Willie "The Worm" Monroe (June 5, 1946 - June 22, 2019)[2] was a middleweight boxer who competed from 1969 to 1981. He was most notable for defeating Marvelous Marvin Hagler in 1976 before Hagler went on an eleven year undefeated streak.[3]
Monroe received his nickname "the Worm" for his slippery fighting style from Yank Durham.[4] He died on Saturday, June 22, 2019, after complications with Alzheimers.[3]
He was inducted into the Pennsylvania boxing hall of fame in 1990 [5] and is the great uncle of American boxer Willie Monroe Jr.[4]
Monroe was born in Alabama as the 13th of 17 children and spent his early years in Crestview, Florida.[3] He started boxing in Rochester, New York where he claimed an undefeated 43-0 amateur record.[4] He arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in the autumn of 1969 to train for his pro-debut.[6]
Monroe started his professional career with a perfect record of 20-0 before being stopped in a controversial split decision against Max Cohen.[7]
A string of mixed results would follow with a notable win over Eugene Hart and losses to Alvin Philipps and Bobby Watts.[6]
Monroe would go on to defeat Marvelous Marvin Hagler on March 9, 1976 in decisive fashion. Unfortunately no footage of the fight exists as a snowstorm in the area prevented filming.[6]Two rematches would follow which were both won by technical knockout by Hagler [8]