Hagler Announces He May Not Fight Anybody : Champion, Stunning Leonard and Hearns, Says He Is Considering Retirement

Marvelous Marvin Hagler, earning top dollar at the top of his sport, surprised the boxing world Wednesday by saying he may retire as undisputed middleweight champion rather than fight Sugar Ray Leonard.

Facing perhaps the biggest payday of his lucrative career, as much as $20 million, if he would fight Leonard, Hagler said his family’s wishes for him to stop fighting and his desire to quit while healthy have led him to think “very seriously” about retiring instead of fighting Leonard or possibly Thomas Hearns.

“I just need a little bit more time” to consider the future, Hagler said during a news conference at which it was thought he would accept Leonard’s challenge.

“My mother, my grandmother and my wife have always been looking forward to the day when I can finally give up the game of boxing,” the 32-year old Hagler said. “I’ve made enough money in the game.”

Goody Petronelli, Hagler’s co-manager, said he hoped a decision would be made within a month. Bob Arum, promoter of all of Hagler’s fights since 1979, said he thinks that the decision will be to retire.

“He’s given a lot to boxing,” Arum said. “It takes a lot out of him in the sense that he has to be away from his family for so long, the training, etc. He may not retire, but my betting after this is that he will.”

Pat Petronelli, Hagler’s other co-manager, said: “He just wants to keep happiness at home. That’s his decision to make--whether he wants the happiness or whether he wants to wipe out Sugar Ray Leonard.”

Leonard, the former welterweight champion who has fought just once in the last 52 months, has said he would come out of retirement only to fight Hagler this year. Leonard’s camp was stunned by Hagler’s announcement.

Mike Trainer, Leonard’s lawyer, said he had spoken Wednesday with his fighter before Hagler’s announcement and discussed the possible options.

“That’s one we never talked about,” Trainer said. “But of course, he never really said he was retiring. So, we are back where we were 60 days ago, when Leonard said he wanted to fight him. He (Hagler) is a sincere man, an honest guy, and we have to take him at his word.”

Emanuel Steward, Hearns’ manager, said in Detroit that Hagler is confused and trying to buy some time.

“It sounds like he’s under a lot of pressure,” said Steward, who added that Hearns was stunned and frustrated by Hagler’s announcement. “It sounds like his family doesn’t want him to fight. Because of the financial rewards, however, I’m sure Bob Arum would like him to fight. I believe the final decision hasn’t been arrived at. It sounds like he had to make some announcement today. I think the real decision will be made in three or four days.”

Hearns has been trying for a rematch since being stopped in the third round by Hagler in April 1985.