The city of Brockton, Massachusetts refers to itself as “The City of Champions.” This moniker comes from its history of producing boxing champions, most notably Rocky Marciano and Marvelous Marvin Hagler. On Thursday the city unveiled a statue of Hagler in the shadows of the site of legendary Petronelli Gym, where Hagler famously trained during his fighting days.
The statue, commissioned at a price of $150,000, is located in the new Hagler Park at the corner of Petronelli Way and Hagler Way. Hagler passed away in 2021 at the age of 66. He finished his career with a record of 62-3-2 with 53 knockouts. He was the undisputed Middleweight champion from 1980-87, making 12 title defenses during that time. Hagler was inducted into the World Boxing Hall of Fame in 1993. Boxing Illustrated named him the 1980s Fighter of the Decade, and he was named Boxer of the Year twice.
Dozens of people were in attendance at the unveiling, including family members, former opponent Vito Antuofermo and city leaders. “I will say one thing about Marvelous Marvin, he never forgot where he came from,” Mayor Robert Sullivan told the crowd. “So today he is not here physically, but he is here in spirit.”
The statue, which stands about six feet tall, depicts Hagler throwing one of his legendary left jabs. At the base of the statue are replicas of his three championship belts. A dogwood sapling, which should grow to about 12 feet tall, is planted at the park to honor Hagler’s mother, Ida Mae Lang.
Hagler’s statue is the second erected in the city honoring a local boxing champion. In 2012, the World Boxing Council gifted a $250,000, 22 foot-tall statue of Rocky Marciano. This statue, the largest statue of a sporting figure in the world, is located at Rocky Marciano Stadium on the campus of Brockton High School, behind Campanelli Stadium, home of the New England Knockouts and Brockton Rox.
