Well, everyone he fought he fought at middleweight. Are you talking career long middleweights or guys like Hearns and Duran who hadn't spent their careers at the weight as well?
Probably Hearns as far as peak and name and greatness. Duran also. just their legacies were good wins, and the quality of the fight with Hearns.
I would probably go with Hearns too, considering Hearns was still relevant for years after he lost to Hagler. The true MWs of that era were not so great, fighters like Minter, Antuofermo etc. were decent but not guys that would rule any era.
I might actually have to go with the `Worm`... People may not remeber, but Monroe had moved steadily up the middleweight ladder back then. A superb blend of boxer-puncher. And he was a true `Philly` fighter back when that was saying something. Hagler took him out twice after losing to him in their first one in Philly...
I will have to majorily disagree, inspite of the fact that the Worm is getting a well deserved mention on here! The Worm is my all time favorite boxer and there is no one even close in my heart!!!! The Worm took Hagler to school, even by Hagler's own admission and this loss remains the only blemish on Hagler's record that he does not dispute. The Worm put on a boxing clinic, and Hagler learned from it. To call monroe a boxer/puncher is a bit misleading...like jeff chandler he had decent pop in his punch to keep you hinest, but Monroe was a classic boxer all the way. I can't call this a great hagler win either. Monroe beat hagler and looked to be on the way to a title shot, when he underestimated david love (I still can't stomach this loss!!!!)...anyway Monroe was never the same fighter afterwards, and it was almost a year and 3 fights later before he would meet hagler again. It is a nice win for hagler, but Monroe was not quite the peak version, that beat Hagler a year prior. IMHO!
So with Haglers best wins being against blown up welterweights/lightweights how come he gets ranked higher than guys like Greb and Monzon on all time lists at middleweight ?
Hagler's major wins include Hearns (ww), Duran (lw) and Mugabi (lmw). Monzon's major wins include Griffith (ww), Napoles (ww) and Benvenuti (lmw). Hopkins's major mw wins include Trinidad (ww) and De La Hoya (sfw-lmw). It's just part and parcel of weighing 160lbs that top fighters from below come up to challenge you for big money, high-profile fights. The idea that it can be held against long-reigning champions for meeting these challenges is silly and it irritates me, because you see it all the time on these boards.
Here is a link to ESB classic's rankings per division...hagler is largely ranked behing Monzon & greb, but as you said he has his share of supporters as well!!! http://www.eastsideboxing.com/forum/showthread.php?t=156253 http://www.eastsideboxing.com/forum/showthread.php?t=164758&page=14
These were the best fighters he faced, but not the best Middleweights Hagler defeated. If we're playing that game though, Monzon's best wins were against Napoles and Griffith, blown up welterweights/lightweights. Hamsho/Roldon/Antuofermo were probably the best MW's he beat. Although the Mugabi win i think is one of his best. Hagler's movement and speed were both shot at this point. And Mugabi was an undefeated beast that'd knocked out every single one of his opponents. And Hagler tapped that ass.