Brockton, Mass. — Brockton will honor the late boxing champion Marvelous Marvin Hagler with the unveiling of a $150,000 statue on Saturday. The ceremony will begin at 11 a.m. at a new park and street named after Hagler, located at the corner of Petronelli Way and Hagler Way in downtown Brockton.
The site of the statue was once home to the Petronelli Brothers’ Gym, where Hagler trained throughout his illustrious boxing career. Hagler, a middleweight champion from 1980 to 1987, is renowned for his 1985 victory over Tommy Hearns. He passed away in 2021 at the age of 66.
Brockton Mayor Robert F. Sullivan stated, “Brockton is known worldwide as the ‘City of Champions,’ largely because of the incredible and historic athletic achievements of Marvelous Marvin Hagler. Marvelous Marvin was a global boxing icon who embodied all the best attributes of our great city: toughness, perseverance, community, and dedication. This statue will stand as a symbol of his spirit for generations, inspiring people to always strive to be the best they can be.”
Commissioned by the renowned sculpture company Brodin Studios, the bronze statue was funded through a $150,000 state grant secured by state Representative Gerry Cassidy. Reflecting on Hagler’s legacy, Cassidy recalled attending Hagler’s first fight in 1973 and following his career until retirement, saying, “He embodied Brockton’s heart and soul.”
This statue will be the second in Brockton honoring a boxing champion. In 2012, the World Boxing Council gifted the city a $250,000, 22-foot-tall statue of Rocky Marciano, the only undefeated heavyweight champion. This statue stands outside Brockton High School, reinforcing the city’s nickname, the “City of Champions.”
Marvelous Marvin Hagler, inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1993, boasted a record of 62-3-2 with 52 knockouts. His career spanned from 1973 to 1987, during which he defended his middleweight title 12 times. Hagler also gained induction into the World Boxing Hall of Fame and was named the 1980s Fighter of the Decade by Boxing Illustrated.
Hagler won the middleweight title by defeating Alan Minter in 1980 and successfully defended it against notable challengers like Tommy “Hitman” Hearns, Vito Antuofermo, Mustafa Hamsho, Roberto Duran, Juan Roldan, and John “The Beast” Mugabi. His knockout victory over Hearns in 1985 is considered one of the greatest fights of all time and was instrumental in the rise of HBO boxing and the pay-per-view era.
Born in Newark, New Jersey, Hagler moved to Brockton in 1969, training with Goody and Pat Petronelli. He legally changed his name to Marvelous Marvin Hagler in 1982 and pursued an acting career in Italy after retiring from boxing in 1987.
A committee including Hagler’s mother, Ida Mae Lang, who passed away in 2023, finalized the design, sculptor, and location for the statue. Following the unveiling, a celebration will be held at noon at the Brockton Beer Company, located at 121 Main St., near the Downtown Brockton MBTA commuter rail stop.
This tribute ensures that the legacy of Marvelous Marvin Hagler will continue to inspire future generations in Brockton and beyond.
