I'm getting the Hagler career set for Christmas. I have only seen the Leonard, Duran, Hearns and Mugabi fights in full. So out of his other 60 odd fights which do you guys recommend watching first. What were his best performances?? cheers
--- The most entertaining is against Hearns. His best performances, in my opinion, are against Alan Minter, Williams Lee, Loucif Hamani and Mustafa Hamsho. Watch the fights that happened between 1980 and 1983.
His performance against Tony Sibson. To dominate such a formidable fighter in the way he did was amazing. That's the fight for me that really puts into perspective the level of fighter Hagler was at his best.
I have a small collection of Hagler fights including some of his earlier bouts, but my favourite is still the Mugabi fight. For me this fight is the sum of all contests of will. Wow.
The Sibson fight was his best overall performance; the first Hamsho fight and the Minter fight were great performances as well. The Brisco fight is also worth a mention.
I like Mugabi also but in my mind Hagler was not in full form at all in that fight. He looked soft and just not motivated. I think for Hearns, Hagler put on an effort of 100 percent. He trained hard and focused himself the way he had to to go and brawl with Tommy and hang in there throwing punches, but I think he left a little in the ring that night as far as motivation. It took a superhuman effort against Hearns and then he became human, and Ray Leonard say that against Mugabi and decided to fight Marvin. Marvin was never the same again after Hearns. He never had the same snap. Although before Hearns, Hagler was active. He fought Hamsho just a few months before Hearns, but after Hearns he took a year off, then after Mugabi he took another year off. That cannot be good for a guy who was so active before. I just think the Hagler of 1985 takes care of Mugabi in 5 rounds in a less competitive fight.