BROCKTON — If you’re a fan of boxing, Brockton or both, mark June 13 on your calendar.
That’s when the city plans to unveil a new life-size bronze sculpture of Marvelous Marvin Hagler. City officials say it captures Hagler “in an action stance familiar to all of his fans.” The new public art will stand in a small park next to the site of Petronelli’s Gym, where Pat and Goody Petronelli trained champions like Hagler and Kevin McBride. The building has been turned into apartments but the renovation paid homage to the building’s pugilistic heritage.
The city said the sculpture is from Brodin Studios in Minnesota. The company specializes in bronze sculptures and memorials for public safety departments. Local examples include police memorials in Rockland, Fall River and Westport.
Brockton State Rep. Gerry Cassidy (D-9th Plymouth), who is not seeking reelection, secured $150,000 in state funds to build and maintain the statue.
Hagler towers in the city’s vaunted boxing history. His life-size statue won’t be as tall as the one at Brockton High School of Rocky Marciano, the Brockton-raised heavyweight champion. That iconic statue is 22 feet high. It’s considered the world’s tallest statue of a sporting figure. In life, the 5-foot 10 inch Marciano would have had half an inch or so on Hagler. It’s worth noting Hagler would have had about 8 inches of reach on Marciano.
Hagler’s family moved from Newark, New Jersey, to Brockton in the late 1960s. He would go on to a fight record of 62 wins, 3 losses and 2 draws, knocking out 52 of his opponents. He held the middleweight championship of the world from 1980 to 1987.
“This testament to a true hometown sports and community icon will be a permanent monument to one of the greatest champions from our ‘City of Champions,'” said Brockton Mayor Robert F. Sullivan’s Chief of Staff Sydné M. Marrow in an announcement of the unveiling.
Brockton writer Dave Wedge is researching a book on Hagler. If you have personal stories about him, Wedge can be reached at davidmwedge@gmail.com or find him on Facebook. The book is scheduled to come out in spring 2025 via Hamilcar Publications.
Hagler still has family in the area, although his mother, Mae Lang, died in July 2023. Hagler died March 13, 2021, at 66.
Want to go to the unveiling?
Brockton plans to unveil a new, life-size statue of Brockton’s Marvelous Marvin Hagler at 11 a.m., Thursday, June 13, at the new parklet off Petronelli Way downtown, near the corner of Petronelli and Montello.
Send your news tips to reporter Chris Helms by email at CHelms@enterprisenews.com or connect on X at @HelmsNews.
