I don't see how you can say that with a lot of certainty. Marvin said himself his best and most effective weight was 160. He never entertained any idea of moving up.
Calzaghe, who was a big Super Middle and a decent sized Light Heavyweight, would be at a stylistic advantage here and would have outworked Hagler to a comfortable decision, who wasn't even big for a 160lber and could have probably made Light Middle fairly easily today. Obviously P4P and resume wise, Hagler wins clearly. But head to head Joe was bigger, just as fast, had a granite chin and was Hagler's equal in the stamina department. As amazing as Marvin was in his prime I really don't fancy his chances here. There's a reason Hagler never moved up in weight during his career, he obviously didn't feel comfortable any higher than the 160 limit. If it's at anything above that weight then Calzaghe takes it.
The Hagler/Duran fight is interesting when trying to look at this match-up. Only because Calzaghe mixed offense with defense just as Duran did. With very subtle footwork and head movement. Duran didn't really carry the weight, but still did well against Hagler. Marvin tried to outbox him and gave Duran's legs a lot of rest time and maybe he knew he couldn't overwhelm him because of his well rounded ability. Hagler was great and did have heavy hands, but he was not dynamic enough to move up in weight and beat an energizer bunny, who had a nightmare style and was adaptable like Calzaghe. This is like matching Calzaghe with Mike Spinks at light heavy to me.
The peak HAgler would have moved in and closed the range, thrown his shorter , harder, technically superior punches and moved away. Look at the struggle Joe had with Hopkins ( yes a past prime Joe ) and then watch Hagler and say again he will beat him. Hagler had the far better chin. Hagler had far greater variety, he could box beautifully off the back foot ( watch Briscoe, Antuofermo ) he could maraud forward ( watch Minter, Hearns ) . Joe had a lot of talent and a huge engine , a good chin and a big heart. But Hagler would have torn him up with hard vicious punches. Joe would not have thrown a huge number of shots because of what he would take as soon as he opened up. I rate Joe, but Hagler is way better.
No, Monzon wouldn't beat him. Hagler would break his mid-rounds rhythm with his diversity, his own jab and boxing ability, and the sheer toughness to come through it. No going back for Monzon, Hagler takes it down the stretch. He made mincemeat of awkward beasts, I wouldn't rule out an accumulation stoppage towards the end. Yes I know he was dropped like once, against arguably a harder one shot hitter than Hagler in Valdez (junior middleweight, the same thing Hagler gets **** for) and bounced right back up but from everything I've read, Monzon didn't fight too many bangers. Briscoe of course, who had him on ***** street by all accounts (no shame in that, Briscoe hit like a truck) and Valdez, but Griffith, Napoles and Benevenuti were not massive guys either. Monzonz jab seemed laser-like once he got it going, but Hagler had upper body movement, ring smarts and Ring I.Q. Except in his biggest fight ;-) To the guy who said Hagler would be a beast at super middle weight, I'd suggest he comes in as close to 160 as he can and relies on his insanely proven chin here. Calzaghe has got no chance of stopping Marv. He can however, use his awkward movement, his jab to set up flurries and get back out of range enough to win a decision. Marv' however, was a good boxer, could switch hit, is as determined as they come and can also shift up his approach. He's never gonna' be quite as cagey as B-Hop, but then Calzaghe was not impossible to hit either, and I think Calzaghe will have as many issues deleaing with Haglers adjustments and determination as Hagler will his. Calzaghe always showed a good engine. Hagler takes a UD over 15. But Hagler was not a big middleweight at all. Despite his rock solid head, I'd say he made the right decision not fighting the likes of Spinks (or whoever was around at the time a move to 175 for a super fight was mooted) just as Monzon didn't fight Foster (or whoever he was supposed to fight) Dominance is one division is as impressive as scattering wins over many IMO.
I do love this guys threads. A prime Calzaghe is apparently the 1 that beat Kessler, and a prime Hagler is the 1 which lost to Ray in his last ever fight at a weight which never suited him. Anyway, I'm one of those whothink Calzaghe was seriously underrated throughout his career. A big SMW with fast hands would not be an easy nights work for Hagler. Even still, Marvin catches him and knocks him out. After all, a PRIME Calzaghe was knocked down by a PRIME Roy Jones.
A prime for prime involving two cases of past prime fighters who never fought at the same weight. Great idea.