A: Do you believe SRL would have defeated Hagler had their match been scheduled for 15 rounds instead of just 12 rounds in 1987? B: Do you believe SRL would have beaten Hagler over 12 or 13 rounds in 1983 with both wearing eight ounce gloves?
I'm glad. In the event I was to review footage of Mickey Walker, do you feel I'd be as impressed as I am with Muhammad Ali?
I wouldn't favor Leonard, but I wouldn't have favored Leonard in a 12 round fight with Hagler in '87 either. A: Do you believe Roberto Duran would have seen the final bell against Marvin Hagler had he experienced three years of inactivity beforehand. I think he would have seen the final bell and lost decisively on the cards, much like Duran did.
I agree that once in the ring Leonard had alot of heart, as shown in the Hearns fight. The trick is getting him in the ring without waiting on someone to be out of shape or getting old.
Leonard is a great boxer/fighter, there is no disputing that. I do no know the art of boxing as much as you guys, but I know what I likes and Leonard (out of the ring) I do not like, or the WW version of Floyd. Duran and Hagler I prefer by a mile. I think that there is quite a gap between Duran and Leonard. Duran had the balls to take on a prime Hagler were Leonard did not, regardless of the result.
I don't think it was a matter of fear. Leonard was a smart business, but he still has one of the more loaded resumes of the last 30 years of Boxing.
Fear of losing, hurting his pride/legacy/image. Fear does not just mean the fear of being beaten up. Yes but his resume could be alot stronger, he was in the same postion Oscar was in, being the big draw everyone will fight you. Look how deep Oscar resume is compared to Leonards. I know people give Oscar **** but who did he not fight without waiting for age etc.. to creep in. Oscar fought a prime Hopkins. Oscar is not as good as Leonard, so why couldn't Leonard fight Hagler in his prime?. How many times did he defend any of his titles?.
he didnt. That's one thing his fans keep overlooking. Yet they have the nerve to tell us his resume is "loaded" Nothing to could be further from the truth. I just think it comes down to the fact leonard felt he couldnt compete with Hags back in 82, around there. When he did the post interview fight with Hagler in San Remo, Hagler asked him not to retire until after a fight with him, that the world wanted to see Hagler leonard, which it did. Perhaps Hagler would have carried Ray and allowed him to survive, much the way Johnson carried ketchel until Stanley forgot his place. He might, you know. But none of that mattered to leonard. You could see Leonard was nervous when asked and that he couldnt give a straight answer. I already knew from his non verbal response he was giving and didnt need to tune in to that farce at Baltimore "It'll never happen" which really meant it will never happen so long as Hagler can fight and inflict damage. Knowing as much as I know, SRl just didnt not have the sustained physiological attributes to with stand a full out assault by the Marvelous One. Imagine poor ray trading places with Tommy in 85. What a short fight it would be.
**** off, Rooster. We all know you're either Terry Norris, Marvin Hagler or Leonard bagged your girlfriend behind your back. This content is protected
Don't like it when someone flaunts the truth in your face. Okay then, I'll let you go on believing in your fairy tales