Page 40 - IssueNo100a

40 Issue #100 May 2021 www.sportsenergynews.com

Truly Marvelous fighters who were avoided by many of 1979, Hagler finally received his
top contenders and champions of the long-awaited title shot. In an action-
70’s. That’s what you call character, packed bout, which most observers
Hagler. folks - character seldom seen thought Hagler won, Marvin had
By 1972, he was the top amateur today. Marvin was as Joe Frazier to settle for a draw against Vito
in the gym and by 1973, he was described him, “Good, Black, and a Antuefermo.
a New England Golden Gloves southpaw.”
By Jorge Luis Marvin’s resentment grew
Champion and qualified for the Marvin was offered other deeper. He redoubled his efforts
National AAU championships. trainers, managers, and promises in training. He beat 4 contenders
Marvin won the National AAU title from promoters. Instead, he stuck and in September of 1980, went to
and was voted the outstanding boxer with the Petronelli’s out of loyalty, England to fight Alan Minter for
of the tournament. The tournament
ello boxing fans. I write this and they were there for Marvin and the Championship. Marvin left no
Hcolumn with a heavy heart. included future Olympians and believed in him when no one else doubts and demolished Minter in
On March 13, 2021, former boxing future world champions like Sugar did. 3 rounds. The British crowd pelted
Hall of Famer and middleweight Ray Leonard and Aaron Pryor. Despite being ranked and having the new middleweight king with
champion of the world, Marvelous Hagler decided not to wait for the beaten more contenders than any beer bottles and food. It was one
Marvin Hagler, died at age 66. 1976 Olympics and turned pro other middleweight, Marvin could of the most disgraceful displays of
Marvin Hagler was born May 23, in late 1973. Hagler had fathered not secure a title shot. The major hooligan behaviour I’ve ever seen.
1954. a child and said, “You can’t eat promoters shied away from Hagler Marvin had his coveted prize
trophies.”
Marvin Hagler grew up the oldest as he was too good and menacing and he intended to hold on to it.
of 5 children. He had 2 sisters His first pro fight earned him $50. to their charges. However, in His hunger was palatable, and he
and 2 half brothers including half The Petronelli brothers took no fees 1979, House speaker Tip O’Neil became famous for his secluded
from Marvin in his early fights.
brother Robbie Sims, who also and Senator Edward Kennedy training camps in Provincetown,
They gave him a day-job on their
boxed professionally. Sims was a wrote letters to Congress about Massachusetts, where he would put
construction crew and trained him
U.S. middleweight champion and Hagler. American promoters and himself in a prison of sorts, training
at night. Marvin would get up in
owns a victory over Hall of Famer the governing world sanctioning like a spartan with the discipline of
the morning and log a few miles of
Roberto Duran. Marvin’s father bodies were threatened with a monk. Marvin held on to his title
running, eat breakfast, pack a lunch,
grew up in Newark, New Jersey. Federal regulation and legislation. for the next 7 years. He defended the
then go to work. Work consisted
Marvin went to school, had a part Bob Arum of Top Rank Inc. signed title against all comers, including
of pushing heavy wheelbarrows
time job at a young age, and played Marvin Hagler to a long-term Roberto Duran, Thomas Hearns,
sports in local parks, like basketball of cement blocks and bricks and promotional contract. In November Continued on page 41
and football. Marvin fought in the climbing ladders. With rent to pay,
streets and learned to fight back sometimes Marvin went without
and survive at a young age. His lunch, but the Petronelli brothers
mother was a strict disciplinarian realized this and would cover lunch.
and taught Marvin to ‘take no crap Marvin, being a young man in
and don’t come home crying’. The America who survived the Newark
Hagler/Sims family survived the riots and distrusted white people,
famous riots in Newark in 1967- was befriended by 2 white Italian
68. Marvin’s mother Mae decided immigrants. The lesson was not
Newark was no place to raise lost on Marvin and a tight bond was
children and, guided by a relative, formed and grew over the years.
moved her family to Brockton, There are good and bad in all races
Massachusetts in 1969, the and good comes in all colors and
hometown of former heavyweight creeds.
great Rocky Marciano, where his Marvin took a long, hard road. He
legend permeated everything in the boxed in small arena shows all over
city to this day.
New England. He eventually rose
In 1970, a young Marvin went to purses of $1500-2000 but it was
to the Petronelli Bros gym. The still not enough to make a living.
Petronelli’s were friends of Rocky After amassing a record of 25-0-1,
Marciano and after serving 20- Marvin took a fight in the fighting
25 years in the Navy, the brothers city of Philadelphia where some of
Pat and Goody Petronelli came the best middleweights in the U.S.
home to Brockton and started a resided. Marvin fought them all in
masonry construction business by their own backyard. He lost a couple
day and opened a boxing gym that of fights along the way, improved
they coached at by night. Marvin himself, and then avenged those
watched the training and joined losses. Marvin fought names like
the gym. He soaked up the lessons, Willie Monroe, Eugene Hart, Sugar Photo by Robert Lefebvre, icelevel photography
worked hard, and the Petronelli’s Ray Seales, Bobby “Boogaloo” To view or purchase photos go to www.icelevel.com
became his surrogate fathers. Their Watts, and Bad Bennie Briscoe. Top
work ethic rubbed off on the young contenders. Murderer’s Row. Black