Alan Minter : Reflection of 1980s Comment **** Alan Minter was perhaps the most popular man in Britain heading into his fateful clash against Marvin Hagler on September 27, 1980. After winning the world title in March in Las Vegas from Vito Antuofermo, the new champion turned in a star-making performance in handing the American brawler a decisive trouncing three months later on home soil. Soon the affable pub owner from Crawley was modeling jeans, recording pop songs, and mapping out a glittering future. Of his new-found star status, Minter explained that it was, “Different when you’re the champion. People look at you different. You feel different. You have to be more noble. Is that the right word? Noble? You feel like you have more of a responsibility to people because they are looking.” Instead, the new champion lowered the bar, even for the standards of prizefighting, when he uttered a racial remark at the press conference to announce the signing of the bout. Minter was quick to say that he hadn’t meant it, and those that knew him didn’t believe the comment represented his true character.

But the tone had been set, and the ugliness was compounded by the alcohol-fueled nationalistic fervor that marked the night of the contest. In the end, what should have been, win or lose, a proud moment for Minter and boxing in the United Kingdom descended into shameful scenes. **** The Arrangements: “Alan Minter of Britain retained his undisputed world middleweight boxing title when former champion Vito Antuofermo of the United States retired on his stool at the end of the eighth round of a scheduled 15-round contest at Wembley Arena, Saturday night.” – Associated Press, June 29, 1980 “Alan Minter, the undisputed world middleweight champion, may defend his title against leading contender Marvin Hagler of Brockton, Mass., in September, promoter Bob Arum said Sunday. ” – Winsor Dobbin (Associated Press), June 29, 1980 Alan Minter “I want to be an active champion. I’ll fight the leading contenders. If Hagler is the No.

1 contender, I sincerely want to meet him.” – Alan Minter (Associated Press), June 29, 1980 Image courtesy of Boxrec.com “New York impresario Bob Arum, probably the most important boxing promoter in the world, has already secured Minter’s agreement to fight his No. 1 challenger Marvin Hagler in the autumn. All that remains to be settled is the size of the pile of lovely money involved.” – Frank McGhee (Daily Mirror), June 30, 1980 “Britain’s Alan Minter has signed to defend his undisputed world middleweight boxing crown against American No. 1 contender Marvin Hagler at London’s Wembley Arena Sept 27.” – United Press International, August 22, 1980 “Promoters Harry Levene and Mickey Duff are anticipating a total sell-out at the venue. Attempts were made to secure a bigger venue but open air settings including some football grounds were unavailable for the date.” – Boxing News, August 22, 1980 **** Pre-Fight Banter Turns Ugly: “When I was introduced to him in Las Vegas he wouldn’t look me in the face.

He hasn’t turned up here in London for the official fight announcement although co-promoter Mickey Duff offered him the trip by Concorde to cut down any loss of training time. I only hope he turns up on the night.” – Alan Minter (Daily Express), August 22 “I’m in jail. I have no time for something like that. I have no fun. I’m at work at a 24-hour-a-day job.” – Marvin Hagler (Boston Globe), August 31, 1980 “It has taken me 17 years to become champion of the world. I’m not going to let a black man take it away from me.” – Alan Minter (Daily Mirror), August 22 “Did I say that? Well, I didn’t mean it the way it might sound.” – Alan Minter (Daily Mirror), August 22 “Minter’s a world champion and he should learn to behave like one. I’m sure he didn’t mean to say those words because in this game it doesn’t matter whether you are black, pink, yellow or green when you get into the ring. He will pay for saying that when we meet at Wembley.

” – Marvin Hagler (Daily Mirror) September 10 Hagler vs Finnegan “The trouble began when Minter met Hagler for the first time in Las Vegas and the latter refused to shake hands.” – Alan Hoby (Sunday Express), September 21 Image courtesy of Boxing News “Minter… claimed Hagler had refused to shake his hand when they met informally in the U.S. and the American also was said to have told Minter’s stablemate Kevin Finnegan, ‘I don’t touch white flesh.’ – Boston Herald American, September 18 “I refused to shake hands with Kevin Finnegan before both my winning fights against him. But I was happy to do it afterwards. Whoever said at the time that I would not touch white flesh had it all wrong. I’m here today to nail that lie. All this talk of me being a racist has hurt me bad.” – Hagler (Daily Mirror), September 19 “He never shakes hands before a fight because he likes to hate his opponents. This is nothing racial.

Hagler doesn’t mind whom he fights or what color they are so long as he wins.” – Pat Petronelli, Hagler’s Manager (United Press International), September 18 “I knew I would be meeting him eventually – and I make a point of never shaking hands with future opponents. There is no love in this game. So why shake the hand of someone you intend to do damage to? When the fight is over, it will be different. I’ll be delighted to shake Minter’s hand, win, or lose.” – Marvin Hagler (Daily Mirror), September 19 “Marvin Hagler was one of the five toughest guys I ever met in the ring – and he’s also the only fighter I ever hated. I really did hate him. He’s a bully, he’s arrogant and I rate him one of the dirtiest boxers I ever met.” – Kevin Finnegan (Daily Mirror), September 24 “I’m disappointed that Finnegan should try and stir things up like this. Maybe he’d had too much of that stout when he said it.

He’s certainly fond of the stuff.” – Marvin Hagler (Daily Mirror), September 24 **** Expectations: “I see the way they’ve got Minter all hyped up. I wouldn’t like that.” – Marvin Hagler “We’ve seen him fight and train. He’s a bit of a tough guy. He’s got good moves, good balance. He switches from southpaw to the orthodox style. But I don’t think he is too strong in the heart department. And that is what it is all about.” – Doug Bidwell “The British oddsmakers have made Minter a 8 to 11 favorite, Hagler the 11 to 10 underdog.” – Boston Herald American Marvin Hagler “You can forget the odds. Marvin is going to kill him. Believe me, I know. I’ve worked in the gym with a lot of the best of them. Sugar Ray Leonard, Eddie Gregory, Matthew Saad Muhammad, Bennie Briscoe, Mike Rossman. There’s nobody – nobody – that hits has hard as Marvin. He’s hit me harder this week than I’ve ever been hit in my life.

