Leonard, Duran, Hearns - Marvelous Marvin Hagler's 5 greatest fights

The undisputed middleweight champion from 1982 to 1987 and one of boxing's 'Four Kings' died on Saturday age 66

Boxing legend Marvin Hagler, the undisputed middleweight champion from 1980 to 1987, died on Saturday at the age of 66.

In a posting on the famed fighter's Facebook page, Kay G Hagler said her husband passed away at the family home in Bartlett, New Hampshire.

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"I am sorry to make a very sad announcement. Today unfortunately my beloved husband Marvelous Marvin passed away unexpectedly at his home here in New Hampshire," she wrote. "Our family requests that you respect our privacy during this difficult time."

Hagler fought from 1973 to 1987 and delivered some of the epic bouts in a golden era of the sport, finishing with a record of 62-3 with two drawn and 52 knockouts.

The southpaw's most heralded triumph came in a 1985 matchup at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas against Thomas "Hitman" Hearns that lasted only a tick over eight minutes but was regarded as a classic that became known simply as "The War."

Hagler defended the undisputed crown 12 times, including a 15-round unanimous decision victory over Panama's Roberto Duran in 1983 and his final triumph, an 11th-round knockout of unbeaten Ugandan John Mugabi in 1986.

Hagler's long run as undisputed middleweight champion came to a controversial end in 1987 when he was defeated on points by fellow great "Sugar" Ray Leonard.

He retired after the Leonard fight with a record of 62-3 with two drawn and 52 knockouts and is regarded as one of boxing's great champions and best pound-for-pound fighters of all time.

Hagler's five best fights

1). Marvelous Marvin Hagler v Thomas "Hitman" Hearns, April 15, 1985

Resut: Hagler wins by third round TKO; retains WBA, WBC, IBF, and The Ring middleweight titles

2). Marvelous Marvin Hagler v Vito Antuofermo, June 13, 1981

Result: Antuofermo retires at the beginning of Round 4; Hagler retains WBA, WBC, and The Ring middleweight titles

3). Alan Minter v Marvelous Marvin Hagler, September 27, 1980

Result: Hagler wins by third-round TKO and is crowned WBA, WBC, and The Ring middleweight champion

4). Marvelous Marvin Hagler v Roberto Duran, November 10, 1983

Result: Hagler won by unanimous decision to retain the WBA, WBC, IBF, and The Ring middleweight titles

5). Marvelous Marvin Haglver v Sugar Ray Leonard, April 6, 1987

Result: Leonard wins by split decision; Duran loses WBC and The Ring middleweight titles

Marvin Hagler celebrates his unanimous-decision victory over Roberto Duran in a boxing bout in Las Vegas. Hagler, the middleweight boxing great whose title reign and career ended with a split-decision loss to “Sugar” Ray Leonard in 1987, died Saturday, March 13, 2021. He was 66. AP