It was Sept. 27, 1980 when the Brockton-based Hagler stopped Alan Minter in three rounds in London for the world middleweight title.
The wedding reception on an autumn Saturday afternoon was winding down, and just about all that remained was the last dance.
With a few minutes before that was to take place, though, the groom – that would be me – heard a commotion in the next room. An investigation just had to be done, so I slipped out of the function hall at the former Riverside Restaurant in Middleboro and saw an enthusiastic crowd gathered around a television.
The world middleweight championship fight from London was being shown on the Wide World of Sports, and the state of Massachusetts had a strong rooting interest on that day 40 years ago this weekend
Marvelous Marvin Hagler of Brockton was going against champion Alan Minter on his home turf of England on Sept. 27, 1980.
I had gotten to know Hagler while working at The Patriot Ledger in college, covering some of his…
