James Hagler Jr. (3-1, 1KO) has been around boxing his entire life.  His grandfather, “Marvelous” Marvin Hagler, reigned as the undisputed middleweight champion from 1980 through 1987, making 12 successful title defenses of the title against the likes of Thomas Hearns, Roberto Duran, and John “The Beast” Mugabi.  Now it’s James’ turn to carry on the family legacy, and it begins on May 20th at the Park Theater in Cranston, RI.    

While the Marvelous one enjoyed a legendary hall-of-fame career, he unceremoniously retired from boxing after losing a disputed decision to “Sugar” Ray Leonard in 1987.  After the loss, the Brockton native moved to Italy to take up acting, never to be involved in the sport again.  

30 years later, James Hagler Jr. looks to follow in his celebrated grandfather’s footsteps.  However, boxing is not the career that Marvin Hagler would have chosen for his grandson, who he was very close with.  

“My family didn’t want me to box,” recalls Hagler Jr.  “I first learned about boxing when I was 3 years old, but when I started wanting to go to the gym, they told me that my grandfather didn’t want me to box.  He wanted me to focus on football.  He didn’t want any of us going through the boxing politics that he went through his whole career.”

Despite Marvin’s wishes, the sport runs deep in the Hagler family genes, and once James became an adult, he couldn’t ignore the boxing bug any longer and decided to embark on his own fistic career.

“I got started late as far as fighting, but I’ve been learning about boxing my whole life,” explains the 32-year-old.  “I started my amateur career when I was 24.  I had 10 fights: I won 7 and lost 3 from 2015-2019.  I turned pro at the end of 2019, but I lost a whole year because of Covid.”

Hagler has only fought 4 times in 4 years as a professional, but he recently signed a promotional pact with CES Boxing and looks to fight as often as possible.  

“I plan to be fighting in New England a lot,” says Hagler Jr. of his immediate goals.  “I don’t want to move too fast, but in 3 years I’d like to be ready for a title shot.”

Joining the CES Boxing stable under the tutelage of Jimmy Burchfield Sr., the Georgia native can finally get his career on track, and it begins with his light heavyweight bout on May 20th at the Historic Park Theater in Cranston, Rhode Island.  

“I got to New England on May 1st to finish preparing for this fight,” says an excited Hagler Jr., who credits Knuckles Demolition Services for sponsoring him during training camp.  “I’m training out of the same gym where Demetrius ‘Boo Boo’ Andrade trains in Rhode Island.  My weight is good, my stamina is there and I’m improving my skills, so I’m ready to go.  With me and Robert Duran fighting on the same card Saturday night, it’s going to be a great show.”  

James is referring to Robert Duran Jr. (11-3, 8 KOs), the son of the multi-division legend who also recently signed with CES Boxing and will make his CES debut in a junior middleweight bout on Saturday.

“Duran and I are like brothers,” explains James.  “We went through a lot in boxing as far as legacies and people using us, so we talked a lot about our similar experiences and we became close.  Our careers aren’t like Nico Ali’s and Evan Holyfield’s careers.  Ours was a lot harder, so we’re trying to get the right people around us.”

Indeed, James has now experienced some of the boxing politics that his grandfather was hoping he would avoid.  Thankfully, both he and Duran Jr. are making changes to their respective teams early enough in their careers that it’ll make a difference.  

A key part of that effort involved finding a promotional company who would work in their best interest.  Without coordinating, they both chose CES Boxing to guide their careers.  

“We didn’t know that we were signing with CES at the same time,” laughs James.  “It’s crazy – I called him up and told I’m going to sign with Jimmy, and he was like, really?  I’m about to sign with Jimmy.  We signed in the same month.”

With a promoter in tow that is active in the northeast, the Hagler name will once again ring bells across New England.  The question on every boxing fan’s mind will be, however, does James fight anything like his famous grandfather?

“I’m a southpaw and I have a good jab like him, but I just don’t switch stances like he did,” says Hagler Jr.  “My grandfather was more aggressive.  I try to box more.”    

James is also naturally bigger, and while Saturday’s fight takes place at light heavyweight, Hagler Jr. is looking to settle into the super middleweight division going forward.

