Sugar Ray Leonard On April 6 1987

Hagler was more than slightly faded, he was very poor on the night. Looked like he was moving through treacle. Leonards win was mostly smoke & mirrors.

 

It was an epitome of Leonard's entire career: catching people at the right moment just when they are unable to make the weight limit, or faded, or reducing them to fighting at a catchweight they do not belong at, or maybe only just faded as in Hagler's case.

Leonard's entire career is smoke n mirros.

 

I think in a one off situation Leonard has a shot against anybody at even 160...I think very highly of SRL. Would be an underdog against the ilk of Monzon, Robinson, Burley...and a decided underdog against Jones Jr. He matched up well with Hagler...but if Hagler was a little younger...and just a bit faster...?

 

Hagler only slightly faded??

He looked shot to bits against Mugabi more than a year before.

 

Hagler was not shot .. he still had huge power, a cast iron chin and terrific stamina .. Marvin was past his best , much slower and hittable .. Ray saw this, know it would be a possibly good match up for him at that point and took the shot .. he also out negotiated Hagler, giving Hagler the bigger purse but in return getting the rings size, the glove size and the distance that suited him in this match up at this time ..

Ray also had a huge psychological edge on Marvin .. he knew deep down Marvin lacked confidence .. we saw it against Vito and against Duran .. he held back .. Ray really did a number on Marvin who started fighting a dumb fight and never was able to catch up .. as far as that Ray as an all time great middleweight, no ..

 

Marvin was definitely past his prime in 1987 but it wasn't exactly prime SRL either. He'd had the long periods of inactivity, drug & alcohol issues, had never fought at middleweight etc. I honestly think if Leonard had gone up to heavyweight in the 80s and become the first person to beat Tyson there'd still be a number of people determined to give him no credit whatsoever for it.

 

Well said. Marvin slowly sailed shots over a wide open and tired Leonard at times, my brother and I both asking was he missing on purpose or suddenly an old fighter. Ray had enough left to edge what remained of Marvelous.

 

Hagler was shot to ****. He knew it. His fault for choosing the money. Hagler was shot. Just watch the fight. He still won though.

 

You must dwell on fantasy island.

He wouldn't have dared to do what you suggest. He would have fought the shot to sh it version of late 90's Tyson ( who I despise ) if the calendar had allowed, and unfortunately people like you would still be falling over themselves to give him false adulation.

The manipulation of the sport to accommodate Leonard's massive ego should make any true boxing fan puke.

This cretin even made ridiculous demands before he was willing to fight a career Lightweight, moving up to Welter, Duran ffs.

 

Well said that man.

Leonard's whole career reminds me of one of those horrendous Hollywood musicals starring Mickey Rooney, and Ginger Rodgers.

Vomit inducing.

The only good parts were when his arrogance was exposed by Duran, Norris, and Camacho.:yep

 

What about the win against Thomas Hearns where was the smoke and mirrors in that one?

 

I`m no Leonard fan but that performance is hard to talk around. RL was a great fighter and he proved it that night.

 

Hagler didn't lose because he was "shot"-- he lost because he fought a dumb fight. His pride and emotions let Leonard outthink and outbox him. A smarter, more composed version of Hagler would have taken a wide decision, even at his age and with that sized ring.

 

Do people make excuses for Benitez too or is it just the Duran and Hagler fanboys who try to make excuses about why their idols fared so poorly against SRL?