Meeting Marvelous Marvin

It was in 1988 when Marvelous Marvin Hagler stayed 26 days in the Philippines filming scenes for the Dino De Laurentiis movie “Indio” where he played the role of Sergeant Iron. The year before, Hagler lost the world middleweight title to Sugar Ray Leonard on a controversial split 12-round decision and swore he’d never fight again unless it was a rematch for the crown. Leonard refused to oblige, gave up the throne six months later then in 1990, offered Hagler a rematch that came too late. Hagler announced his retirement shortly after the Philippine trip and with a movie career unfolding, never returned to the ring. “It’s difficult to get up to do roadwork at five in the morning when you’re sleeping in silk pajamas,” he once said.

Last Saturday, Hagler passed away at 66. His Italian wife Kay Guarrera said he died “unexpectedly” in New Hampshire. No cause of death was disclosed but a report said he was rushed to the hospital with chest pains and had difficulty breathing before succumbing. Hagler is survived by five children with his first wife Bertha whom he divorced in 1990. He married Kay in 2000 and they lived in Milan and New Hampshire. Hagler never made it as a big-time actor and did only a handful of films, including “Virtual Weapon” in 1997. But with a net worth of about $40 million, he didn’t need to do movies to live a good life.

I remember meeting Hagler at the Manila Garden Hotel, now Dusit Thani, in Makati during his visit here. He hadn’t decided whether or not to continue fighting and said an announcement would be made in a few weeks. Hagler was bitter about losing to Leonard, a betting underdog, and insinuated foul play. He was paid $19 million for the fight in Las Vegas. “(Leonard) didn’t come to fight, he came to survive,” said Hagler. “That’s not the way a champion wins. He’s got no class. I have more respect for Tommy Hearns. They bet on anything in Vegas, even on which roach makes it first to a crack on a wall.” A $100,000 bet on Leonard won $260,000 plus the initial money back.

Hagler, a former bricklayer who quit school in the ninth grade, thanked his Filipino hosts for their “unreal hospitality.” He said the stay was “wonderful” and “it gave me a chance to sit back, think about the future and clear the cobwebs in my head.” Hagler spoke about the virtues of patience and determination. “People work very hard (in the Philippines) and get paid little,” he said. “But they’re the people who’ll make it big someday. They just have to work harder and be patient and God will reward them in the end. Too many want too much too fast. They can’t wait and they end up getting frustrated.”

Hagler lashed out at the “alphabet soup” governing bodies for recognizing different world champions and called it a joke. He said there should be only one undisputed world titleholder and expressed a preference for 15-round title fights, not 12, to set the champions apart from pretenders. Hagler singled out Floyd Patterson, Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier as the “only real champions» in his book. “Most fighters end up broke, not knowing what to do,” he said. “I thank God for taking care of me. I still have my faculties and my good looks.” Hagler reigned as world middleweight king for nearly seven years and registered 12 successful defenses. He battled the fiercest challengers, never backed down and was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1993.

In Manila, Hagler said he saw poor kids in the streets throwing pebbles at an empty can on a sidewalk and enjoying themselves. “They don’t have toys and necessities like most kids do in America,” he said. “But I know what it’s like. I’ve been there before. I was born in a ghetto. When you don’t have nice toys, you make up your own toys, your own games, your own happiness.” Hagler meant that no matter your social standing, you can enjoy life by making the most of what you have.