I was interested to know if Marvin planned the Leonard fight as being his last even if he won or if he would have continued for a few more years and made more defenses? I assume if he had got the decision it would have been close enough for a rematch? But I can't imagine there were many other matches that would have been attractive to Hagler, part from maybe a return with Hearns?
Possibly a rematch with Hearns ? But I don't think any other fight would've appealed to him. I think personally he would've retired unless a rematch with Leonard, Hearns, happened. There was also fighters coming up the ranks aswell like Kalambay, Nunn, Graham, that would of been tough match ups for him. I think it would've been wise for him to retire regardless if he won the Leonard fight or not.
I think he'd have carried on to try to beat Monzon's record, which would have been 2 more fights. One with someone like Frank Tate then a rematch with Leonard (or Tommy).
I think so. He was such a proud man, but was willing to drop belts for that fight….it was only the WBC at stake at the end of the day. I always felt that he just wanted the final big payday at that point. I also think he massively underestimated Leonard, from all the concessions in negotiations through to his Michael Myers impression in the first few rounds. Sure, he was past his best, but he was just showing disdain in the ring that night. He clearly thought (as did most pundits) that he was getting an easy retirement gift against a faded, blown up welterweight who was going to fall over in six rounds. I’d have been very surprised if he could get motivated for another fight after that.
Most likely. No reason to stick around to fight Hearns, like many thought. Tommy gave it all in the first fight.
I think that if Marvelous Marvin had defeated Sugar Ray Leonard on April 6 1987, defending his title sanctioned only by the WBC, he would have fought two more times, Hagler would have tied Carlos Monzon's record of 14 title defenses, then one more title defense to break the record at 15.
I think we are then getting into Larry Holmes territory where by to reach the record he probably would have needed to be carefully matched as there were some dangerous younger fighters on the horizon. I can't really imagine Marvin deliberately going after an easy fight (unlike Larry)! Even if he did fight someone like Frank Tate or Herol Graham, rather than Michael Nunn or Kalambay, it could have blown up in his face as Spinks did with Holmes.
Yes, he would have. He was going to retire anyway. He had had enough of the grind and even told Leonard this when Lennie gauged his mindset as he invited Marv to the opening of his restaurant in Maryland for that purpose. He was finished and Leonard knew it. When Leonard decided to finally challenge Hagler, it took Marv awhile to accept. I guess the lure of the big payment was too much for Marvin to turn down.
This^ Marvin had reached the end of the road against Mugabi. I think he'd already accepted the idea of not breaking Monzon's record. One could argue that getting the nod against Leonard might have inspired Hagler to soldier on, but what was out there to match the showcase that had been The Super Fight? Nah - he'd have moved on and been happy to, IMHO.
