Brian Hughes - Marvelous: The Marvin Hagler Story

First published by Pitch Publishing, 2013

Pitch Publishing

A2 Yeoman Gate

Yeoman Way

Durrington

BN13 3QZ

www.pitchpublishing.co.uk

Brian Hughes and Damian Hughes, 2013

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Brian Hughes was born and raised in Collyhurst, Manchester. He attended St. Patricks School in Collyhurst, the playground of former world champion boxer, Jackie Brown and future United heroes, Nobby Stiles, Brian Kidd and Carlo Sartori.

Hughes was a keen amateur boxer, who founded the Collyhurst Lads Club in 1964. Within two years of opening, the club had won the first of over 30 National Schoolboy titles, National Junior ABA titles, England Schoolboy Internationals, Junior England Internationals, Senior champions and internationals. The Daily Mirror dubbed him, the Pied Piper of Collyhurst for the positive impact he had on the young people in the area.

During this time, Hughes was mentored by Sir Matt Busbys assistant, Jimmy Murphy, who urged him to forget what the coaching manuals say. Use your own common sense.

In the early 1970s the Collyhurst Lads Club was demolished along with the Collyhurst Flats and the club moved to its present premises in Moston. Hughes achieved even greater success, producing several British, European and World boxing champions, becoming the first Manchester man to achieve the honour since Jack Bates in 1930s.

During this time, Hughes has authored over a dozen books, which have helped to raise money for his voluntary-run club. These biographies have included United greats, such as Tommy Taylor, Dennis Viollet, Denis Law and his old mentor, Jimmy Murphy.

In the Millennium honours list, Hughes was awarded an MBE for services to the community. In 2012 he was given the award for the Outstanding Contribution to British Boxing.

Professor Damian Hughes is the author of six best-selling books, including Liquid Thinking, Liquid Leadership and How to Change Absolutely Anything, as well the founder of the LiquidThinker Company which takes the psychological methods used by great achievers and shows, in easy steps, how you can adopt them into your own life and business.

He works as a change management consultant and sports psychologist for Sale Sharks, Warrington Wolves, England and GB Rugby League team.

He also runs a Manchester inner-city youth club, Collyhurst and Moston which has helped reduce crime and help many kids find a purpose in their lives from stopping crime to winning Olympic medals. He has also been nominated for the 2007 William Hill Sports book of the year award for Peerless, his biography of boxing great Sugar Ray Robinson. In 2009, he co-authored a critically acclaimed biography of boxing legend, Thomas Hearns in Hitman: the Thomas Hearns Story.

He was appointed as a Professor of Organisational Psychology and Change for Manchester Metropolitan University in September 2010.

His innovative and exciting approach has been praised by Sir Richard Branson, Muhammad Ali, Sir Terry Leahy, Sir Roger Bannister, Tiger Woods, Jonny Wilkinson and Sir Alex Ferguson.

Theres a monster that comes out of me in the ring. I think it goes back to the days when I had nothing. Its hunger. I think thats what the monster is, and its still there.

Marvin Hagler, 1981

W E WOULD both like to acknowledge our respective corner teams, without whom this book would never have been written.

Brian I would like to pay tribute to my wife Rosemarie, my sons Anthony, Damian and Christopher and my daughter Rachael, along with my beautiful grandchildren Joseph, George, Joshua and Rose. You are the best team in the business.

Damian I would like to thank Geraldine, George and Rose for their continued inspiration, encouragement and support in letting me pursue my dreams.

W HEN A boxer steps into a ring, there are a number of different motivations which propel him into action. Some fighters box through inspiration, a passion to push their abilities as far as possible. Other fighters use rationalisation, an understanding that this is what they are best equipped to do. Others, however, box out of desperation, a primal urge to fight their way past an opponent and past the hand that life has dealt them.

As he looked out at the thronging mass of 12,000 British supporters, waving their Union flags and screaming themselves hoarse, aiming their insults and profanities in his direction, Marvin Hagler danced lightly on his toes and remained sphinx-like in his demeanour, yet inside, the Monster that lives inside me, as Hagler had explained it, absorbed it all. It stored up all grudges and slights, perceived or otherwise, as a primal fury, ready to explode.

There was a buzz of expectation. There is something special about a world championship fight. As the Wembley Arena arc lights were dimmed the spotlight searched for the lone figure of Alan Minter, the undisputed world middleweight champion, who had begun to snake his way towards the ring. He was flanked by Doug Bidwell, his manager, Kevin, Bidwells son and Bobby Neil. The crowd, many with National Front leanings, carried him along on a wave of unabashed patriotic fervour. Dancing alone in the ring, Hagler remained impassive to the blanket of noise and hatred which remained unabated even when the Panamanian referee Carlos Berrocal beckoned both men towards the centre of the apron to administer his final instructions as the huge partisan crowd awaited for the opening bell to ring.

While he spoke, Hagler returned the fierce glare of his foe. His monster gathered together the fuel to drive him on towards his destiny of the undisputed world middleweight championship. The build-up to this fight provided it with plenty of ammunition.

He recalled how when he had arrived on English soil, he was met by the British press contingent and plunged into immediate controversy, including being forced to deny that he was a racist.

Peter Moss, a Daily Mail journalist, was among a throng of press men lying in wait at the airport. Moss suggested that, despite wearing a baseball cap, it doesnt hide his image as the ugliest American alive. Hagler incensed the press corps by refusing to sign any autographs or pose for any photographs. His attempts to explain himself, blaming the long flight and a desire to do himself justice when he spoke to them, did not offer any appeasement. Several of the following days reports offered the contrast to truly great fighters, like Muhammad Ali, who have emerged dancing and singing from journeys which are twice the distance. He was also bombarded with questions about his racist instincts.