Could Marvin Hagler have been a HW champ in the pre-Dempsey era?

There is nothing in Haggler’s record to suggest that he would have been successful even at light

 

He destroyed a future lightheavy champ.

 

i can see him beating the corbett that fitz beat.

 

Tommy Burns had nothing of note above middleweight on his record when he faced Marvin Hart for the alleged championship.
In fact he was coming of a loss to Jack Twin Sullivan.

I like Tommy Burns but who did he beat who'd be favoured over the best middleweights of all-time?

 

Agree here. 25 rounds of clinching and mauling with Johnson bulliing an increasingly tired (and much smaller) Hagler around the ring. He might even stop him.

 

Didn't Hagler appear to not even move up to take on big hitting Michael Spinks at Ltheavy?

 

Yet he survived much bigger foes and went the distance. Bias much?

 

Corbett? He has the size, speed, mobility and skill to bother Hagler.

Johnson? Perhaps as he was KO'd by a super middle, floored by another, and outboxed according to some primary sources by a third.

The other guy I'd mention is Jimmy Braddock.

I don't think Hagler necessary matches up well vs bigger punchers. He declined to move up to light heavyweight for a reason. So a match with Hart, who's not on film, but could punch some and was game as they come might not go his way either.

 

JJohnson would probably grab Hagler and be smiling out at the crowd while Hagler flailed away fruitlessly.

 

i know my salt is obvious , but i need it , it makes food taste good

 

In his own era, He never showed much inclination toe move up to LHW, much less Hw.

 

No.

Just no.

 

I think people are missing a point that you didn't necessarily haven't to "move up to" HW in the era being discussed, to be HW champion.

Middleweight limit was 154 pounds in the 1890s, and raised to 158 pounds. Anyone over that was a heavyweight for most of this era. The early "light-heavyweight title" fights were no indication that a 175 division existed generally, for most of the time no one recognized it at all.

Marvin Hagler was almost certainly quite capable of competing with Jack Root, Marvin Hart and Tommy Burns.
He might have battered them actually.