“I had a year layoff, so that’s why this fight is at light heavyweight,” explains Hagler Jr.  “I see myself fighting at 168.  It’s a very competitive division.  You’ve got Demetrius Andrade, who I look up to and train with, and you also have Canelo, David Benavidez, Caleb Plant.  And then the younger guys like Edgar Berlanga.”

And while Hagler Jr. envisions a future fight against Berlanga at Madison Square Garden, he views a showdown against the grandson of another boxing legend as his future super fight.

“My dream fight is to fight Nico Ali,” says Hagler Jr. about the prospect of facing Muhammed Ali’s grandson, who is currently 8-0 (5) and competing in the middleweight division.  “That would be a fight that attracts many people because it would be a legend’s grandson against another legend’s grandson.  I went to his fight in Atlanta and it’s something we talked about”.

While there is plenty of time to plan for those mega events, the countdown begins on May 20th at the Park Theater in Cranston, RI.    

Tickets for the May 20th event featuring James Hagler Jr. and Robert Duran Jr. at the Park Theater in Cranston, Rhode Island are on sale now and can be purchased online at cesfights.com or thepark.com.  The event will be streamed live at SpectationSports.com for those watching at home.For more information, follow CES Boxing on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter at @CESBOXING.

INFORMATION

CES Boxing is one of the top promotions on the east coast.  Founded by Jimmy Burchfield Sr. in 1992, CES has promoted several world class fighters, including Jamaine Ortiz, Juiseppe Cusumano, Hank Lundy, Vinny Paz, Peter Manfredo, Mariusz Wach, Jason Estrada, Matt Godfrey, and Ray Oliveira.  CES Boxing has promoted such superfights as “The Thriller on Triller: Tyson v Jones” and “The Contender: Manfredo v Pemberton”.

