During his stay in Las Vegas leading up to UFC Fight Night 187, welterweight contender Leon Edwards drew inspiration from boxing great Marvin Hagler.
That’s why, when Edwards was notified of Hagler’s death just hours before his main event walkout Saturday at the UFC Apex, he was caught off guard.
“It’s mad, yeah, because all week, since I’ve been to Vegas, all I’ve been posting on my Instagram is Marvin Hagler, Marvin Hagler for some mad reason,” Edwards said at a post-fight news conference. “I had, like, a mad feeling, because I’ve felt that spirit. I’ve been watching him every single day since last Tuesday. Watching him, watching him, watching him.”
This is pretty wild. Leon Edwards’ final Instagram story before his fight was of Marvin Hagler – and it was posted one hour before news of Hagler’s death surfaced. #UFCVegas21 pic.twitter.com/IqTjd5Scf1
— Nolan King (@mma_kings) March 14, 2021
Approximately three hours prior to his fight against Belal Muhammad, Edwards (18-3 MMA, 10-2 UFC) posted an Instagram story of an image of Hagler pointing up to his forehead at the word “WAR” on the front of a red cap he wore. Shortly thereafter, news surfaced the boxing great unexpectedly died at age 66.
“I posted him today,” Edwards said. “Like two hours before he passed away, I posted it. My coach came in, like, ‘Why (are) you posting him? You know he passed away?’ I was like, ‘No, he didn’t. I just posted him.’ … It’s sad really. He’s a legend. I looked up to him. The way he was aggressive. … It’s sad really.”
Hagler, a former middleweight champion, is considered one of the greatest boxers who ever lived, a Hall of Famer known for his “Four Kings” series with Thomas Hearns, Sugar Ray Leonard and Roberto Duran.
Hagler’s April 1985 brawl with Hears was an instant classic. Hagler won by third-round knockout after a frenetic first round that is still considered one of the wildest in boxing history.