“ – Danny Snyder, Hagler’s sparring partner Image courtesy of Boxrec.com “In this case, there is genuine dislike between these two guys. Marvin doesn’t like Minter and Minter doesn’t like Marvin. I think it’s gonna be a hell of a fight.” – Goody Petronelli “Marvin is quicker, he’s stronger and he hits harder. And Marvin doesn’t cut. In over 100 fights, amateur and pro, he’s been cut twice.” – Pat Petronelli “It’s been a long time since I was cut… I used to fight like a bloody lunatic. I’d lose my tempter and lose control. I’m much more experienced now.” – Alan Minter “Alan will just go out and do a cold-blooded job. Of course, if he catches Hagler with his hands down then you might see a bit of hate.” – Doug Bidwell “Alan has to hurt Hagler early. Then he can climb all over him.” – Kevin Finnegan “Everybody keeps saying that Minter’s gonna try to stay away and box, but he’s an aggressive fighter himself.

I wouldn’t be surprised at all to see him try to take the fight to us.” – Pat Petronelli “For me there exists a perilous possibility that Minter has listened to too many armchair experts who have done him no favors by assuring Britain’s most popular fighter that to beat Hagler all he has to do is force the fight and make his challenger retreat. Although it is both traditional and tempting to forecast victory for a friend and fellow countryman in a fight as important as this I can’t help having my doubts. Minter will have to start twice as fast as usual and manage to escape cuts if he is to win. I sincerely hope I’m wrong in thinking he may not make it. “ – Frank McGhee (Daily Mirror) “I am backing Minter, with his controlled aggression, to come through the fire to a famous victory.” – Alan Hoby (Sunday Express) “It could see-saw, but in the end Minter’s greater all-round ability should prevail over Hagler’s cunning, ruthlessness and aggression. Minter should in the end force Hagler on to that back foot and take control.” – Bob Mee (Boxing News) “I’ve fought both of them.

And I simply think Hagler is the better fighter. He’s a better style fighter – and style may mean a lot – and he’s not going to get cut the way Minter does.” – Vito Antuofermo “I am going to teach him some respect.” – Marvin Hagler **** September 27, 1980 – Wembley Arena, London Alan Minter vs Marvin Hagler Fight Poster “The Wembley atmosphere was poisonous even before the action began. Near-drunk fans – some of them carrying 24-can packs of lager into the arena – booed the National Anthem.” – Frank McGhee, Daily Mirror “It was ridiculous the way this nationalism was built up before the fight. We’re not at war, for Christ’s sake.” – Bob Arum “…the crowd began to chant Minter’s name shortly after the start of the undercard.

The spectators were hyped up enough as it was without the chauvinistic rabble-rousing that Promoters Harry (The Hoarse) Levene and Mickey Duff seemed to consider necessary for the occasion: the five Royal Marines in full ceremonial dress playing fanfares on silver bugles; the dramatic blacking out of the hall; the bathing of Minter in spotlights as he came out of his dressing room; the hugely oversized Union Jack and Banner of St. George of England that accompanied Minter to the ring; his attendants in Union Jack-patterned outfits. It has a maddening effect on the crowd, maybe even some on Minter, but clearly none at all on Hagler, who simply turned into his corner and loosened up.” – Clive Gammon, Sports Illustrated “There is Alan Minter, if you get a chance to look closely, you’ll see scar tissue over the eyes. But Hagler has his own scar tissue over the right eye. Hagler was a ½ pound overweight. Under the rules, he had two hours to get down to the weight, within a half hour he was down to the 160lb weight limitation.

The reach limit is about the same, Hagler 74 ½ inches, Minter 75, so, we are about ready to go…” – Howard Cossell, ABC “Minter’s second defense of the undisputed world middleweight championship, the only title in the whole of professional boxing that is undisputed. Hagler must face Minter and the crowd…” – Harry Carpenter, ITV **** “The bout is underway, round one…” – Howard Cossell, ABC “Minter has a cut underneath his left eye. Within a minute of the start, Minter is cut. The accuracy and the stinging effect of Hagler’s punching is already apparent on the champion’s face.” – Harry Carpenter, ITV Action From Round One “You’ll hear this British crowd roar with every exchange, particularly if one exchange favors Minter… Minter during the last half of this round has been boxing effectively. There, a good left!

10 seconds to go in round one, a round that promises a good action fight.” – Howard Cossell, ABC Image courtesy of Boxing News “Good finish to the round by Minter, but he picked up damage in the first minute and it looks to me as though he might have a second injury, as well as the one underneath the left eye. So, the champion after only three minutes needs somewhat urgent attention.” – Harry Carpenter, ITV “Settle down, alright?” – Doug Bidwell, between rounds **** “We’re back live, via satellite, from London England… the first round dominated in the early going by Hagler, in the late going, dominated by Minter, as Minter began to box more successfully, keep Hagler off and score with his own jab, this will clearly be the Minter pattern for the fight…” – Howard Cossell, ABC “Good punch from Minter. What a right hand! Pulled the man up in his tracks! And this is certainly one of the most savage world championships we’ve seen here in this country for some time. This is a fight to a finish, and that finish is never going to be fifteen rounds away at this rate.

Never…” – Harry Carpenter, ITV “When I hit him with a left hook in the second round, he wobbled, and I went back to my bad old habits. I went after him.” – Alan Minter “I just couldn’t believe how Minter was trying to force the fight. Coming after Marvin, the damn fool.” – Goody Petronelli Minter Scores with a Left “Although Hagler admits he was briefly shaken by that punch, a more significant truth is that he had already achieved ascendancy. This man punches so correctly, so viciously, hitting through rather than merely at his target, that the only way to stand a reasonable chance over 15 round s against him is to play a cautious waiting game. Minter did the opposite.” – Frank McGhee, Daily Mirror Image courtesy of Boxing News “Early in the second he landed a sharp right-left combination bringing a show of bravado from Minter, who beckoned his adversary in to fight some more. Hagler obliged, punching.

Minter unwisely tried to punch back.” – Red Smith, New York Times “Maybe Minter thought he could intimidate Hagler, in the hope that the American would freeze in the face of such a hostile crowd, but Hagler was the epitome of cold professionalism and he punished Minter relentlessly.” – Harry Mullan, Boxing News “Soon his nose was gushing as Hagler leapt in with another sneaking right lead. Now Minter struck out, sensing his time was ebbing with the blood. And in doing so he further exposed himself.” – David Miller, Express “Blood pouring out of Minter’s nose. Pouring out! Minter fighting feverishly now. Trying to get to Hagler and hurt him!” – Howard Cossell, ABC “And this pair really are launching the most savage attacks at each other and we’re only six minutes into the fight… That really was a very fierce round indeed. And Minter’s face bares testimony to the savagery of this fight. He’s cut underneath left eye. He’s got marks above the left eye. His nose is bleeding.

