Alan Minter...how good was he?

at the time i was surprised he came out with that crap as i knew that minter was good mates with john conteh and billy knight.he let himself down badly with those remarks and i don't think it'll ever be forgotten

 

I have never seen an apology from Minter for those remarks and it certainly made the atmosphere at Wembley that night even more volatile and unpleasant.I was glad Hagler beat him and in the manner he did .Im quite sure having seen Marvin interviewed many times since it would have given him a little extra motivation
I can remember the UK press in the build up saying Hagler was essentially a slow bully of a fighter who could be lazy in the ring . His reputation was similar in most of the Uk boxing press.I think Minter believed this as well
As mentioned the Ford win didn't help.That said I cannot see a way other than a home town decision Minter could have beaten Hagler that night (or any night).His tactics hastened his demise thats all
As a fighter I thought he was limited .European championship level at best Orthadox,predictable and lacking imagination.

 

Didn't Kevin Finnegan say around about this time that Hagler had refused to shake his hand, saying "i don't touch white skin".

All these guys seem quite friendly with each other nowadays(well Finnegan is dead, but still...).

 

Minter was a nice enough guy when I met him (although I'm not black) seemed to have mellowed and the beer likely helped.

Did try to tell me that Antuofermo destroyed Hagler though and was a Great Middleweight.

 

I have no idea how he could have said Vito destroyed Marvin.Everyone I know(myself included)thought Hagler deserved the first decision.And we all know what happened in the 2nd.I'm glad to know that I was right about Minter all along.

 

:goodGreat ****ing post.:good

 

To be fair to him, he was well oiled and probably was just over-exaggerating.

 

Yeah, I'm sure Minter speaking with a fan after having a few pints summarizes him as a human being. Minter made a racist remark 30 years ago. Very unfortunate. Hopefully he's changed. He could have just as easily called Marvin a bitter ***** with a perpetual chip on his shoulder, been spot on, and not be demonized for the comment 30 years later.

 

Cheers!:goodThank you.

 

With all due respect,according to GPater,he said that Vito destroyed Marvin.Even for a drunk fellow,that's clearly ridiculous and obviously something in the back of his head.Secondly he's never retracted his racist remark,so he deserves the demonization.If that bothers you,well,you have to realize that that remark helped fuel a mob of miscreants into bombarding the ring with a bunch of beer bottles after Marvin kicked Minter's ass.And by the way,if anyone deserves having a chip on his shoulder,it's Marvin.Let's look at his career for a moment:
1.Didn't get his 1st title shot until his what,48th fight(or something like that)despite clearly being the best middleweight in the world for a while at that point.
2.When he finally got his shot,was denied when a draw was given even though he clearly was the better man that night.
3.When he finally won the title,he was bombarded by beer bottles in the ring by a bunch of mindless mother****ers who were partially fueled by Minter's racist remark.
4.The whole Leonard situation as Leonard jerked Marvin's chain(as well as a huge number of boxing fans and media)for at least 6 years as Leonard teased and conned everyone while he was waiting for Marvin to become old.People forget that in the early talks of the proposed fight when it was being discussed when they were both prime,Leonard's people proposed a catchweight of 154 while they would be fighting for Marvin's title.What a ****ing joke.

All in all,I'd say Marvin has every right to be a bitter man.

 

"Yeah, I'm sure Minter speaking with a fan after having a few pints summarizes him as a human being. Minter made a racist remark 30 years ago. Very unfortunate. Hopefully he's changed. He could have just as easily called Marvin a bitter ***** with a perpetual chip on his shoulder, been spot on, and not be demonized for the comment 30 years later."

Difference is one is a comment about someones perceiced personality by someone who I guess doesn't actually know him 30 years on and a racist remark which anyone with half a brain would know was offensive,unacceptable and completely wrong
Not demonizing but that was a multi cultural UK then
No excuses Minter was way out of order

 

Anyone else recall Finnegan's comments about Hagler?.

 

What may have given Alan Minter that 'cockiness and foolish confidence' before the Hagler bout was his results with common opponents.
Sugar Ray Seales
Kevin Finnegan
Vito Antuofermo
Reggie Ford (amateur who beat Hagler and got KO'd by Alan)

 

Actually, I have been told a few times by different people that Minter and Hagler are actually quite good friends now and meet up at the IBHOF most years. I think Hagler disapproved of Minter's drinking (as he could become quite abusive) but overall they were friendly.

 

That's good to know.I'm delighted to hear that former rivals can bury the hatchet.Cheers and thanks for the info:good