Marvin Hagler was a defensive genius

Hagler is the most complete fighter of all time in the sport of boxing. He had great offense and great defense, which allowed him to fight in two very different styles.

We saw him outbox the best boxers (Leonard, Duran) and outbrawl the best brawlers (Hearns, Minter). What more can you ask for from a boxer?

Golovkin would be in over his head against Hagler. Yes, GGG hits hard, but Halger has the best chin in boxing history, and he would walk through Golovkin just like he walked through Tommy Hearns', and land his own punches which are also very hard.

GGG has beaten Geale, Proksa and Murray, but Hagler is two levels above those guys. Hagler TKO11 Golovkin.

"Marvelous" Marvin Hagler = G.O.A.T.

 

I wouldn't completely dismiss GGG yet as I doubt that we have seen the best of him... And of course GGG today is older than Marvin was when he last fought. That really should not be overlooked too swiftly. That said, based on what we have seen thus far it is not at all unreasonable to pick the iron chinned and hugely talented fighter that prime Marvin was to beat Golovkin. But hey the fact that GGG is even considered a very serious and dangerous foe for Hagler is huge praise for a fighter (GGG) who's prime years may well have been spent as an amateur.

 

I agree with that. I think GGG is fighting in a weak MW era where the best guys (Martinez, Cotto, Alvarez) have avoided him.

GGG came along at the perfect time, after Pavlik and Abraham (who could have walked him down) had left the division. The only guy left who had a good chance to beat him was Dmitry Pirog, who got injured training for his scheduled fight with GGG.

Just imagine if GGG had to fight Thomas Hearns. Does anyone think GGG would walk through those punches that put so many top opponents to sleep? Remember, Hearns won both the MW and LHW titles by stoppage.

GGG has a chance against any MW in history, but of all of them I would bet on Hagler to beat him.

 

:thumbsup

Another excellent post regarding Hagler that even the most argumentative poster would struggle to dispute. I do feel however that Hearns' own vulnerabilities do make his match up with GGG a very difficult one to call. I am not overlooking Tommy breaking his lethal right hand in the first round on Marvins chrome bonce either. I just feel that GGG is very difficult to gauge as we have not seen him severely tested. We know how great Hearns was. And we can accurately assess him because we saw him lose to greats like Leonard and Marvin. I think I must reserve judgement on Gennady-Tommy at this point. But boy what a great fight that would have been!!! I know one thing, The Hitman would not have been looking to dodge GGG! Unlike so many of todays fighters.

 

There's some truth too that..

 

The list of fighters in the history of boxing that would be willing to move up 15lbs to fight a guy on the level of a prime Michael Spinks is very small.

 

As always, you are an idiot. :roflatsch

Waaay over your head.

 

What a coincidence. When he fought his best opponents his skills had already eroded, etc. :? Hagler was pretty overrated, his best wins moved up to fight him. He never moved up, but in this age, people are almost required to by fans.

 

Hagler didn't lose his legs late in his career. He took on his toughest fights late in his career that's why it appears he lost some defense and movement.

He KNEW he had no chance to outbox Hearns. He had to turn it into a war. It's not that he couldn't box in '85. It's that Hearns was a better boxer.

Same with Leonard. Hagler had to come forward and pressure. He couldn't outbox Leonard.

 

Criticising the marvellous one is blasphemy IMO and he more or less walked around the weight he fought at so no need for him to move up.

 

Hagler DID have a superb defense, in the 70s. It was airtight. And he was an excellent counter-puncher then.

 

Hagler's PRE-world championship opposition was 10x that of GGG's opposition to date.

 

This.

I can see why people question GGG's defence but to question his chin is just stupid, guy eats punches and carries on coming forward non stop.

 

Monroe, Watts, Finnegan, Seales and of course Briscoe were all a million light years ahead of any natural middleweight of the last 20 years apart from Hopkins and POSSIBLY Golovkin (yet to be tested by anyone, yet to fight anyone).

 

But they did Roy,James, Bhop ,SRR,Hitman its been done.