Hagler's Greatest Trait

His shiny bald head.

 

The Petronellis knew he was something special when he came back to their gym after an initial lesson showing unusually marked improvement, and he told them, "I've been practicing!" (Maybe, "in front of a mirror.," although I don't recall off-hand whether or not the precise quote included that.)

Antuofermo had better conditioning (Vito ran at least five miles a day even when not in training), and guys like Antuofermo, Hamsho and Minter didn't take a back seat to anybody with respect to conditioning, chin and physical strength. Marv had superior cut resistance to all three though, and stopped all of them on cuts.

What I really think set Marv apart from them was not just cut resistance, but his right jab, possibly the consistently hardest P4P jab in history, clearly the hardest southpaw jab that's ever been seen. He could deploy it on the move, as he did with Bennie Briscoe (and "Flash" Gordon always defined 'class' as "the ability to move and deploy the jab"), or use it as an offensive weapon which could hurt opponents and knock them out at any time.

It can certainly be argued that he did indeed have the greatest chin in boxing history. Straight punching trumps punching that's not straight (a key reason why he was beating up Vito in their rematch even before the butt), and the only criticism I read about him during his prime in one publication was "average foot speed." But I think that powerful right jab of his was in reality what Liston's left jab was supposed to be, something which actually was responsible for knocking world class opponents out.

 

his thorough understanding of the Italian language, there's just something about Italian fighters!!!

 

I liked his "rhythm Boxing" as exampled in the early rounds against dangerous puncher Tony Sibson - by throwing softer but quicker punches off the back foot Marvin Overlayed his "rhythm" on Sibson, which bred in Sibson a defensive hesitancy which then enabled Marvin to Plant himself and put more power into his accurate shots, Marvin employed this "Rhythm Boxing" a number of times when up against a supposedly dangerous puncher, he bought it out extremely late against Duran to seal the decision, When i think of Marvin i remember him on the way to the Ring...hooded Cowling cutting its way to the ring like a sharks fin....The Beat of Destruction already running through his mind.....

 

Not letting McCallum put food on the table for his sprogs. Evil bald *******.

 

The way he pronounced Vito's last name as "Antuoferm-i-o"

 

He was great guy and solid person, a black Italian and I love the way he speaks in broken English these days

 

Good post...and all true.
But whenever I think of Marvelous, it's how determined he was...

 

Now that he speaks Italian, we MUST ask him how he pronounces Vito's last name today! (Or at least get a youtube clip showing him saying it then and now.)

 

Determination or mental toughness.

He had an ability to take a setback and get stronger from it.


He also like Joe Louis was a master of adjustments and was much more effective in rematches.

 

Integrity,,,,,,

A man of integrity is respected.

 

His chin.

 

Or Tony Sibson's as SIMPSON !

 

Exactly :good