Bobby Watts First Fight - Loss Second Fight - TKO 2 Willie Monroe First fight - Loss Second Fight - TKO 12 Third Fight - TKO 2 Kevin Finnigam First fight TKO- 9 Second Fight - TKO 7 Sugar Ray Seals First Fight - UD Second fight- Draw Third fight TKO 1 Vito Antofurmo- First Fight - Draw Second Fight TKO 4 Mustafa Hamsho First fight TKO 11 Second Fight - TKO 3 Fulgencio Obel First Fight TKO 8 Second Fight TKO 4
It’s an interesting observation and there may be some validity to the idea that he indeed was the best in rematches. Joe Louis was also excellent in rematches though clearly doesn’t have as many examples
Azumah Nelson is up there he won alot of his rematches aswell, makes me wonder if he could of won a rematch vs Salvador Sanchez.
I always thought Hagler retired at a weird time, he had 1 or two more big fights left in him. He could of easily beaten Leonard in a rematch, I don't understand why he fought the way he did in their initial bout but he did make it really close. Two more Leonard bouts in his favor would of helped his p4p standing immensely, retiring as lineal champ like Monzon did.
Besides general wear and tear, health and all that he had no reason not to look for some more cash? It’s not like he was clinging to an undefeated record. There were guys out there not named Leonard.
Like Joe Louis and Muhammad Ali - to name two - before him,Marvin clearly learned a lot from opponents whom he met more than once. Re the Leonard fight - you could make a strong case for either man winning a rematch.
After the Hagler/Leonard match, Leonard went and retired again, the following month. Hagler held out for over a year, before officially announcing his own retirement - after which, Leonard announced yet another return (against Lalonde). Hagler was already in steep decline but there wasn't a snowflake's chance in hell of Leonard re-matching Hagler, while Hagler was still capable of delivering a performance, like that he did in April '87. Leonard waited until three years after their first bout, before cranking up the PR machine again in 1990, to tempt Hagler out of retirement. Hagler eventually responded; refusing in typically no-nonsense fashion: "Ray Leonard is wasting my time."
Hagler’s retirement left the fans yearning for more. He could have moved up to light heavy or fought in more title matches. He wasn’t that old and had 1-2 more big fights in him. A re-match with Hearns or Duran would be interesting and a move up to light heavy if he had issues making weight would be fascinating.
Definitely up there but ofc I'd hold him in high regard lol. Joe Louis impressed me more actually but not mad at either assessment.
same here. Hagler would have been hard pressed in going much farther in his own weight and winning a title at 175 at this late stage was out of the question.
This was very much the case and Hagler knew it; even hinting at retirement in the post-fight interview.