Yes and during Haglers first defense against Obel, Sugar Ray Leonard was the commentator . His exact words were fighting as a champion is easier than as the challenger because you have to take the title from the champion
I usually can’t listen to peoples opinions on Leonard here as some absolutely depise his guts and career and the other half is unbiased. Which one are you?
I hate how he was favored by the judges all his career. Watch his fight with Hagler again. You vannot award him the win based on shoe shining at the end of the rounds.
people say Leonard hit harder? Wow. Amusing. For the most part, Ray ran and landed some pretty fast and accurate arm punches. Hagler was the aggressor, not quite as accurate but unquestionably the stronger puncher.
Leonard and Hagler are top 20 pfp ATGs imo. Huge respect for both. I still say Marvin successfully defended his title.
That is an opinion. Ray was more versatile for sure. Hagler's fights with Duran and Leonard provide us with some limitation and a little bitter of robotics, but he was great. With Hearns he just went for it, and that was his greatest fight.