Providence, RI – Sons and grandsons of famous professional athletes always deal with the inherent pressure of following in their predecessor’s footsteps. Ken Griffey Jr. did it. So did the Mannings, Peyton and Eli. In boxing, middleweight prospect Nico Ali Walsh is facing the scrutiny that comes with being the grandson of Muhammad Ali. Now, CES Boxing is banking on the relatives of two all-time greats to carry the torch in 2023 and beyond. The world-renowned promotion recently signed long-term deals with southpaw light heavyweight James Hagler Jr., the grandson of the late “Marvelous” Marvin Hagler, and super welterweight Alcibiade Duran – a.k.a. Robert Duran Jr. – the son of “Hands of Stone” Roberto Duran. Despite taking different journeys to reach their current destination, the two are now fighting under the watchful eye of promoter Jimmy Burchfield Sr. and will make their promotional debut May 20, 2023 at the Historic Park Theatre & Event Center – 40 years since Hagler’s grandfather fought Duran’s father at Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas for the IBF, WBA, and WBC world middleweight titles. “This is an exciting time for our promotion,” Burchfield said. “Boxing has evolved in many ways since the pandemic and building champions is more important than ever. There are no greater bloodlines in professional boxing than the Haglers and Durans. Marvin Hagler and Roberto Duran are two of the best to ever lace up the gloves and I’m excited to see what the next generation can accomplish beginning on May 20.” Hagler (@jameshaglerjr), 32, is the son of James Hagler Sr., the president of the American Boxing Association, whose father established a legacy as one the hardest-hitting middleweights of all time. Marvin Hagler, a Brockton, MA, native, finished his illustrious 62 wins – a staggering 52 by knockout – and holds the record for the highest knockout percentage among all undisputed middleweight champions (78) in addition to the longest undisputed championship reign of the last century, which lasted six years and seven months. Duran (@robert.duranjr), 34, is one of Roberto Duran’s eight children, five of whom he fathered with his first wife, Felicidad Iglesias, and three whom he admittedly fathered with three different women outside of his marriage. Robert Duran was born in Miami in 1988, where his father lived and trained frequently during the height of his super welterweight title run in the ‘80s. Roberto is the second of Duran’s sons to box professionally; Roberto Armando Durán Iglesias boxed briefly in the early 2000s and finished his career 5-1. Robert, who also goes by the name Alcibiade Duran Galván after his mother, Natalie Galván, has 14 pro fights under his belt, but little to no contact with his famous father, who held world championships in four weight classes – lightweight, welterweight, super welterweight, and middleweight – fought 119 times until retiring at the age of 50. Like Hagler, Roberto Duran is a member of the International Boxing Hall of Fame and earned notoriety for allegedly muttering “No más” – Spanish for “No more” – in his 1985 loss to Sugar Ray Leonard. Historical anecdotes aside, both up-and-comers are looking to carve their own legacies with CES. Born in Atlanta, Hagler fondly remembers trying on his legendary grandfather’s boxing gloves when he was just four years old, but despite being a self-professed “student of the game” all his life, he grew up playing football, primarily because his grandfather didn’t want anyone else in the family to box. AFTER PLAYING FOOTBALL at Alabama State University, Hagler immediately transitioned to boxing after college and turned pro in 2019 at the age of 29 after just 10 amateur bouts. “At my age felt, I couldn’t fight much as an amateur,” Hagler said, “so I’m still learning each time I step in the ring.” Hagler’s mother is from Roxbury, MA, so New England has always been his second home. He travels between Georgia and Massachusetts to prep for fights, training under Rhode Island’s Mike Veloz when he heads back north. His May 20 fight in Cranston will end a year-long layoff and begin a new chapter under the guidance of CES. Managerial disputes and politics will have kept him out of the ring for exactly 371 days by the time the bell rings May 20, but the time off gave him the opportunity to put his career in perspective. The best advice his late grandfather gave him?: “Be careful who you trust. Get the right people around you.” “I’m starting to see that with my name, I’m a big deal to some people, but they didn’t have my best interests at heart,” Hagler said. “When I ran into Jimmy, I realized there’s a lot more to this game. He’s a great man. We text every week. We’ve built a family relationship, just like my father and grandfather did with [managers Goody and Pat] Petronelli. They were family, and I consider CES my family.” DURAN COMES FROM LEGENDARY roots, but has built his career mostly by himself, only recently getting much-needed help from his wife, Yessenia. He remembers being around the sport most of his life, even training as early as nine years old, but he spent most of his 20s running with the wrong crowds in and out of jail while living in upstate New York until his sister Dalia Duran encouraged him to put his God-given talent to use. “It was only a matter of time,” he said. “I would’ve never made the move were it not for her. Boxing saved me. It saves a lot of lives.” Like James Hagler, Robert Duran turned pro after a handful of amateur fights – five, to be exact – and is now 11-3 with nine knockouts heading into May 20, but the road hasn’t been easy. The Duran name only made things more difficult. Robert admits his father has never been in his corner and they only saw each other every now and then when he was growing up. The two spoke a year and a half ago with Roberto acknowledging his son’s growing career and haven’t talked since. Along the way, Robert trained under Rhode Island legend and longtime Burchfield protégé Vinny Paz, who ironically had two epic battles with his father in 1994 and 1995. Four years later, he finally linked up with Burchfield, whom he says is an “honest man” who has helped alleviate the pressure of trying to build his career on his own. “I worked my ass off for years doing everything I could. I was my own promoter, my own matchmaker – you name it,” Duran said. “God put Jimmy in my path. With the right promotion and guidance, I’m ready to take off.” The clock is ticking as both Hagler and Duran enter their mid-30s, but if boxing has shown us anything it’s that it’s never too late to rewrite one’s story. The next chapter in the journey of two promising fighters looking to carve their own path beginning May 20. For more information, follow CES Boxing on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter at @CESBOXING. INFORMATION CES Boxing is one of the top promotions in the northeast and one of the few to successfully promote both mixed martial arts and professional boxing. Launched in 1992 by longtime boxing judge Jimmy Burchfield Sr., the promotion is the only in professional boxing to boast two reigning WBC Youth world champions in lightweight Jamaine Ortiz and featherweight Irvin Gonzalez. CES Boxing recently teamed with UFC FIGHT PASS, the world’s No. 1 streaming platform for combat sports, to showcase its events to a worldwide audience, and worked as a promotional consultant for the Mike Tyson-Roy Jones Jr. pay-per-view event in November of 2020.