And really, he’s taken more punishment in the first two rounds of his fight than in several recent fights put together.” – Harry Carpenter, ITV “The damage, by the end of the second round, was almost more than Minter’s corner could handle in the one-minute break.” – Clive Gammon, Sports Illustrated **** “Virtually the first punches of the third split Minter’s right eyebrow, and now Hagler was scoring as he pleased, driving hooks and uppercuts through the champion’s guard and sending blood spraying unedifyingly across the ring.” – Harry Mullan, Boxing News “And Minter’s picking up hard punches as he’s tries to fight back. He’s being forced into a real war. And he’s in desperate trouble, he can’t keep the man away…” – Harry Carpenter, ITV “There’s blood all over the left eye. Hagler is fighting his fight. Making it work. The mouth piece is out. Minter’s mouch-piece is out. Minter’s hurt. Minter’s ready to go.

It’s only the third round, and Hagler is all over him…” – Howard Cossell, ABC Moments Before the End Image courtesy of Boxing News “As soon as another ripping punch, this time a left hook from Hagler widened and deepend the gash over Minter’s right eye, the ref waved the Sussex man to his corner, wiped away the blood for a closer look. Minter’s manager, Doug Bidwell, gave a resigned shrug and it was all over.” – Frank McGhee, Daily Mirror “The fight’s stopped. It’s stopped. That quickly… the middleweight champion of the world, Marvin Hagler…” – Howard Cossell **** The Riot “Marvin Hagler, realizing the championship of the world was his and his alone, slipped to his knees in a silent gesture of thanks. Before he could begin to get up, he was bombarded by flying missiles, most of which contained varying amounts of beer.” – George Kimball, Boston Herald American “People are throwing beer cans. Ones landed on me. Beer cans are being hurled in all over the ring…” – Harry Carpenter “The crowd went mad because they’d just seen their hero thrashed.

That’s all there was to it.” – Alan Minter Boxing News, October 3, 1980 “I went down low and my guys protected me.” – Marvin Hagler “Sparring partner Robbie Sims leaped on the champion first and the training Petronelli brothers came second.” – Boston Globe “Marvin took the punches in the ring for us. We took the punches for him outside the ring.” – Goody Petronelli “Fur-coated women buried their heads in their laps to protect themselves from the missiles hurled at the ring… as they ducked, bottles, cans and other objects rained all around them.” – Alan Hoby, Sunday Express “And the rage has broken out all around Wembley. And these scenes are a shame and a disgrace to British boxing. But there it is, that’s what’s happening.” – Harry Carpenter, ITV “I got hit with something, I think it was a can of beer, right on my back. I turned around, and there was a guy who was about to punch me. Luckily, I turned around in time and I hit him. The bottles were flying from everywhere. I saw George Kimball from the Boston press.

I said, ‘Let’s get out of here.’ That’s when he got hit.” – Vito Antuofermo, KO Magazine “When I looked around and noticed that the fellow occupants of the ringside seats – mostly British boxing writers – were holding their own chairs over their own heads, I realized that I might be in trouble.” – George Kimball, Boston Herald American “Britain’s world light-middleweight champion Maurice Hope, setting next to his wife Pat two rows behind me, was missed by inches with a full bottle of beer. And empty one landed just far away from judge Jose Guerra, just in front of me – he just beat ref Berrocal and myself to a place of safety under the ring” – Frank McGhee, Daily Mirror “Along with most of my colleagues I sheltered under the wooden press benches as the bottles, can, and glasses flew. Some, including Reg Gutteridge and Harry Carptenter, weren’t so fortunate and were struck through fortunately without injury.” – Harry Mullan, Boxing News “I was terrified. I couldn’t even cheer at the end. My friend said to me, ‘Let’s get the hell out of here.’ And that’s what we did.

I was look down at the ring for Marvin, and everyone was just pushing him out of there and things were landing everywhere. I was worried about him.” – Bertha Hagler “As the barrage of missiles ended, the verbal onslaughts began. Racist scum gathered at ringside to should obscenities at referee Berrocal and, in his absence, at Hagler. It was a shameful degrading spectacle.” – Harry Mullan **** The Reaction “It was beyond any words I can conjure to describe the dangerous moments when a British crowd let themselves, their country, and above all, their hero down in an utterly shameful manner.” – Alan Hoby, Sunday Express “Marvin Hagler, the new champion, the sort of man who normally needs bodyguards about as much as a tiger needs false teeth, had to be smuggled away like a criminal from the scene of his triumph… It cannot be stressed too strongly that Hagler had been Minter’s master throughout the seven minutes and 45 seconds it lasted and deserved the right to take a bow.” – Frank McGhee, Daily Mirror “Marvin never got the chance to have the world championship belt strapped on him in the ring.

He never got the interviewed for American TV in the ring. He was robbed of his golden moment. – Bob Arum “I want to apologize for everybody in boxing in this country.” – Micky Duff to Hagler “The violence didn’t really bother me. Your cops looked after me well.” – Marvin Hagler “It was me that stopped the fight. The cut over his left eye was flapping open – one more punch on it and he could have been permanently disfigured. Alan’s face let him down last night – apart from that the fight proved nothing.” – Doug Bidwell, Daily Mirror “If he didn’t get cut, it would’ve been real bad. He would’ve gotten knocked out. I don’t think he wanted to keep going. Not only was he cut, but just before the referee stepped in, he was hurt with a shot. He was almost going.” – Vito Antuofermo, KO Magazine “I made him look better than he is. I’d planned not to get involved for six rounds, but when I was cut so early, I panicked a little bit.” – Alan Minter, Sunday Express “All the needle built up beforehand must have had a reverse effect.

It seemed to have got to Minter – but not my man.” – Goody Petronelli, Boston Herald “I done it all wrong. But it’s all I can do. Maybe if I never had been cut in my life, I wouldn’t have started attacking, but I know what happens with cuts. I had to get going.” – Alan Minter, Boston Globe “That’s Alan. When he gets hurt, he reverts to what he is, a fight-it-out-guy.” – Doug Bidwell, Boston Globe “I’ll fight him again.” – Minter, Daily Mirror “Even though there are no return clauses in the contracts, to deny Alan a chance to win back the title would be wrong.” – Bob Arum, Daily Mirror “He can have a return – if he really wants it.” – Marvin Hagler, Sunday Express “…it would be the same the next time – if there is a next time, which I doubt.” – David Miller, Express, Sep 29 **** In Closing… “We all know that in that moment of shattering humiliation in the third round at Wembley on Saturday night, Minter lost his world middleweight title.

