Marvin Hagler personality

[Cent0089]

He is one of my all time favorites :) What do you guys think of him, i mean outside of ring?

[SenorPipino]

Hagler was a well spoken, charismatic gentleman.

Few recognized that though, until he KO'd Hearns in 3 scintillating rounds.

The win made Hagler a mainstream star. He was frequently interviewed and seen on talk shows, and suddenly the world noticed what it had been ignoring for so many years.

Too bad his moment in the sun didn't happen until near the very end of his career.

[Tomasino]

He is one of my all time favorites :) What do you guys think of him, i mean outside of ring?

He seems very sound. I wouldnt say his commentary was that good but he does seem to be a nice guy. If only he were around today!

[dr_devious]

I've met him and he's a really polite and nice guy. In contrast to his ring persona which was pretty fearsome

[klompton]

Pfff gentleman? He beat the shit out of his wife and ditched his kids leaving them penniless despite living the high life in Italy.

[Nile4000]

Pfff gentleman? He beat the poo out of his wife and ditched his kids leaving them penniless despite living the high life in Italy.

That's really sad. I wonder if Leonard prompted that behavior?

[Kalan]

They always said Monzon was a really bad character. And they called Bennie Briscoe "Bad" ... They weren’t really bad asses... But Hagler really was... Hagler was a malevolent MFer to the bone.

I looked forward to his fight with Tommy Hearns... I never liked Tommy cuz he THOUGHT he was really tough and really bad and he wasn’t.. He would give people that stare and it was an act.. He was a weak, skinny kid who would get wrecked if he fought anybody really tough... I thought he was the perfect opponent for Hagler... Kind of like Frazier was for Foreman... Certain guys you just want to fight... Hagler could never PRAY for a better matchup than Hearns.

With Hagler it was no act. He was real man. He’d cut your balls off and feed them to a dog in a street fight. A genuine bad guy can spot a phony one a mile off. When Hearns started yakking Hager pointed to his baseball cap that said DESTRUCT AND DESTROY.. Hearns said “You gonna destruct and destroy SHITT!! ... Hagler said “RIGHT! EXACTLY what I’m gonna do.”

[bollocks]

I've met him and he's a really polite and nice guy. In contrast to his ring persona which was pretty fearsome

Hagler has said that he made a point of projecting a decent image outside the ring, that it was important due to the stereotyping of boxers as thugs

[Syntax Error]

They always said Monzon was a really bad character. And they called Bennie Briscoe "Bad" ... They weren’t really bad asses... But Hagler really was... Hagler was a malevolent MFer to the bone.

I looked forward to his fight with Tommy Hearns... I never liked Tommy cuz he THOUGHT he was really tough and really bad and he wasn’t.. He would give people that stare and it was an act.. He was a weak, skinny kid who would get wrecked if he fought anybody really tough... I thought he was the perfect opponent for Hagler... Kind of like Frazier was for Foreman... Certain guys you just want to fight... Hagler could never PRAY for a better matchup than Hearns.

With Hagler it was no act. He was real man. He’d cut your balls off and feed them to a dog in a street fight. A genuine bad guy can spot a phony one a mile off. When Hearns started yakking Hager pointed to his baseball cap that said DESTRUCT AND DESTROY.. Hearns said “You gonna destruct and destroy SHITT!! ... Hagler said “RIGHT! EXACTLY what I’m gonna do.”

I remember in one press conference before his fight with Hearns, Tommy was talking about going up to 175 to win a belt there & Hagler said something along the lines of, "You ain't gonna get to 175 because you have to come through me & I'm going to break every bone in your body".

That's not something I would have associated with him, but he meant it, as he went straight for Hearns with the intention of smashing the Hit Man to bits.

[Syntax Error]

Pfff gentleman? He beat the poo out of his wife and ditched his kids leaving them penniless despite living the high life in Italy.

That's really sad. I wonder if Leonard prompted that behavior?