QUINCY, Mass. (October 13, 2022) – Atlanta light heavyweight James “Savage” Hagler, Jr., the grandson of the late, great Marvelous Marvin Hagler, returns to New England to fight Scott “Bombz” Lampert on Thanksgiving Eve (Wednesday, November 23) in the 4-round, co-featured event on the inaugural “Jimmy Farrell Fight Night” card, presented by Granite Chin Promotions” at the Bridgewater Veterans Club in Bridgewater, Massachusetts.

The Pro-Am card will pay tribute to the late Farrell, the highly respected trainer from Quincy (MA), who recently passed away after a long battle with cancer. A share of the proceeds will be donated to Old Colony Hospice.

Hagler (3-1, 1 KO), whose last name is an obvious target, fought for the first time in the Bay State this past May in Dedham (MA), when he defeated Heitor Mangaravitte Senra by way of a 4-round unanimous decision. Bridgewater is only 7 miles from Brockton, where Hall of Famer Hagler lived and fought out of during his marvelous reign.

“Every time I fight,” Hagler, Jr. said, “my opponent is at his best because of my last name. They get bragging rights if they beat me. They get in the spotlight. I make sure I always bring my A game. I’m always fighting my opponents’ best. I’m not going to play with him. I won’t be taking him lightly. He’ll be at this best like all my opponents who know that they can make a name by beating me.

“It’s exciting for me to be fighting so close to Brockton; closer than my last fight in Massachusetts. I call Brockton my second home. I was there a lot as a kid, visiting my grandfather, and I played football for a year at Dean College.”

Hagler’s opponent, Lampert (3-6, 2 KOs), is psyched to fight Hagler, saying,. “I love it! You couldn’t watch his grandfather fight and not be a Hagler fan. I think it’s cool. The only problem is that it’s hard for my family and friends to go watch me fight on Thanksgiving Eve in Bridgewater (Lampert is from Dover Plains, New York.

“It’s going to be bombs away. They call me ‘Bombz’ for a reason. I got my nickname from my original coach, John ‘Bombz’ Carlo. I’m his protégé, but that’s also my style. I’ve also trained at Champ’s Gym in Danbury (CT). I want a dog fight like most of my fights: exciting and violent.”

“This fight has all the components to make for an old-school, high-action 4-round fight,” Granite Chin Promotions president Chris Traietti commented. “Scott brings a ton of pressure, and every punch is his fastball. Hagler looks to be more on the outside and catch guys coming in. It is the kind of fight that could have been scheduled for 3 rounds and it still most likely wouldn’t go the distance. Someone is going to catch someone; I don’t see it ending any other way.”

The main event is a 6-round confrontation between Anthony “The Gentle Savage” Andreozzi (3-2, 1 KOs), of Swansea, and Woburn’s Julien “Black Dragon” Baptiste (4-2, 2 KOs) for the vacant Massachusetts State Welterweight Championship.

Fighting on the pro undercard in 4-round bouts is Brockton heavyweight Kirk Wilmont (1-0, 1 KOs) vs. Aquilla Prote (0-1), and pro-debuting Brockton junior welterweight Stephen Davis faces an opponent to be determined.

Additional pro matches, as well as the amateur portion of the card, will soon be announced.

Card subject to change.

Tickets are priced at $60.00 (floor seats), $40.00 (standing room only), and $400.00 for ringside tables of 4 are available for purchase at  https://granite-chin-promotions.ticketleap.com.

Doors open at 6 p.m. ET, first bout at 7 p.m. ET.

BOSTON (April 12, 2022) – Vertex Promotions returns May 14th with “Mayhem at Mosley’s, featuring the Massachusetts debut of James “Savage” Hagler, the grandson of the late Hall of Famer Marvelous Marvin Hagler, and headlined by undefeated welterweight prospect James “The Slim Reaper” Perella, Saturday night, May 7th at Moseley’s On The Charles in Dedham.

