Not necessarily the one where he looked the best, but the scalp on his wall that is the best of his wins in defense of his middleweight championship. He looked awesome against Tony Sibson, for instance, but Tony wasn’t his best challenge. One could be tempted to say Thomas Hearns, but the Hitman was a naturally smaller guy moving up in weight. Still, it might be his best, but it’s debatable. Which of his many challengers that he defeated do you consider the best, considering who and what they were at the time? I’m not baiting because I honestly haven’t decided for myself. Make your case.
Has to be Hearns. Hearns was closer to Hagler in natural weight than Duran, and was otherwise the greatest historical fighter Hagler fought other than Leonard. That win moved Hagler into crossover status. Suddenly he was doing commercials and he talk show circuit, unheard of before he fought Hearns.
Hey Sal, long time, mate. I am a massive fan of the Sibbo performance if you recall (I think it is the best display of Marv's multifaceted skillset on film) but I do have to agree. Hearns was a monster, longer, quicker and a bigger puncher than Marv IMO, but Marv showed his chin, his resolve and that he could switch it up and turn absolute warrior when it's on the line. This is the epitome of greatness - now, if I wanted to devils advocate Hearns didn't have the durability to survive the fight that Hags turned it into but Hags had to get there in the first place. This fight is the memory that Hag's legend is highlighted by, not the Obel or the Mugabi or the Minter, Sibbo or the Duran wins. Everyone should remember the vicious, determined warrior that Marvin showed and then be mindful that he could fight in a variety of ways and was a master boxer puncher.
Hearns was a 6'1 future LHW lineal champ and CW titlist. Hearns was 7-0 at 154(traditional MW) going into that fight. Hearns might have started his career at a lower weight class then Hagler and cut more weight but he was a naturally bigger man. Thats the reason the Hearns win is so impressive. If I have to pick another it'd be one of the Hamsho fights as a pair because one was a quick win, one was a dominant win so they compliment each other Hamsho was undefeated below 168 since losing his debut to a guy who went on to beat Jimmy Young. Hamsho beat Benitez and took Czyks 0.
Hearns I'd say. The Hitman wasn't an ATG middleweight, but he was arguably the GOAT at 154, and would go on to win tittles at 168 and 175.
I’d go with Antuofermo 2. Took him apart in four rounds, yet it doesn’t get mentioned much…people talk more about the decision in their first fight.
Sibson if you want the best technical outclassing of a tough challenger Hearns if you want the ‘best’ win. While Hearns was naturally a bit smaller he still towered over Hagler, that balls to the wall Hagler is the one I’d like to have seen against some of the best historic middleweights
Outside Hearns a forgotten underrated defence was against the heavy handed Obel who was 30 - 0 28 ko. Obel went eight rds in 81 when Hagler was arguably at his most dangerous.