It was Sept. 27, 1980 when the Brockton-based Hagler stopped Alan Minter in three rounds in London for the world middleweight title.

The wedding reception on an autumn Saturday afternoon was winding down, and just about all that remained was the last dance.

With a few minutes before that was to take place, though, the groom – that would be me – heard a commotion in the next room. An investigation just had to be done, so I slipped out of the function hall at the former Riverside Restaurant in Middleboro and saw an enthusiastic crowd gathered around a television.

The world middleweight championship fight from London was being shown on the Wide World of Sports, and the state of Massachusetts had a strong rooting interest on that day 40 years ago this weekend

Marvelous Marvin Hagler of Brockton was going against champion Alan Minter on his home turf of England on Sept. 27, 1980.

I had gotten to know Hagler while working at The Patriot Ledger in college, covering some of his fights at the old Roseland Ballroom in Taunton and in Providence.

By the time I arrived at the TV that day 40 years ago, it was already the third round and Minter was in trouble, suffering cuts to the face in a bout that was being dominated by Hagler.

It ended 1:45 into that third round with Hagler joining heavyweight Rocky Marciano as a world champion from Brockton.

Eleven months later, I began working in the sports department of The Enterprise and in 1982, I started covering Hagler on a full-time basis, traveling to Italy, Las Vegas (five times), Atlantic City and New York City during his championship reign.

At some point along the way, we were talking about the wild scene in London when he won the title, only to have a number of unruly fans in a crowd of 10,000 toss bottles and cans into the ring after Minter lost, preventing Hagler from having a proper celebration.

I told Hagler my story of watching the end of the fight as my wedding reception was nearing the ned, and he got a good laugh out of that one, especially when I thanked him for putting an end to the bout so quickly.

“I’m glad to help,’’ Hagler told me, “but that fight wasn’t going to last very long no matter what.’’

Indeed, it was Hagler’s second attempt to win the title, the first bid ending in frustration, and he was determined not to be denied on that trip to England four decades ago.

Less than a year earlier, Hagler and champion Vito Antuofermo fought to a draw at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, and that result on Nov. 30, 1979 had left him angry.

Hagler got right back in the ring and won three fights in the first five months of 1980, defeating Loucif Hamani, Bobby Watts and Marcos Geraldo.

In the meantime, Antuofermo had lost his crown to Minter, so Hagler found himself overseas chasing the title against the champion from Great Britain.

Hagler was in control throughout, opening three cuts on Minter’s face in the very round and the onslaught continued from there. Referee Carlos Berrocal stopped the bout with 1:15 remaining in the third round.

Under normal circumstances, Hagler would have been feted in the ring, complete with an interview by Howard Cosell, who was the announcer for the ABC that day. And he didn’t even receive the belts at the arena because of the dangerous situation the crowd had created.

The Enterprise had sports writer Frank Stoddard on the scene at Wembley Arena to chronicle Hagler’s championship-winning performance.

“I’m just grateful to be champion of the world,’’ Hagler told reporters when asked about the celebration being spoiled. “That sounds good to me.

“It was just beautiful. It is the end of a dream. I had a dream and this was it.’’

Hagler’s victory came in the 54th fight of his career and improved his record to 50-2-2.

He kept piling up the wins but was always stymied when it came to fighting for the title, then had the disputed draw with Antuofermo in 1979.

When Hagler got his second shot at winning the championship, he was not leaving anything up to the judges, especially fighting on the home turf of the champion.

“I brought my own two judges with me,’’ said Hagler, raising his fists.

Minter fought only three more times after losing to Hagler, going 1-2, and retired a year after losing his championship bout. Minter died of cancer at the age of 69 less than three weeks ago.

After winning the title from Antuofermo on March 16, 1980 and defeating him again three months later, Minter’s strategy was to go after Hagler in the first round, but it backfired.

Minter was no match for the aggressiveness that Hagler responded with and was never a threat.

“If I’m his trainer, that’s exactly how I’d tell him not to fight,’’ Hagler’s co-manager Goody Petronelli told reporters. “He can’t come at Marvin like that.’’

As fans erupted and threw the bottles and glasses and whatever else they could get their hands on towards the ring, it was a scary scene.

Several people, including Petronelli and his brother, Pat, and Hagler’s brother, Robbie Sims, formed a circle to protect Hagler as he was kneeling on the canvas and they eventually made their way through the crowd and into the locker room where a celebration took place.

The limousine that was to bring Hagler back to his hotel was reportedly damaged as it sat outside the arena and security was tight and he was well protected while being escorted out.

“I came here to fight someone who was a natural hero,’’ Hagler told reporters. “I never wanted to be an American hero or anything like that. I wanted to be a champion of the world and that’s what I am.’’

Forty years ago, he became the champion and defended the crown 12 times before losing a controversial decision to Sugar Ray Leonard in 1987.

He took care of Minter in a hurry on Sept. 27, 1980, and that last dance at the wedding with my wife, Sue, took place at its scheduled time.

Jim Fenton may be reached at jfenton@enterprisenews.com. Follow him on Twitter at @JFenton_ent.