This past weekend, the world lost one of boxing’s greatest treasures.
“Marvelous Marvin Hagler” passed away at the age of 66.
Hagler was one of the premier boxers in the middleweight division in the 1980s.
With 12 title defenses, Hagler was the undisputed middleweight champion for nearly a decade.
A true legend.
Although it was reported he died of natural causes, the public learned that he was in the ICU shortly after receiving the COVID-19 vaccine.
And that’s when the controversy erupted:
Fox News reported:
Fellow boxing great Thomas Hearns shared with his followers that Hagler was “fighting the after effects of the vaccine” before the former undisputed middleweight ultimately passed away.
“A real true warrior Pray for the king and his family.. he’s in ICU fighting the after effects of the vaccine! He’ll be just fine but we could use the positive energy and Prayer for his Full Recovery !” Hearns wrote.
Hours after Hearns shared the post asking for prayers, Hagler’s wife Kay announced that one of the best middleweight fighters of all-time had died. Kay Hagler revealed the update in a Facebook post and did not immediately mention the cause of death.
“I am sorry to make a very sad announcement. Today unfortunately my beloved husband Marvelous Marvin passed away unexpectedly at his home here in New Hampshire. Our family requests that you respect our privacy during this difficult time,” she wrote on social media.
A post on Hagler’s website read that the boxer died of “natural causes.”
“We are very sad to report that Marvelous Marvin Hagler died on March 13 of natural causes near his home in New Hampshire. He was a champion until the end. His family asks for privacy at this time of sorrow,” the message said.
Hearns’ post sparked anti-vaccine messages on social media even though the cause of Hagler’s death was not revealed.
Earlier on Saturday, former professional boxer Thomas Hearns – who was knocked out by Hagler during their famous bout in 1985 – wrote on Instagram alongside a picture of his old opponent: ‘A real true warrior Pray for the king and his family.. he’s in ICU fighting the after effects of the vaccine! He’ll be just fine but we could use the positive energy and Prayer for his Full Recovery!’
Following his death, Hearns shared: ‘Allow us to have our peace. Our love and respect to Marvin and his family, this is not an anti vaccine campaign… it’s outrageous to have that in mind during the passing of a King, Legend, Father, Husband and so much more.’
Rapper R.A. the Rugged Man tweeted before Hagler’s death: ‘One of the greatest athletes of my lifetime Marvelous Marvin Hagler is in ICU fighting the after effects of taking the Vaccine. Tommy Hitman Hearns just posted about it. I hope this great champion recovers. One of our GOATS #boxing.’
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His son James told TMZ his father was rushed to hospital with chest pains and was experiencing trouble breathing before dying about four hours later.
A statement on Hagler’s website read: ‘We are very sad to report that Marvelous Marvin Hagler died on March 13 of natural causes near his home in New Hampshire. He was a champion until the end. His family asks for privacy at this time of sorrow.’
The unfashionable Hagler, who turned pro in 1973 out of Brockton, Massachusetts, took seven years to earn his first middleweight title crack after almost beating everyone in his path.
Will there be a thorough investigation to determine Hagler’s cause of death?