class, turned away the best of the best.
Defeating names including the thundering John Mugabi, Hagler would also defeat fellow Four Kings stablemates, Roberto Duran and then Thomas Hearns โ the latter of which in a devastating knockout win.