What may not have sunk in yet is the realisation that British Boxing lost something even more precious and far more permanent than a championship. The sport sacrificed its proudest claim built up over 100 years for decency, dignity and sportsmanship in defeat.” – Frank McGhee, Daily Mirror “It was just beautiful. It is the end of a dream. All of the roadwork, all of the boxing, all of the tough time . . . they all have paid off. I had a dream and this was it.” – Marvin Hagler “It seems quite likely that Minter’s days of trumpets and banners are over.” – Clive Gammon, Sports Illustrated Looking Back… “I was cut in the first round, the second and the third. I couldn’t avoid the man.

I don’t think that at any time in my life, or in my career, no matter what I decided my tactics would be, there was no way that Alan Minter would ever have beaten Marvin Hagler, and that’s a fact.” – Alan Minter, Sweet Fighting Man (2002) **** Alan Minter ' World Middleweight Champion ' Boxing Signed Photograph Autograph Hover to Zoom or Click to Enlarge Alan Minter ' World Middleweight Champion ' Boxing Signed Photograph Autograph £35.00 This is an In Person Signed Colour 10" x 8" Photo of the Former Undisputed World Middleweight Boxing Champion and Olympic Bronze medalist in 1972. Alan Minter (born 17 August 1951 in Crawley, England) is a retired English professional boxer and a former World Middleweight Champion.

Quantity: Ken Mills, Writestuff Autographs, Rooms 9 and 10, Ironworks House, Warton Road, Carnforth, Lancs, LA5 9EX, England, UK Tel:01524 736080 Alan Minter Alan Minter Executive summary: English boxing champ Former Undisputed World Middleweight Boxing Champion. Son: Ross Minter Proudly Presenting Alan Minter Boxing Fights on Boxing DVDs. Boxing Fight Record: won 39 (KO 23) & lost 9 Boxing Fights History of Alan Alan Minter Boxing Career Set Alan Minter Career Set won five boxing fights in a row by knockout and, in 1973, Pat Dwyer became the first boxer to go the distance with him, over eight rounds. Alan Minter won his next five boxing fights, three by knockout, before tasting defeat for the first time after the referee stopped the fight in the eighth round to King George Aido due to bad cuts suffered by Alan Minter. Two more wins followed before facing Jan Magziarz, who beat him twice in a row again due to cuts.

1974 was a diverse year for Alan Minter, defeating Tony Byrne by a result in eight, losing in two to Ricky Torres again on cuts, having a third fight with Magziarz result in a no boxing fight in four rounds and closing the year with a win in eight rounds by result in his first worldwide fight, against Shako Mamba in Hamburg, Germany.In 1975, he won four fights in a row, including another boxing bout in Hamburg and, by the end of the year, he challenged Kevin Finnegan for the British boxing Middleweight title, captivating it by a 15 round decision. In 1976 he won six fights, to extend his streak to ten successive wins.These wins gave Alan Minter a status among the top ten boxing Middleweight challengers. In 1977, he won the European boxing Middleweight title by beating Germano Valsecchi by a knockout in five in Italy. But in his next boxing fight his winning line ended when he lost to former world title challenger Ronnie Harris by a knockout in eight.

Alan Minter returned to top ten contender status by upsetting the former World Welterweight and Light Middleweight Champion Emile Griffith with a ten round decision win in Monte Carlo, but then he lost his European title to Gratien Tonna by a knockout in eight at Milan. He closed '77 with a third 15 round decision win over Finnegan to retain his British title. 1978 was a bad year for Alan Minter, even though he won all three of his boxing bouts. On 15 February, at the Muhammad Ali vs Leon Spinks I undercard in Las Vegas, Nevada, he won his first bout in the United States by knocking out Sandy Torres in five. Then, he went to Italy once once more to get back his European Middleweight title by knocking out Angelo Jacopucci in twelve rounds. Jacopucci died a few days afterwards, due to injuries sustained in the bout. Alan Minter completed his year by avenging his loss to Tonna with a six round boxing knockout. In 1979, Alan Minter won all four of his boxing fights, two of them by knockout.

On 16 March 1980, in Las Vegas, he was given a attempt at World Middleweight Boxing Champion Vito Antuofermo's title at the Caesars Palace. He won the title by a 15 round result and, in a rematch, he retained the world title by a TKO in eight rounds. Alan Minter's run as world boxing champion came to an end on 27 September of that year, when he was stopped on cuts in three rounds to Marvin Hagler at Wembley Arena in London. After the fight was stopped, Alan Minter's followers caused a riot, throwing beer cans into the boxing ring and both boxers had to be ushered away by the police. Earlier to the fight, Alan Minter made the obviously racist statement on the BBC that, "that black man is not going to take my title away." He later retracted this statement and said he meant "no man" is going to take my title away. Alan Minter Honoured. - BoxRec Alan Minter Honoured. Post by KOJOE90 » 27 Sep 2006, 12:48 From icsurreyonline.

FORMER undisputed world middleweight boxing champion Alan Minter has spoken of his pride at being awarded the boxing world's most prestigious honour, the Ring Belt. It is given only to undisputed world champions and has taken several decades to be presented after Minter's career finished in 1981. Owners include the likes of an elite group of boxing legends such as Rocky Marciano, Muhammad Ali, Marvin Hagler, Roberto Duran and Sugar Ray Leonard. The Ring Belt was produced around 50 years ago, but organisers stopped handing out such awards officially more than a decade ago. The memento will sit alongside Minter's Lonsdale Belt, which he earned domestically, with the other award having been presented by The Ring magazine, which is the American boxing bible. Minter, 55, who was brought up in Crawley, but has spent the past 15 years in Reigate, received the Ring Belt unexpectedly at a Sir Henry Cooper golf day in Muswell Hill where he had turned up to present the prizes. When Minter's son Ross, English welterweight champion, turned up out of the blue his father became suspicious, with the secret of the presentation having been kept for six weeks.

He soon had the honour lauded on him "This is Your Life" style. He admitted: "The Ring Belt is out of this world and I could not believe it when it was given to me. "It was a complete shock to the system and it was just like winning the world championship all over again. "They don't really make the Ring Belt any more but people were determined to produce this one for me no matter how much it cost." Minter was particularly indebted to golf day sponsors, Speedy Hire tools company and Genset concrete manufacturers for funding the Ring Belt and making it all possible. Minter, who took the WBC and WBA titles, was also crowned European middleweight champion in 1977. He also took the bronze medal at the 1972 Munich Olympic Games before starting his professional career in London. But Minter's run as world champion came to an end on September 27, 1979 when he lost by knockout to Hagler at Wembley Arena. Minter retired at the young age of 29, after 19 years in the ring. He admitted: "I had won everything that there was to win and there was no excitement left for me.

