Hagler was a boxing ambassador says Potts

LOCAL boxing promoter Buxo Potts remembered former middleweight boxing champion Marvelous Marvin Hagler as an ambassador in the sport and someone who was willing to support youth boxing.

Hagler, one of the most popular boxers in the 1980s, died on Saturday. He was 66.

Potts, in an interview with Newsday, said, “I want to say condolences to his family and to the WBC (World Boxing Council) family. He was a true ambassador to the sport in and out the ring.”

Reflecting on the last time he saw Hagler, Potts said the boxing great wanted to help youth boxing through the WBC. “The last time I met him was at the WBC Convention in 2016 in Ft Lauderdale (in Florida) and he was very excited about assisting me with the youth development programme.”

Potts added, “Marvin carried himself with pride and dignity. His record in the ring speaks for itself. He was one of the toughest middleweight boxers in the history of the sport.”

In a message to other boxers, Potts said, “Carry yourself with dignity so that the youths can have someone to emulate like Mohammed Ali, like Marvin Hagler, like Sugar Ray Leonard. These fellas carried themselves as an ambassador to the sport.”

Potts, who last spoke to Hagler before the covid19 pandemic, fondly remembered the rivalry Hagler had with Tommy "Hitman" Hearns.