Could Hagler have made the Olympic team?

if he would have had to face m.spinks he would not have made the team m.spinks was a far better fighter in terms of all round talent:think

 

I don't think so. Marvin's greatness came with experience and knowledge and toughness. He could be outboxed and that was his weakness, and I think a guy like Spinks like someone said would have beaten him. Even as a professional in 1977 he was not that great. Guys like Hearns or Leonard were better at the start of their career and better amatuers than Hagler was.

 

good point, marvin was small at middleweight, often weighing a few pounds under the limit so that's entirely possible

 

Never knew this, i always thought he was a big middleweight. Probably just cos he looked mean!

 

A very small chance.Surprised he didn't go out for the 1972 team.

 

Didn't Sugar Ray Seales win in 1972.....Hagler may have faced him later as a pro.

 

Marv would have had a very good chance, proving his amateur credentials when becoming national AAU champ the year he turned pro, he'd have had a great chance of making the 76 team, especially given the extra top level experience he'd have by then. Also, not only was he national champ in 73, he was named Outstanding Boxer of the Tournament- ahead of the likes of Leonard, Pryor and Howard Davis.

 

Yeah, Seales did win, I was thinking maybe Marvin didn't fight in the trials or something.Ray and Marvin did fight 3 times, a draw and a decision win for Marvin and a first round kayo or stoppage.

 

Seales didn't win Gold at middleweight, Marvin Johnson was the middlweight entry in 72 for the USA. Incidentally, Seales' brother Wilbur beat Hagler as an amateur.

 

This would have been Marvin Haglers scenario;
These are the Years and Weight Classes he competed in;
1971; 149 lbs. (Welterweight)
1972; 156 lbs. (Lt. Middleweight)
1973; 165 lbs. (Middleweight)
At age 19 (1973), he won the 165 lb. National AAU (Middleweight) title.
He turned Professional in May 1973.

If Marvin, at age 18, wanted to compete at the 1972 Olympics, he
would have fought at 156 lbs. (Lt. Middleweight).
Note:
Unfortunately, he lost a 1972 Regional Fight to the eventual 1972 U.S. Olympic 156 lb. (Lt. Middleweight) representative Reginald 'Reggie' Jones, from Newark, New Jersey.

Reginald 'Reggie' Jones was the 1972 U.S. Olympic Representative for the 156 lb. (Lt. Middleweight)
class.
He defeated Marvin in a 1972 Regional Fight at 156 lbs. Jones won a 4-1 decision, by controlling the 1st and 2nd rounds.
Marvin came on and won the 3rd round.
Reggie Jones was also defeated by Marvin in 1971, by decision, at 149 lbs. (Welterweight). Marvin dominated the fight from the start, winning Rounds 1 and 2. In Round 3, Marvin staggered Reggie (was given a standing 8-count).
Scoring 5 - 0 for Hagler.
Note:
Reggie Jones received a First Round Bye at the 1972 Olympics. He lost in the second round to the USSR representative Valeri Tregubov. A split-decision 3 - 2



Sugar Ray Seales fought at 139 lbs. (Lt. Welterweight in 1972), and won the Gold Medal at the 72' Olympics.
At age 19, in 1971 he won the (139 lb.) National AAU title.
At age 20, in 1972 he won the (139 lb.) National Golden Gloves.
Note:
Ray Seales and Marvin supposedly fought each other in a 147 lb.
Regional Meet in 1971. Each claim they won the fight.
Note:
Some claim that both Ray Seales and Marvin sparred a few times
during 1970/1971. Witnesses say that Seales got the better of Marvin in each of the sparring sessions.

Marvin Johnson fought at both 165 lbs. and 178 lbs. as an amateur.
In 1971, at age 17 he won the 175 lb. (Light Heavyweight) National Golden Gloves, and 178 lb. (Light Heavyweight) National AAU title.
In 1972, he dropped down one weight class (13 lbs.)
In 1972, at age 18, he won the 165 lb. (Middleweight) National Golden Gloves title.
He earned a berth on the 1972 Olympic Team.
He won a Bronze Medal in the 165 lb. (Middleweight) division.
Marvin Johnson never fought Marvin Hagler.

Michael Spinks fought at both 156 lbs. (Lt. Middleweight) and 165 lbs. (Middleweight) as an amateur.
In 1974, at age 18, he won the 156 lb. (Lt. Middleweight) National AAU title.
In 1976, at age 20, he won the 165 lb. (Middleweight) National AAU title.
He won the Gold Medal at the 1976 Olympics at 165 lb. (Middleweight).
Michael Spinks never fought Marvin Hagler.

If Marvin Hagler waited until the 1976 Olympics, at age 22 he would had to compete against
Michael Spinks at (165 lbs.) or Charles Walker Jr. at (156 lbs.)

 

If Marvin Hagler waited until 1976,
At age 22, he would have a choice of 156 lbs. (Lt. Middleweight) against
Charles Walker Jr.
Or, Michael Spinks at 165 lbs. (Middleweight)