“We’re looking forward to having James fighting less than 20 miles from where his grandfather Marvin Hagler fought out of in Brockton,” Vertex promoter Dave Clark said. “We’re committed to giving local fighters to fight near home and we have three familiar fighters to fans who have attended Vertex shows, as well as three top amateurs making their pro debuts on ‘Mayhem at Moseley’s.’ James Perella is a Vertex favorite and he’s a rising star. We’re continuing to keep local fighters active and giving fans an entertaining night of pro boxing.”

“Savage” Hagler (2-1, 1 KO), fighting out of Atlanta, naturally, is excited to be fighting in the Bay State, where his grandfather Marvelous Marvin fought 35 times as a pro, including world middleweight title defending victories against Tony Sibson, Vito Antuerofermo and Fulgencio Obelmejias, on his way to eventually becoming a Hall of Famer.

“It’s an honor to fight in the same state as my ‘Papa’ fought out of,” James said. “I just want to make sure I destruct and destroy in Hagler fashion.”

Hagler will be in a 4-round super middleweight bout against an opponent to be determined.

Perella action.jpg
(L) James Perella is putting his undefeated record on the line

(picture by Emily Harney/Fightography)

Undefeated Perella (10-0, 7 KOs), fighting out of Mansfield, Massachusetts, is matched against Mexican challenger Edgar “The Tiger” Torres (8-3-1, 4 KOs) in the 8-round main event. A decorated amateur boxer, Perella was a 4-time USA New England Championships and 4-time New England Golden Gloves Champion.

Boston’s Irish boxing fans will be supporting Galway light heavyweight Tommy “The Kid” O’Toole” (3-0, 2 KOs) in the 6-round co-featured event vs. TBA. O’Toole was a 2019 Irish Elite Championship gold medalist.

Dorchester (MA) featherweight Troy Anderson, Jr. (4-0, 2 KOs), a 2016 Rocky Marciano Tournament champion, and Southbridge (MA) super featherweight Alex Rivera (3-0, 2 KOs) are slated to be in separate 6-rounders.

Making their pro debuts in 4-round bouts are Nashua (NH) middleweight Michael Fontanez, a 2-time New England Golden Gloves Champion, Dorchester super welterweight Zachary Fenton, and Boston super lightweight Anthony Cefalo.

Opponents will soon be announced. Card subject to change.

Tickets are on sale for $140.00 (row 2 ringside), $75.00 (general admission) and $50.00 (standing room), available for purchase online at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/mayhem-at-moseleys-51422-tickets-318776066797?aff=ebdssbdestsearch, or by contacting any of the competing fighters to purchase tickets.

Doors will open at 6:30 pm. ET with the first bout scheduled to start at 7:30 p.m. ET.

BOSTON (February 15, 2022) – There are few family names in boxing, especially in New England, as universally revered as Hagler and Roach.

They are part of boxing royalty.

There is a new connection as James Hagler, Jr., the grandson of the late Hall of Famer Marvelous Marvin Hagler, has signed an exclusive managerial contract with Fighter Locker, owned and operated by the nephew of Hall of Fame trainer Freddie Roach, Boston-based Ryan Roach.

The plan is for Roach to have Hagler fight in Massachusetts, ideally in Brockton, the City of Champions in which Hagler as well as another Hall of Famer, Rocky Marciano, fought out of during their professional careers.

“I was looking for a manager and read about Ryan,” Hagler said. “I looked him up online, talked with him, and met him last weekend for the first time. He is not a greedy person. By far, he offered me the best deal I have ever received. He really wants to help me. Ryan’s a cool dude. I feel good about signing with him.

“Fighting someday in Brockton and Boston means a lot to me, because of my grandfather’s background, and that’s one of the reasons I signed with Ryan. My mother and father are from that area, and I still have a lot of family living on both sides living there. I’ll be the third member of the Hagler family to fight in New England, joining my grandfather and uncle (Robbie Simms).”?

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(L-R) – Ryan Roach & James Hagler, Jr.

“I’m excited to be managing James,” Roach commented. “Right away, I was interested in a fighter with the Hagler name. I spoke with James and he’s good kid who is all in. He wants to prove himself on his own and I get that, because I want to make it on my own terms, not my last name.

“We’re excited to get him fighting in New England. We’re going to do great things together. We plan on having him fight in Brockton, hopefully this summer, to bring boxing back to Brockton.”

