If Hagler as we know him came around in the 40s, what would he have achieved? How great could he have been? Let's say he turned pro in 1940, the same year Ezzard Charles and Ray Robinson turned pro.
He would win the title in some point but he would not be as dominant as he was in his own era. If lamotta won the title he would do too
A highly skilled, black southpaw in the 40s? He's not getting anywhere near that title. Guys like Burley, Robinson (pre title) and Marshall all give him issues and possibly beat him, although he gets win over all in series. Moore and Charles stop him at 175, but he probably beats both at 160. Fights with Zivic, LaMotta, Lytell ect; would be great if Hagler complies, I think he'd out box them, though. He'd be in the mix, and probably atop the pile, but Zale's managers ain't letting him fight for the title, and I doubt Robinson's would either.
Moore and Charles vs Hagler at 160 would be fights id wish to see. Burly, Robinson and Marshall could trouble or beat him. However with Robinson if they fought in the 40s, Robinson would be entering the ring as a welterweight, which would give Hagler a definite advantage.
Robi didn`t move up till the 50`s and if he came in as light as a welter Hagler would over power him, do you think Robi weighing 147 could have beaten most 160 champs? You need to strengthen and settle in at the higer weight, Hagler was a killer at 160.
Hagler would have probably been in the mix of the top Middleweights by early-to-mid '40s; getting the better of (but not always) the top fighters of the time, on his way to winning the title by 1948 (unless he could take Graziano out of contention before '46). His toughest adversaries on the way up. with whom I can imagine him splitting multiple bouts with, would likely have been Williams, Lamotta and Cerdan - Lytell and Wade, as well. Zale would be a mare, although I think Hagler would take it and, during his reign, Turpin would have been a danger man, along with the ultimate prize in Robinson. (Sorry to Burley fans, but I think Hagler beats him handily) I do think Hagler beats Robinson at 160 and, unlike Turpin, has the discipline to do even better in the rematch. If he'd gotten past that bunch, there'd have been plenty more hoops for him to jump through. Although I think he might have retired after Robinson II.
We are not talking about mafia,we are talking about boxing and if he could have beaten the opposition from this era.
Assuming he came out on top during the war years, he'd likely be facing Robinson earlier in this speculative career than when he did Leonard in his actual career - a point at which he was probably taking on one fight too many. The Hagler that tore into Hearns would have a very good chance of beating a 160 Robinson.
