Hagler...you can't slap Hagler to a victory he's too rough and will eat 3 slaps to land his shot if need be...
Hagler by KO. At 160 it would be a mismatch as Joe would find it pretty damn hard to make the limit. Marvin is shorter but has the same (slightly longer actually) reach and with his comparatively superior abilities he would beat Joe to the punch and finish him under the distance. At 168, it would take him a couple extra rounds. Joe was a good fighter. Hagler was a great fighter. Joe didn't fight other greats in their prime because he would have lost. Careful and well-considered matchmaking allowed JC to have a long career. If he had had to follow up Eubank with fighters of that level or better he would have never seen 2006.
Not even ****ing close, Hagler all the way Calzaghe is the great white hype if I've ever seen him. Handpicked opponents throughtout his whole career... and of course, people eat that **** up
Boxer versus beast? While Hagler fits the "beast" title more than Calzaghe, Hagler was more of a pure boxer than Calzaghe was. I think Calzaghe has a decent chance though as he'd have a size advantage and you never know how a guy reacts when he moves up in weight. Calzaghe would most likely be a light-heavyweight in Hagler's day under those rules (even if there was a 168 division) back then. If Hagler handles the move up in weight then he should beat Calzaghe, but that's always a question mark.
They fight at SMW. Of course at MW Calzaghe would be drained to death. But Calzaghe wasnt merely a good boxer. Calzaghe was a fantastic boxer. Hagler fighting above his best weight vs Calzaghe fighting in his zone would be a phenominal match up.
Calzaghe has a master boxers footwork, use of angles, conditioning and ability to adjust. However his punch technique is terrible and that is due to his father being his lifelong coach with no previous boxing experience. Joe said in the 24/7 leading up to the Hopkins fight that he learnt by punching poles wrapped with blankets - No wonder he has hand problems! Hagler is my favourite fighter of all time. I can't be anything but biassed toward Marvin.
Good answer coming from a Hagler fan. I pick the fight at SMW as that gives JC the size advantage to match up Hagler's all round devastation.
I'm not much of a Hagler fan actually. I'm indifferent about most fighters, and Hagler falls into that wide category. What makes you think Hagler going to fight with an "all round devastation"?? He rarely fought that way. He usually boxed. He's most likely going to box and circle behind his right jab, pick his shots, often clean ones up the middle and then opening up with combos, when Calzaghe leaves those openings as he tends to.
Devastation is what i think of when i think of Hagler. BTW - is that you or Paul Williams in your avatar?