He's very bitter towards Leonard.

I know Leonard mugged him off in '82 & narrowly beat him in '87 & obviously Marvin disagrees with that & wanted a rematch, but I can't believe he still has genuine animosity towards Ray after over 30 years.

Leonard alluded to this in his book, citing Hagler's indifference towards him so many years later & that Hagler wouldn't even talk to him at functions & ringside at fights.

[IKSRTFO]

They always said Monzon was a really bad character. And they called Bennie Briscoe "Bad" ... They weren’t really bad asses... But Hagler really was... Hagler was a malevolent MFer to the bone.

I looked forward to his fight with Tommy Hearns... I never liked Tommy cuz he THOUGHT he was really tough and really bad and he wasn’t.. He would give people that stare and it was an act.. He was a weak, skinny kid who would get wrecked if he fought anybody really tough... I thought he was the perfect opponent for Hagler... Kind of like Frazier was for Foreman... Certain guys you just want to fight... Hagler could never PRAY for a better matchup than Hearns.

With Hagler it was no act. He was real man. He’d cut your balls off and feed them to a dog in a street fight. A genuine bad guy can spot a phony one a mile off. When Hearns started yakking Hager pointed to his baseball cap that said DESTRUCT AND DESTROY.. Hearns said “You gonna destruct and destroy SHITT!! ... Hagler said “RIGHT! EXACTLY what I’m gonna do.”

[Ambling Alp II]

I never liked him myself; although there have many that have been worse. Often he just didn't seem to have much a personality at all. There were times where he just didn't show any class. He was a big crybaby following the Antuofermo and Leonard fights. Also thought that the Pizza Hut commercial following the Hearns fight was tasteless.

[klompton]

Pfff gentleman? He beat the poo out of his wife and ditched his kids leaving them penniless despite living the high life in Italy.

That's really sad. I wonder if Leonard prompted that behavior?

No, he was like that long before Leonard.

[klompton]

They always said Monzon was a really bad character. And they called Bennie Briscoe "Bad" ... They weren’t really bad asses... But Hagler really was... Hagler was a malevolent MFer to the bone.

I looked forward to his fight with Tommy Hearns... I never liked Tommy cuz he THOUGHT he was really tough and really bad and he wasn’t.. He would give people that stare and it was an act.. He was a weak, skinny kid who would get wrecked if he fought anybody really tough... I thought he was the perfect opponent for Hagler... Kind of like Frazier was for Foreman... Certain guys you just want to fight... Hagler could never PRAY for a better matchup than Hearns.

With Hagler it was no act. He was real man. He’d cut your balls off and feed them to a dog in a street fight. A genuine bad guy can spot a phony one a mile off. When Hearns started yakking Hager pointed to his baseball cap that said DESTRUCT AND DESTROY.. Hearns said “You gonna destruct and destroy SHITT!! ... Hagler said “RIGHT! EXACTLY what I’m gonna do.”

I dont know, Hagler always liked to project this badass image but he wasnt a badass in several fights he should have been. I thought he bitched out in both Antoufermo fights, the second one Vito came in amazing shape and was ready to and Hagler blatantly headbutted him and then acted like he had beaten Vitos ass after it was stopped. That fight was such a letdown. He also choked against Duran and even admitted afterwards he was too in awe of Duran, an aging former LW. A REAL badass should have taken more chances and stomped his ass. Against Leonard he didnt try to be a badass despite all that talk before hand. He gave up the first 4 rounds stupidly not only trying to outbox Leonard but doing so from an orthodox stance. I dont know, I think the guy was a headcase.

[Tomasino]

They always said Monzon was a really bad character. And they called Bennie Briscoe "Bad" ... They weren’t really bad asses... But Hagler really was... Hagler was a malevolent MFer to the bone.

