Would if Marvelous Marvin Hagler had fought Sugar Ray Lenard in 1982?

Hagler would have broke him down imo in 82.
Marvin at his peak.
Yes Leonard was younger himself but Marvin would have being at his absolute smashing best. Ageing Hagler should have won, prime Hagler makes sure of it.
Leonard gets busted up and stopped in 14.

 

Leonard littlery met with hagler and only when hagler talked about retireing and lost his confidence (not to mention a much longer and tougher career) he took the fight, if that's not waiting a guy out I don't know what is.

 

An earlier version of Hagler beats Leonard. Hell, many people think old man Hagler beat Leonard anyway.

 

Hagler was sharper in '82, but so too was Leonard. Hagler had fought and stopped a young undefeated (25-0, 25 KOs) Mugabi in 11 rounds one year prior, and Hearns the year prior to that (a fight in which Hagler looked invincible). Ray had not fought in 3 years, and only had 1 fight in the last 5 years (a fight in which he got decked). So by that metric, in 1987 Ray was far less sharp than Marvin. However, Ray was 2 years younger (age 30, a month away from 31) and Hagler did have a much longer career (1973 vs. 1977 pro debuts; 34 fights for Ray, 66 for Marvin), though Marvin still was only 32 years old (a month away from 33). Overall, given Ray's paltry activity, and fact that he was moving up in weight, and fact that Hagler had knocked out his last four foes, had not lost a fight since 1976, and worst result was a controversial 1979 draw, had won the title in 1980 and had defended the title successfully 12 times in a row, 11 by KO, some folks today cannot fathom what a huge upset it was for Ray to overcome all of that and put up the performance that he did.

In the final analysis, Ray's speed and footwork always were going to give Hagler problems. However, in '82, the fight would have been 15 rounds, and it would have been even tougher on Ray to deal with that level of strength and relentless attack over the course of that distance. Then again, Duran, a former lightweight, in '83 lasted 15 just by standing there and timing his blows, so anything is possible (and Hagler barely eeked that unanimous decision, though I thought it was wider than the judges had it). Duran hit harder than Leonard and was physically stronger, but Ray was faster and had better footwork, and even at that point, better conditioning than Duran. Ray wasn't exactly feather-fisted either - he had some nice snap and pop to his blows, enough to get respect. So it is possible that it always was going to be a similar fight, and a close decision for Ray.

 

Marvin would have beat him much worse than he did in 87.

 

He did. You can even look it up.

 

Yes I’ve heard the same hearsay story over the years and regardless of weather or not it’s true, it doesn’t erase all of those other factors previously mentioned which by the way are documented

 

Being a big Hearns fan, it's sad that he had to face the monster in Hagler rather that just Hagler,the one that the others faced who was amazing to begin with.He would have Probobly fared better. I wonder how a rematch would have gone with Hearns not breaking his hand..Both fighters that night stepped outside of themselves and it turned into a street fight..Hagler made it all happin.RIP Champ.

 

This wouldn't end well for Leonard. His chin & pride would insure a prolonged beatdown until he finally succumbs in the championship rounds.

 

This thread had been done. I think Hagler by late tko.

 

15 rounds? Leonard gets stopped and he knew it, that's why the fight never happened

 

No decision to dispute in my eyes Hagler won fair in a sleep walking type of fight- but I agree with your point.

 

Now there's a post. It's a difficult fight for both of them. I'd say Hagler would be about an 8-5 fave in the betting.

 

Can somebody educate me and tell/lead me to where Leonard ever even once fought like an ATG at 160+?

Leonard-Hagler is pretty **** poor middleweight, "all time great" stuff.

Hello? Does anybody rank Leonard even top 50 all-time middleweight?
What weight did he fight old man Camacho? 154? I'm not even sure what the weight was when Camacho put a lid on him, but it damn sure couldn't have been 160, where Leonard was nothing but a ghost.

so, we all know: Robinson > Leonard

 

Just a randim thought

Any1 remember sugar ray retirment fight against hector camacho in 97?