I could not get keyed up for fights any more and I decided that enough was enough." Nowadays Minter commentates on boxing for satellite channel Eurosport and is on the after dinner speaking circuit. And he also spoke with understandable pride about the exciting exploits of his son "Ross The Boss." Paying tribute to his considerable improvement in recent months, Minter admitted: "I can't believe what he has achieved. "The change in Ross has been superb since five fights ago and he has gone from a mediocre fighter to something else." BBC SPORT | BOXING | Ross to be the new boss Monday, 26 March, 2001, 09:40 GMT 10:40 UK Ross to be the new boss Alan Minter (right) at the 1972 Olympic Games By BBC Sport's John Rawling Ricky Hatton may be the headline act at the Wembley Conference Centre on Monday, but the most famous name on the bill is on the undercard. Ross Minter, son of the former undisputed world middleweight champion Alan, makes his professional debut.

The 22-year-old welterweight will take on an experienced Birmingham based journeyman Brian Coleman on what he, and his father, hope will be the first steps towards a career to capture public imagination as Alan's once did. Ross was just two-years-old when Alan won the world title from Vito Antuofermo at Caesar's Palace in 1980. I didn't really know who my dad was, or what he'd done. I just didn't know he was such a big name Ross Minter But he grew up with little personal contact with his father after his parents split up while he was still a small boy. Yet the fighting Minter genes were soon apparent when he walked into a boxing gym with a friend, at the age of 15 and was quickly smitten with the sport. "I didn't really know who my dad was, or what he'd done," the younger Minter said. "I just didn't know he was such a big name. "Then, when I started boxing I would look at the films of my dad and think: 'Wow, he was amazing'." Minter Jnr.

was taken under the wing of his grandfather, Doug Bidwell, the same trainer who had helped guide Alan to the top. But, when Bidwell died of cancer two years ago, it was his father to whom the young fighter turned. "We have become so close, more like friends than father and son," says Ross. "And I realise that we are very similar in many ways. He doesn't interfere in what I am doing, but he's there if I need him." Sometimes, I'm more nervous than he is. It's a big thing, stepping into your first professional fight, but he'll be alright Alan Minter Now 49-years-old, Alan looks fitter than he has for years and the pride in his son is clear for all to see. After years when he was an infrequent visitor to fights, his enthusiasm for boxing has been rekindled and he will be at Wembley to watch Ross. "I find it hard to put into words what I feel. Sometimes, I'm more nervous than he is. It's a big thing, stepping into your first professional fight, but he'll be alright," said Minter Snr. "I enjoyed it as a fighter, but it's a tough game.

I don't want to be putting my spoke in, and I won't be making any assumptions or predictions, except that I think he will do well." As an amateur, Ross had a useful rather than outstanding record suffering seven defeats in 50 fights and narrowly missing out on an international cap. "It was difficult getting into the ring with my name. Everybody wanted to be the one to beat me, more than if I'd been Ross Smith or Jones. "And I think that some of the amateur judges gave me some bad decisions because of who I was. "My grandfather always said I would be better suited to the pro game, so now we'll see.

"I'm under pressure to live up to my father's name, but there are a lot who will be there cheering for me and I think I can give them what they want." Search BBC Sport Online Marvelous Marvin Hagler Former Undisputed Middleweight World Champion 1980 To 1987 And Hall Of Famer Signed Title Trunks || Boxing Memorabilia || Champs UK "THE GREATEST" MUHAMMAD ALI Marvelous Marvin Hagler Former Undisputed Middleweight World Champion 1980 to 1987 And Hall Of Famer SIGNED Title Trunks "Marvelous" Marvin Hagler former undisputed middleweight World champion 1980 to 1987 and Hall Of Famer SIGNED Title trunks. Magnificently displayed and mounted in this one of a kind STUNNING presentation measuring 31" x 37". Courier service available Please view shipping amounts or please contact us for any other enquiries.

Shipping Amount: £ "Marvelous" Marvin Hagler (born Marvin Nathaniel Hagler; May 23, 1954) an American who was Undisputed World Middleweight Champion from 1980 to 1987. Hagler made twelve undisputed title defences and holds the highest KO% of all middleweight champions at 78%. At six years and seven months, his reign as undisputed middleweight champion is the second longest of the last century, behind only Tony Zale. In 1982, annoyed that network announcers often did not refer to him by his nickname, "Marvelous", Hagler legally changed his name to Marvelous Marvin Hagler." Hagler is an inductee of the International Boxing Hall of Fame and the World Boxing Hall of Fame. He was named Fighter of the Decade (1980's) by Boxing Illustrated and twice named Fighter of the Year by Ring Magazine and the Boxing Writers Association of America.

In 2001 and 2004 the Ring named him the 3rd greatest middleweight of all time and in 2002 named him the 17th greatest fighter of the past 80 years. The International Boxing Research Organisation (IBRO) rates Hagler as the sixth-greatest middleweight of all time. Boxrec rates Hagler the sixth-best middleweight of all time. Many analysts and boxing writers consider Hagler to have one of the best "chins" in boxing history. Early Life And Amateur Career Hagler was raised by his mother in Newark, New Jersey's Central Ward. Following the Newark Riots of July 12–17, 1967, in which twenty-six people were killed and $11 million in property damage was caused, including the destruction of the Hagler family's tenement, the Haglers moved to Brockton, Massachusetts. In 1969 Hagler took up boxing after walking into a gym in the town owned by brothers Pat and Goody Petronelli, who became his trainers and managers. In 1973, Hagler became the National AAU 165-pound champion after defeating Atlanta's Terry Dobbs.

Professional Boxing Career - Early Career Hagler was a # 1 ranked middleweight boxer for many years before he could fight for the title. Hagler struggled to find high profile opponents willing to face him in his early years. Joe Frazier told Hagler, 'You have three strikes against you, "You're black, you're a southpaw, and you're good.' He often had to travel to his opponents' hometowns to get fights. His first break came when he was offered on 2 weeks' notice a chance against Willie 'the Worm' Monroe, who was being trained by Frazier. Hagler lost the decision but the fight was close, so Monroe gave him a rematch. This time Hagler knocked out Monroe in 12 rounds. In a third fight, he stopped Monroe in two rounds. Boston promoter Rip Valenti took an interest in Hagler and began bringing in top ranked opponents for Hagler to face. He fought 1972 Olympics gold medalist Sugar Ray Seales; Hagler won the first time, the second was a draw and Hagler knocked out Seales in the third fight. Number 1 ranked Mike Colbert was knocked out in the twelfth and also had his jaw broken by Hagler.