I looked forward to his fight with Tommy Hearns... I never liked Tommy cuz he THOUGHT he was really tough and really bad and he wasn’t.. He would give people that stare and it was an act.. He was a weak, skinny kid who would get wrecked if he fought anybody really tough... I thought he was the perfect opponent for Hagler... Kind of like Frazier was for Foreman... Certain guys you just want to fight... Hagler could never PRAY for a better matchup than Hearns.

With Hagler it was no act. He was real man. He’d cut your balls off and feed them to a dog in a street fight. A genuine bad guy can spot a phony one a mile off. When Hearns started yakking Hager pointed to his baseball cap that said DESTRUCT AND DESTROY.. Hearns said “You gonna destruct and destroy SHITT!! ... Hagler said “RIGHT! EXACTLY what I’m gonna do.”

I dont know, Hagler always liked to project this badass image but he wasnt a badass in several fights he should have been. I thought he bitched out in both Antoufermo fights, the second one Vito came in amazing shape and was ready to and Hagler blatantly headbutted him and then acted like he had beaten Vitos ass after it was stopped. That fight was such a letdown. He also choked against Duran and even admitted afterwards he was too in awe of Duran, an aging former LW. A REAL badass should have taken more chances and stomped his ass. Against Leonard he didnt try to be a badass despite all that talk before hand. He gave up the first 4 rounds stupidly not only trying to outbox Leonard but doing so from an orthodox stance. I dont know, I think the guy was a headcase.

Do you rate him as an ATG?

[klompton]

Oh yeah. For sure. He was a great fighter. Very polished, very versatile. Old school. I just dont see him as the badass he tried to portray. In fact I think he was kinda weak mentally which is why he made some huge mistakes in some of his bigger fights. I think he was insecure personally and thats why he didnt go out and stomp Duran, faded against Antuofermo, tried to outbox Leonard from an orthodox stance early falling way behind. I think Hagler was good enough physically and technically that he could have beaten those guys without question but mentally he was trying to prove something and let his insecurities lead to poor tactics in those fights. To me this supposedly badass tough guys achilles heal was his fragile psyche.

[Tomasino]

Oh yeah. For sure. He was a great fighter. Very polished, very versatile. Old school. I just dont see him as the badass he tried to portray. In fact I think he was kinda week mentally which is why he made some huge mistakes in some of his bigger fights. I think he was insecure personally and thats why he didnt go out and stomp Duran, faded against Antuofermo, tried to outbox Leonard from an orthodox stance early falling way behind. I think Hagler was good enough physically and technically that he could have beaten those guys without question but mentally he was trying to prove something and let his insecurities lead to poor tactics in those fights. To me this supposedly badass tough guys achilles heal was his fragile psyche.

I’ve thought along similar lines but his career was so good I’d hate to say it to anyone.

[Caractacus]

I think three words may hold the key clue to his personality
NEWARK-NEW-JERSEY
( ever been there,particularly during the mid 1960's ?)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1967_Newark_riots

[Caractacus]

[Nile4000]

Pfff gentleman? He beat the poo out of his wife and ditched his kids leaving them penniless despite living the high life in Italy.

That's really sad. I wonder if Leonard prompted that behavior?

No, he was like that long before Leonard.

That's sad .

[Syntax Error]

Oh yeah. For sure. He was a great fighter. Very polished, very versatile. Old school. I just dont see him as the badass he tried to portray. In fact I think he was kinda weak mentally which is why he made some huge mistakes in some of his bigger fights. I think he was insecure personally and thats why he didnt go out and stomp Duran, faded against Antuofermo, tried to outbox Leonard from an orthodox stance early falling way behind. I think Hagler was good enough physically and technically that he could have beaten those guys without question but mentally he was trying to prove something and let his insecurities lead to poor tactics in those fights. To me this supposedly badass tough guys achilles heal was his fragile psyche.

You make some good points.

He was definitely insecure against SRL & Leonard knew it.

Leonard played on his insecurities from the time he announced he was coming back & right through to the fight.