A rose by any other name: Marvelous Marvin Hagler

[APerno]

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I was surfing through BoxRec putting together another useless list, this time of fighters with odd or colorful names (not nick names) e.g. Al Bummy Davis, California Joe Rivers, Kid Chocolate, Etc.

I was using BoxRec as the litmus test for the names; if BoxRec saw fit to list the fighter’s record by a particular name I considered it a name not a nick name.

Then I came across Hagler and was surprised to see that BoxRec has him listed as Marvin Hagler, not Marvelous Marvin Hagler. This surprised me because of a story I read in one of the boxing rags back in the eighties.

The story goes something like this: Hagler had asked the television people (in one of the early title fights) to display his name on the screen as Marvelous Marvin Hagler and a TV producer blew him off, stating that they only displayed actual names, no nick names.

An angry Hagler (supposedly) then went before a judge (who agreed with Hagler that how his name was displayed was important) and had his name legally changed to Marvelous Marvin Hagler, and come his next fight forced the TV people to display is as such.

Does anyone know if this story is true or not? Is Hagler’s legal name ‘Marvelous’ or did I read an apocryphal story?

And if it is true then why is BoxRec ignoring it?

BTW the best name I have come across so far: Mysterious Billy Smith

[Ambling Alp II]

I specifically remember when it was reported that he actually had it changed legally. I want to say it was shortly after the Hearns fight. However, he was still usually referred to as just Marvin Hagler. Not sure if he really had it changed or not; nd if he did if he changed it back.

[Kalan]

Marvelous seems a little ribbons and lace to me - a little flouncy... Especially since Marv was a blood and guts fighter and his idol was Carlos Monzon..

When Hopkins was Middweight Champion they interviewed him with Hagler.. He dwarfed Hagler he was so much bigger.. They asked Hagler who he would have fought if he could fight any Middleweight in history. He said "Carlos Monzon because he was the last great Middleweight Champion." Hopkins was standing there steaming.. He had been very complimentary to Hagler while getting jack sh!t in return.. He frowned and never said another thing about Hagler or looked at him... And I think "Executioner" is a lot better nickname than Marvelous.

Mysterious Smith seems a little like the unknown soldier -- somebody people aren't aware of so they can't get a handle on his ability...

[APerno]

I specifically remember when it was reported that he actually had it changed legally. I want to say it was shortly after the Hearns fight. However, he was still usually referred to as just Marvin Hagler. Not sure if he really had it changed or not; nd if he did if he changed it back.

Thanks - BoxRec doesn't seem to think it true.

[APerno]

Marvelous seems a little ribbons and lace to me - a little flouncy... Especially since Marv was a blood and guts fighter and his idol was Carlos Monzon..

When Hopkins was Middweight Champion they interviewed him with Hagler.. He dwarfed Hagler he was so much bigger.. They asked Hagler who he would have fought if he could fight any Middleweight in history. He said "Carlos Monzon because he was the last great Middleweight Champion." Hopkins was standing there steaming.. He had been very complimentary to Hagler while getting jack sh!t in return.. He frowned and never said another thing about Hagler or looked at him... And I think "Executioner" is a lot better nickname than Marvelous.

Mysterious Smith seems a little like the unknown soldier -- somebody people aren't aware of so they can't get a handle on his ability...

Interesting - if Hagler called Monzon the 'last great . . .' - then he was dissing himself as well, so why would Hopkins get steamed over that?

I would love to see Hagler- Greb, I think their styles would have messed to a great (great)fight.

[Ezzard]

I'm pretty sure that Hagler always said that his idol growing up was Archie Moore. That he used to spar in front of the mirror with irons in his hand as a boy (or some weight) and commentate to himself.

I read he changed it to Marvellous because of TV...angered by Ray Leonard always getting referred to as Sugar Ray. The story above with the TV producer does ring a bell.

[RadioElRadar]

I'm sure on the Hagler v Hearns episode of 'Legendary Nights' they showed a copy of the legal name-change document.

I got the impression it was once he'd gotten over the hump (beating Minter) and was trying to establish himself as a household name (before Duran).

[APerno]

Thanks for the conformation - if he didn't change it back BoxRec should correct itself.

[wouter]

Thanks for the conformation - if he didn't change it back BoxRec should correct itself.

Not really, even it he did change his legal name to Marvelous Marvin Hagler, it would mean hat he fought all but a couple of fights as 'plain' Marvin Hagler. If George Foreman were to change his name today into Georgie McGrill, we wouldnt change his name in our records as he never fought as such.

[APerno]

Thanks for the conformation - if he didn't change it back BoxRec should correct itself.

Not really, even it he did change his legal name to Marvelous Marvin Hagler, it would mean hat he fought all but a couple of fights as 'plain' Marvin Hagler. If George Foreman were to change his name today into Georgie McGrill, we wouldnt change his name in our records as he never fought as such.

Ah! - Ok I see your point - on another topic how can I get one of you guys to answer one of the e-mails I sent asking for help on a posting issue?

[wouter]

Ah! - Ok I see your point - on another topic how can I get one of you guys to answer one of the e-mails I sent asking for help on a posting issue?

Can you be a bit more specific?

[Cutman Scabbers]

Thanks for the conformation - if he didn't change it back BoxRec should correct itself.

Not really, even it he did change his legal name to Marvelous Marvin Hagler, it would mean hat he fought all but a couple of fights as 'plain' Marvin Hagler. If George Foreman were to change his name today into Georgie McGrill, we wouldnt change his name in our records as he never fought as such.

Yet the Thai fighters' names get changed all the time -- Sirimongkol Singwancha, for example, who fought most of his career
as such, yet is now listed as "Sirimongkol Eaimthuam."

http://boxrec.com/boxer/5745

[wouter]

Yet the Thai fighters' names get changed all the time -- Sirimongkol Singwancha, for example, who fought most of his career
as such, yet is now listed as "Sirimongkol Eaimthuam."

http://boxrec.com/boxer/5745

That's more of practical issue. We found that different Thai fighters used the same alias when fighting abroad, so we are currently lisitng them under their birthnames to be able to sort this out.

[Cutman Scabbers]

Yet the Thai fighters' names get changed all the time -- Sirimongkol Singwancha, for example, who fought most of his career
as such, yet is now listed as "Sirimongkol Eaimthuam."

http://boxrec.com/boxer/5745

That's more of practical issue. We found that different Thai fighters used the same alias when fighting abroad, so we are currently lisitng them under their birthnames to be able to sort this out.

That sounds like an excellent policy!