Briton Kevin Finnegan was stopped in eight. Afterwards Finnegan required 40 stitches in his face. He dropped a controversial decision to Bobby 'Boogaloo' Watts, but knocked out Watts in 2 rounds in a rematch. Hagler won a ten-round decision over 'Bad' Bennie Briscoe. By then, promoter Bob Arum took notice and signed him. First Title Shot In November 1979, Hagler fought World Middleweight Champion Vito Antuofermo at Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas, Nevada. After fifteen rounds, most thought that Hagler had won. Referee Mills Lane directed Hagler to turn and face the television cameras. "Congratulations," he said. "Now stay facing this way until they announce the decision and I raise your arm." Hagler and many others were surprised when the decision was announced as a draw and Antuofermo retained his title. This only added to Hagler's frustrations. Hagler had the boxing skills and killer instinct to knock Vito out, but instead he played it safe and it cost him the title. World Champion Antuofermo lost his title later to British boxer Alan Minter, who gave Hagler his second title shot.

Hagler went to Wembley Arena to face Minter. The tense atmosphere was stoked further when Minter was quoted as saying that "No black man is going to take my title". Minter would later insist he meant "that black man". Hagler took command and his slashing punches soon opened up the cut prone Minter. The referee halted the contest after 3 rounds. After 7 years and 50 fights, Hagler was now World Middleweight Champion. At the conclusion of this bout a riot broke out and Hagler and his trainers had to be carried away to their locker rooms by the police, in the middle of a rain of beer bottles and glasses. Hagler proved a busy World champion. He defeated future World champion Fulgencio Obelmejias of Venezuela by a knockout in eight rounds and then former World champ Antuofermo in a rematch by TKO in four rounds. Both matches were fought at the Boston Garden near Hagler's hometown, endearing him to Boston fight fans.

Syrian born Mustafa Hamsho, who won his shot in an eliminator with Wilfredo Benitez and would later defeat future World champion Bobby Czyz, became Hagler's next challenger, put up a lot of resistance but was finally beaten in 11 tough rounds. Michigan fighter William "Caveman" Lee lasted only one round, and in a rematch in Italy, Obelmejias lasted five rounds. British Champion (and mutual Alan Minter conqueror) Tony Sibson followed in Hagler's ever-growing list of unsuccessful challengers. Sibson provided one of the most entertaining (to this point) fights of Marvelous Marvin's career, but he ultimately fell short, lasting six rounds. Next, came Wilford Scypion, who only lasted four. By then, Hagler was a staple on HBO, the Pay Per View of its time. Marvin Hagler vs Roberto Durán A fight against Roberto Durán followed. Durán was the first challenger to last the distance with Hagler in a World-championship bout. Durán was the WBA Light Middleweight Champion and went up in weight to challenge for Hagler's middleweight crown.

Hagler won a unanimous 15-round decision, although after 12 rounds two of the judges had Durán ahead in a tough contest. Hagler fought tenaciously over the final three rounds to earn a unanimous decision. More Title Defences Then came Juan Roldán of Argentina, who became the only man to be credited with a knockdown of Hagler, scoring one knockdown seconds into the fight. Hagler protested bitterly that he had been pulled / pushed to the canvas and HBO replay clearly showed that he had indeed been pulled down. Hagler took his revenge though, brutalizing Roldan over ten rounds and stopping him in the middle of round ten. Sugar Ray Leonard was calling the fight ringside with HBO analyst Barry Tompkins. He noted to Tompkins between rounds that Hagler looked older and slower. "Marvin might finally be slowing down, Barry" Leonard remarked. Many people believe this is the fight that gave Sugar Ray Leonard the idea that he could actually win a fight with the aging Hagler. Hamsho was given a rematch, but the Syrian was again TKO'd, this time in only three rounds.

Hamsho angered Hagler with a trio of intentional headbutts in the second round and a fourth early in the third, goading the normally patient and cautious Hagler into a full-out attack that left Hamsho battered and defensless in a matter of seconds. The War On April 15, 1985, Hagler and Thomas Hearns met in what was billed as The Fight; later it would become known as "The War." Hagler, despite a cut to the head and being covered in blood, managed to overpower Hearns in the third round after a glancing right hand followed by two more rights and a left, scoring a decisive knockout. The first round of Hagler vs, Hearns is often considered to be among the best three minutes in boxing in middleweight history as the two fighters stood toe-to-toe trading blows. Rounds two and three couldn't live up to the first, as Hearns broke his hand in the first round, but were still very competitive. The fight only lasted eight minutes but it is rightly regarded as a classic and is considered to this day to be Hagler's greatest achievement. The fight was named "Fight of the Year" by The Ring.

Hagler vs Mugabi Next was Olympic silver medalist John Mugabi of Uganda, who was 26–0 with 26 knockouts and was ranked the number one contender by all three major bodies. The fight was fought on March 10, 1986 as Hagler had hurt his back and could not fight on the first date booked in 1985. Hagler stopped Mugabi in the 11th round of a brutal fight. Many ringside observers, including analyst Gil Clancy, noticed that Hagler was showing signs of advanced ring wear and age. He was much slower of hand and foot and seemed much easier to hit. He had also completely morphed his ring style from a slick, quick-fisted, boxer/puncher to a strictly flat-footed, stalking, slugger to compensate for his loss of speed and reflexes. Hagler was now said to be seriously considering retirement. Hagler's promoter Bob Arum was quoted as saying he was expecting Hagler to retire in the face of being challenged by Sugar Ray Leonard.

Marvin Hagler vs Sugar Ray Leonard The Super Fight Hagler's next challenger was Sugar Ray Leonard, who was returning to the ring after a three-year retirement (having just fought just once in the previous five years.) During the pre-fight negotiations, in return for granting Hagler a larger share of the purse Leonard obtained several conditions which would be crucial to his strategy; a 20 x 20ft ring, 10oz gloves and the fight was to be over 12 not 15 rounds. Leonard was 2 years younger, had half as many fights, and unbeknownst to Hagler, had engaged in several 'real' fights behind closed doors (i.e. gloves, rounds, a referee, judges and no head gear) in order to shake off his ring rust. The fight took place at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas on April 6, 1987. Hagler was the betting favourite. Hagler, a natural southpaw, opened the fight boxing out of an orthodox stance. After the quick and slick Leonard won the first two rounds on all three scorecards, Hagler started the third round as a southpaw.

