Hagler v Leonard 1982

It's a pick 'em fight. Can't really say for sure either way. Too bad it didn't happen several years earlier when BOTH guys were better.

 

Hagler would of won this one, there is a reason that Leonard waitied so long to face him.

Leonard could of done this, Leonard could of done that (prime vs prime) then why in the **** didn't he? , he is the father of Floyd, with his picking (thou he was much better than Floyd) , Floyd can sit back and say he would have betten Cotto, M, Pacman, SSM, Zoo etc... but he did not, why?, cause there is a chance that he would lose.

 

Marvin would beat the hell out of Ray en route to a lopsided 15 round decision, the only thing really holding up Ray is his chin.

 

At 147? SRL puts Hagler on his ass. Why the assumption this would be a MW contest? Leonard was a WW, not a MW. Leonard went up to Hagler's weight, would have Hagler have come down to his? I don't think so.

 

This.^

Hagler an ATG, but SRL was even better a few years earlier. SRL just too fast and slick.

 

Agree

 

I think Leonard might win a UD again. He had the style and he was fast. A lot faster than in 1987. He would have come in at 154 or a little higher and moved and won rounds. I mean I could be wrong. Kalule hit Ray a little. so why wouldn't Hagler right? But Ray would have to study Hagler and fight the right fight like he did Duran in the rematch -move laterally and when he stopped flurry and then hold. Being bigger in 1987 helped him to hold and he had some strength to push Hagler back. One of the benefits of waiting was not just to get Hagler old by 1987 was to also learn his style.

 

I'll take Hagler with a competitive UD

 

Ray never would have made the fight, period .. That Hagler, on top of his game would have been way too tough.

 

I would have put a lot of money on Hagler winning in '82.

 

Everyone conveniently seem to forget , Hagler had issues with fighters that didn't come straight at him well before 82'. And the very next year , Duran a fighter most thought was going to get slaughtered outmaneuvered prime Hagler enough to go 15rds and a closer than expected dec loss. Duran the greatest lightweight in history. But at Middleweight wasn't close to the fighter he was at lightweight, or at welterweight TBH. Hagler may have been the greatest Middleweight matador in history. Meaning if you came at him in his prime as most typical Great Middleweight s did in history like Walker or Greb he'd cut them to pieces. But, he demonstrated on multiple occasions if he was forced to lead, he did become, complacent , reluctant. With the exception of the Hearns fight ( A aberration?) He for whatever reason he didn't fight with the same fire. Even the 1st Antefermo fight demonstrated this. I can see based on only what sports writers wrote, fighters like Greb or Walker beating Robinson, or Leonard, but getting taken apart by Hagler, conversely Robinson and Leonard both beating Hagler in a 1st fight situation. I love Hagler, and in my opnion he was the best Middleweight in history, but he demonstrated weaknesses that could be demonstrated by certain smart fighters. I don't believe the Leonard victory in 86 was a aberration. Leonard was very capable of beating Hagler in 82, if he fought smart.

 

No tune-up at MW? Just straight up?

Even so I favour him to do at least what he did when he had had only fight in five years. A tune-up at MW increases his chances.

 

Your interpretation of the Duran fight is quite novel. Props to Duran for lasting the distance but - Hagler "outmaneuvered"? In what way? Just on the strength of Duran lasting the distance?

I'd also be interested to know, which fighters Hagler faced (other than Duran and Leonard), who didn't come straight at him, that Hagler had issues with. I don't see many, if any, other benchmarks from which to assume that a Hagler, much closer to his peak, would have had problems with Leonard in '82.

The best we have to measure from is their bout in '87. But, it should perhaps be borne in mind that Leonard barely achieved the 'W' against a flat-footed '87 version of Hagler, in a fight many think Hagler won. I don't think Leonard could have repeated that performance in '87 and even if he had, there's no guarantee he would have received the nod, as he did on that fateful night.

An '82 version of Hagler is a significantly different prospect. Granted, we'd have a better version of Leonard too but, whereas I can see the difference in advantages that a Hagler in his prime would have, I am not sure I see massive gains for Leonard, who would, in my opinion, more or less deliver on the same strategy as he did in '87.

 

Hagler too big too strong. Plus the 82 version wasnt past his prime like the 87 version.
Leonard cant hurt him and Hagler could box enough with Leonard.

 

Leonard caught Hagler on the slide and still had a hard time.
Leonard watched the Mugabi fight and noticed alot of things.