The 31-year-old Hagler, who fights out of Atlanta, didn’t start boxing until he was 24. Why did he start so late?

“My grandfather didn’t want any of us (in the Hagler family) to box,” James explained. “I wanted to be a boxer since I was 3 or 4. He didn’t want anybody in his family to go through what he did in the Sugar Ray Leonard fight. My father (a boxing promoter in Atlanta) was an amateur boxer who fought in the Olympic Trials. He stopped boxing because my grandfather wouldn’t watch him fight. My father didn’t want to continue fighting.

“There’s a lot of pressure on me fighting because people expect me to be like my grandfather or want me to live up to the Hagler name. I feel good following in my grandfather’s footsteps. When guys fight me, it’s like their championship fight, because they want to say they beat a Hagler for bragging rights. I know that they will always have their best fight against me.”

James (2-1, 1 KO) had a relatively brief amateur career, fighting in Alabama and Georgia, and the southpaw made his pro debut December 14, 2019, in Ohio, when he stopped Michael Widmer in round one. He’s only had two fights since, winning one and losing the other, the latest this past November.

Hagler action.jpg
James Hagler, Jr. in action

Hagler will fight as a super middleweight for now, but he intends to campaign as a middleweight in the same division his legendary grandfather owned for so many years. He does have a dream fight in mind, saying, “I met Muhammad Ali’s grandson (Nico Walsh). I’d love to fight him someday.”

Fighter Locker’s growing stable of gifted boxers also includes California super flyweight Rocco “So Cal Kid” Santomauro (21-1, 6 KOs), New York’s ABF American West super lightweight Ray Jay “The Destroyer” Bermudez (16-0, 11 KOs), Connecticut’s ABF USA super welterweight Jimmy “Quiet Storm” Williams (18-5-2, 6 KOs), Colorado’s ABF American West super middleweight champion “The Amazing” Shawn McCalman (10-0, 6 KOs), Massachusetts super lightweight Adrian “Tonka” Sosa (12-0, 9 KOs), Florida super bantamweight Daniel “The Dedication” Bailey, Jr. (10-0, 5 KOs), Massachusetts featherweight Troy Anderson, Jr. (4-0, 2 KOs), 2-time Brazilian Olympian & 2016 Olympic silver medalist Yuberjen Martinez, Brazilian Olympian Jorge Vivas, 2-time Dominican Olympian, lightweight Leonel de los Santos (5-0, 5 KOs), Dominican cruiserweight Roki “Rocky” Berroa (2-0, 1 KO), Dominican super welterweight Juan Solano Santos (1-0, 1 KO), Dominican featherweight Orlando Perez Zapata (10-0, 8 KOs), Dominican lightweight Isaelin Florian Henriguez (8-1, 4 KOs), Florida light heavyweight Robert Daniels, Jr. (6-0, 5 KOs), Irish light heavyweight Tommy “The Kid” O’Toole (3-0, 2 KOs), Texas super lightweight Miranda “La Alacrana” Reyes (5-1-1, 2 KOs), Massachusetts super featherweight Alex Rivera (3-0, 2 KOs), Kansas brothers, welterweight Marcus (3-0, 3 KOs) and super lightweight Marcell (1-0), and Utah brothers, ABF American West lightweight champion Ignacio Chairez (9-0-1, 5 KOs) and lightweight Gabriel Chairez (4-0-1, 2 KOs).

INFORMATION:

WEBSITE: fighterlocker.com, punch4parkinsons.com

FACEBOOK: /fighterlocker, /jameshaglerjr

TWITTER: @RoachRyan

INSTAGRAM: @RyanRoach82, @JamesHaglerJr

ABOUT FIGHTER LOCKER: Established in 2019, Fighter Locker is a comprehensive sports agency that manages professional boxers. Fighter Locker also helps to brand boxers by finding their voice with a 100-percent customized service. Fighter Locker does not really believe in working models. It believes in partnership optimization models in motion.

Fighter Locker uses four creative steps because it believes in “the foundation is everything”: 1. wisely conceived, 2. creatively restrained, 3. Proudly judged, 4. sharply targeted.