Hagler did better, though Leonard's superior speed and boxing skill kept him in the fight. But by the fifth, Leonard, who was moving a lot, began to tire and Hagler started to get closer. As he tired Leonard began to clinch with more frequency (in total referee Richard Steele gave him over 30 warnings for holding, although never deducted a point). Hagler buckled Leonard's knees with a right uppercut near the end of the round, which finished with Leonard on the ropes. Hagler continued to score effectively in round six. Leonard, having slowed down, was obliged to fight more and run less. In rounds seven and eight, Hagler's southpaw jab was landing solidly and Leonard's counter flurries were less frequent. Round nine was the most exciting round of the fight. Hagler hurt Leonard with a left cross and pinned him in a corner. Leonard was in trouble, then furiously tried to fight his way out of the corner. The action see-sawed back and forth for the rest of the round, with each man having his moments. Round ten was tame by comparison, as the pace slowed after the furious action of the previous round.

Clearly tiring, Leonard boxed well in the eleventh. Every time Hagler scored, Leonard came back with something flashier, if not as effective. In the final round, Hagler continued to chase Leonard. He hit Leonard with a big left hand and backed him into a corner. Leonard responded with a flurry and danced away with Hagler in pursuit. The fight ended with Hagler and Leonard exchanging along the ropes. Hagler began dancing in celebration of his performance while Leonard alternately collapsed to the canvas and raised both his arms in triumph. Leonard threw 629 punches and landed 306, while Hagler threw 792 and landed 291. Hagler later said that, as the fighters embraced in the ring after the fight, Leonard said to him, "You beat me man". Hagler said after the fight, "He said I beat him and I was so happy". Leonard denied making the statement and claimed he only told Hagler, "You're a great champion". Leonard was announced as winner by split decision, which remains hotly disputed to this day.

Rematch Hagler requested a rematch but Leonard chose to retire again (the third of five high profile retirements announced by Leonard), having said he would do so beforehand. Hagler himself retired from boxing in June 1988, declaring that he was "tired of waiting" for Leonard to grant him a rematch. In 1990, Leonard finally offered Hagler a rematch which reportedly would have earned him $15m, but he declined. By then he had settled down to a new life as an actor in Italy and was now uninterested in boxing. He said "A while ago, yeah, I wanted him so bad, but I'm over that. At the 1994 Consumer Electronics Show Hagler and Leonard had a mock rematch by playing against each other in the video game Boxing Legends of the Ring, and claimed that an actual rematch was being planned. Training Style Hagler had a unique training regimen in which he would hole up on Cape Cod in motels that had closed for the winter. For his "road work" he would take to the pavement in army boots, declaring running shoes "sissy shoes." He would run much of his route backwards to prepare for movements in the boxing ring.

Career After Boxing After the loss to Leonard, Hagler moved to Italy, where he became a well-known star of action films. His roles include a US Marine in the films Indio (it) and Indio 2 (it). In 1996, he starred alongside Giselle Blondet in Virtual Weapon. Hagler has provided boxing commentary for British television. Another foray into the entertainment field includes work in the video game Fight Night: Round 3. Former middleweight southpaw boxer Robbie Sims is Hagler's half brother. Hagler has five children with his first wife, Bertha, including Charelle, Celeste, James, Marvin, Jr., and Gentry. Although he owns a home in Bartlett, New Hampshire, Hagler currently lives in Milan. In May 2000, he married his second wife Kay, an Italian woman, in Pioltello, Italy. Boxing | Sports Speakers and Endorsements Alan Minter Former undisputed World Middleweight Champion boxer. Given the nickname “Boom Boom” for his incredible knock-out record.

Alan Minter turned professional in October 1972 and went on to win the British middleweight title in 1975, adding the European title in 1977. He also won the bronze medal at the 1972 Munich Olympic Games. Alan won five fights in a row by knockout in 1972, and, in the following year, Pat Dwyer became the first boxer to go the distance with him, over eight rounds in London. Minter won his next five fights, three by knockout. In 1975, he won four fights in a row, including another bout in Hamburg, and by the end of the year, he challenged Kevin Finnegan for the British Middleweight title, winning it by a 15 round decision. In 1976 he won six fights, to extend his streak to Continue Reading » Amir Khan Amir is the youngest British Olympic boxing medalist, winning silver at the 2004 Athens Olympics at the age of 17. He is also one of the youngest British world champions ever, winning the WBA Light Welterweight title at age 22.

He began to box competitively at the age of 11, with early honours including three English school titles, three junior ABA titles, and gold at the 2003 Junior Olympics. In early 2004 he won a gold medal at the European Student Championships in Lithuania, and in South Korea several months later he won world junior lightweight title after fighting five times in seven days. Khan qualified for the 2004 Summer Olympics by finishing in first place at the 1st AIBA European 2004 Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Plovdiv, Bulgaria. On 18 July 2009, Khan moved up to the light welterweight division to fight Andreas Kotelnik at the MEN Arena Continue Reading » Audley Harrison MBE Audley won the Super Heavyweight Gold Medal representing Great Britain at the 2000 Olympics in Sydney, Australia, and later became European heavyweight champion after knocking out Michael Sprott in April 2010.

In 2001, Harrison released his autobiography Realising the Dream and set up his own company, A Force Promotions, to manage his career and concluded several high profile sponsorships deals and became the first boxer in Britain to sign a direct broadcast deal. In the 2003 November issue of the Ring Magazine, Harrison was tipped to emulate Lennox Lewis and become a dominant world champion. Audley Harrison also took part in the 2011 series of Strictly Come Dancing. On 15 November 2011, during an interview on BBC Breakfast following his departure from Strictly Come Dancing, Harrison announced that he would return to boxing for one last time. He stated that Continue Reading » Barry Davies MBE Barry is a legendary commentator with one of the most-recognisable voices in Britain. He has covered a wide range of sports in a long career, primarily for the BBC.

