Boxer Marvelous Marvin Hagler passed away on March 13, 2021. He had his name legally changed to “Marvelous” after announcers did not refer to his nickname. He was marvelous in the ring and was considered one of the “Four Kings” of his generation of boxers, which included Thomas Hearns, Roberto Durán, and Sugar Ray Leonard. I love the sport of boxing, and it’s taught me some transferrable skills that helped me succeed in law school.
What’s particularly notable about Hagler is his discipline in commitment through his training routine. Some would call it extreme. He would isolate himself in cold hotels and run on the beach in army shoes. Boxers take 8-12 week “training camps” before a fight to prepare. Like many law school exams, all the training and preparation leads up to one day.
There are two main elements of a training camp: the conditioning work and the technical work. The conditioning work consists of doing the workout circuits, running many kilometres, and generally getting your body in shape for a fight. For the law student, the analogy can be drawn to doing the weekly readings, attending lectures, and getting your mind around the legal doctrine. It can be boring, time consuming, and it requires consistency and dedication; for this, it’s best to pace yourself, so you don’t burnout your mind or body.
The second element, the technical work, involves sparring with other boxers and replicating fight conditions. For the law student, this often takes the form of practice exams. So much of boxing is about timing and spotting the right punch. Similarly, law students need to sharpen their eyes to the issues and be able to handle the pressure of exam conditions. It’s hard to do your best under pressure. It’s important to master your craft by really identifying and focusing on your weaknesses.
Marvelous Marvin Hagler has one of the highest knockout percentages and was only knocked down once in a total of 67 fights. Despite his impressive record, I will always look up to Hagler for mental strength, discipline, and work ethic. Rest in peace, king.