Although he is best known for his football commentary, Davies has commentated on numerous other sports, including badminton, beach volleyball, cycling, ice hockey, ice skating, tennis, gymnastics, hockey and athletics, and primarily in the BBC’s Olympics coverage, where he twice (Sydney 2000 and Athens 2004) commentated on the opening and closing ceremonies of the Summer Games. He was also the ‘Voice of the Boat Race’ between 1993 and 2004, until the BBC lost the rights to cover the event, and the presenter of Maestro in the 1980s, a series of interviews with retired sporting legends. About Barry Davies was educated at Cranbrook School—which also numbers commentators Brian Moore and Peter West Continue Reading » Barry McGuigan MBE Barry rose to fame in the 1980s as WBA featherweight boxing champion and a non-sectarian sporting ambassador. He has worked as a Daily Mirror columnist and TV sports commentator, having also been the winner of ITV’s Hells Kitchen reality show in 2007. He won a multitude of titles as a junior.

At the age of just 17 he represented Northern Ireland at the 1978 Commonwealth Games, winning the gold medal, and he also represented Ireland at the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow. As a Professional he won the British, European and World Titles. McGuigan was voted into the World Boxing Hall of Fame in 2000 and the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2005. Barry has also been writing a successful weekly column for the Daily Mirror for over 10 years. He has commentated throughout the world; in the USA for Continue Reading » Chris Eubank Chris is a British boxing legend and a much-loved media personality. His sporting talent and quirky sense of humour have kept him in the limelight for a number of years. Christopher Livingstone Eubanks (later opting to delete the ‘s’ from his surname) was born on 8 August 1966, in South London and spent his early days in Jamaica, from two months old to six years old, when he returned to England. When he was 16 he went to live in New York with his mother. In his spare time he trained at the Jerome Boxing Club.

He won the 1984 Spanish Golden Gloves Tournament and also got to the semi-final stage of the main Golden Gloves tournament at Madison Square Garden at aged 18. Chris won the WBO middleweight title against Nigel Benn (and the odds) in a classic encounter. Continue Reading » Des Lynam OBE Des has hosted television coverage of high profile events for many years. He has presented the popular shows, Grandstand, Match of the Day, Holiday, How Do They Do That? and Countdown. In the late 1960s, he began freelance work in radio, more as a hobby than a job, but it soon became apparent that broadcasting was what he truly wanted to do. His first job was with Radio Brighton in 1968, presenting the Saturday night sports report. He worked for the now defunct Radio Caroline before beginning his BBC career as a boxing commentator, moving on to host ‘Sports Report’ on Radio 2 from 1969 to 1978. Switching to television in 1978, he presented BBC’s Grandstand on Saturdays. It was in 1984, when David Coleman left the BBC, that Lynam truly became the face of BBC Sport.

He also presented Continue Reading » Ed Chamberlin Ed first appeared on Sky Sports in 1999 as the resident bookie stats expert alongside Matthew Lorenzo and Kirsty Gallagher every Friday night on the Sports Centre. From there Ed went on to co-host the betting show The Full SP with Jeff Stelling before joining the Sky Sports News team on a full-time basis. He joined Sky Sports in August 2000 and is now considered one of their elite presenters. Ed regularly presents in the summer when Gillette Soccer Saturday is replaced with Sports Saturday. He also hosts the midweek Soccer Special, and he presented coverage of the UEFA Champions League and the World Cup draws. He has also presented rugby union and athletics on Sky Sports as well as shows like Football First and Goals on Sunday. At the beginning of 2011, Ed took on a role as one Continue Reading » Frank Bruno MBE Frank is not only one of Britain’s greatest-ever boxers, he is also one of its most-loved personalities. His career highlight was winning the World Boxing Council heavyweight championship in 1995, and since leaving the ring he has remained a popular celebrity with the British public.

His image was enhanced by his relationship with the BBC boxing commentator Harry Carpenter, his appearances on the early Comic Relief programmes in the 1980s and his frequent appearances thereafter on television and on stage (in pantomime). He grew up with five siblings in a terraced house in South London, where his parents had settled after moving to England from the Caribbean. Frank Bruno became a professional boxer in 1982, quickly racking up a streak of twenty-one consecutive wins by knockout. This streak caught the attention of international boxing magazines, such as The Ring, KO Magazine, Boxing Illustrated, Ring En Español. During this period Frank defeated Continue Reading » Geoff Shreeves Geoff started as a booker on the long-running football discussion show The Footballers Show presented initially by Richard Keys, and Geoff went on to produce the show. The Footballers’ Football Show was widely regarded as the main football discussion show at the time and featured an impressive cast of over 500 guests during its run including the late Bobby Moore, FA Chief Executive Graham Kelly and Arsenal Chairman David Dein.

As an on-site producer for all live football coverage Geoff became the Match Director’s eyes and ears on the ground for every game, and this was the role he performed until the end of the 1998-1999 season. In 1999 Geoff made the move to reporter alongside Claire Tomlinson on live Premier League and FA Cup coverage for both Sky Sports and Sky Sports News. The deal signing live coverage of Continue Reading » Marvin Hagler Vs Alan Minter - Marvin Hagler Net Worth Marvin Hagler Vs Alan Minter Read more... Marvin Hagler Marvin Hagler Net Worth is $45 Million. Marvin Hagler is an American former boxer with a net worth of $45 million. "Marvelous Marvin Hagler" built his net worth as the undisputed middleweight champion boxer. He was born in Newark, NJ. He is in the. Marvelous Marvin Hagler (bor... Marvin Hagler Net Worth is $45 Million. Marvin Hagler Net Worth is $45 Million. Marvin Hagler is an American former boxer with a net worth of $45 million. "Marvelous Marvin Hagler" built his net worth as the undisputed middleweight champion boxer.

He was born in Newark, NJ. He is in the Marvelous Marvin Hagler is a retired American professional boxer who was Undisputed World Middleweight Champion from 1980 to 1987. Hagler made twelve undisputed title defenses and holds the highest KO% of all middleweight champions at 78%. At six years and seven months, his reign as undisputed middleweight champion is the second longest of the last century, behind only Tony Zale . In 1982, annoyed that network announcers often did not refer to him by his nickname, "Marvelous," Hagler legally changed his name to Marvelous Marvin Hagler." Hagler is an inductee of the International Boxing Hall of Fame and the World Boxing Hall of Fame. He was named Fighter of the Decade by Boxing Illustrated and twice named Fighter of the Year by Ring Magazine and the Boxing Writers Association of America. In 2001 and 2004 the Ring named him the 4th greatest middleweigh...

Question: Alan Minter was undisputed World boxing champion at which weight?
Answer: MIDDLEWEIGHT