This might turn out to be like Hagler and Sibson [ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aVizDn47rbU&feature=related[/ame] [ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fT4Z2MtQi6U&feature=related[/ame]
from what I've seen, his abilities were no greater than Sibbo's. Sibbo better on defense, more head movement, better jab, and a bit faster If hagler had not been the great fighter that he was, I believe Tony would have defeated him
I would expect Hagler, the naturally bigger man, to win this one. But expect Micky to give Marvin a real fight!
Mickey Walker was abnormally strong. I'd go as far as to wonder if his strength exceeded Hagler's. You don't handle as many ranked heavyweights as Walker did if you are not ridiculously strong and ridiculously skilled. Hagler fooled around with the monsters in sparring and handled them but Walker was crazy. When Walker trained seriously (which was rare), he could be counted on to handle damn-near anyone. This one is a toss-up though if the odds were stacked against Walker, I'd bet on the bulldog.
Who can say who would win a fight between Mickey Walker [sober] and Marvin Hagler ? Both great middleweights. But reflecting on their careers I pick Walker ,who had about 3 times more tough bouts than Hagler. Plus, just peruse the much bigger and heavier men the Toy Bulldog beat in his tough, tough career. As a beefed up middleweight Walker beat Johnny Risko, Bearcat Wright [220lbs], Paolino Uzcudun ,who was an earlier edition of Chuvalo, King Levinsky, murderous punching LHs Leo Lomski and Paralyzing Paul Berlenbach [3 times],Maxie Rosenbloom, Mike McTigue, and drew with a prime Jack Sharkey in 15 rds. To say that Marvin Hagler was "stronger" than Walker,would be misleading,as Hagler never tackled the top light heavies and HEAVYWEIGHTS of his time. Mickey Walker was as tough , and courageous a fighter who ever lived, and his record proves it. Anyone that could brawl and beat men much heavier than himself, deserved the name the TOY BULLDOG...His like we will never see again...
If its a prime Marvin I take him to win a dec but, if he fights like he did against another swarmer, Antuofermo, he is coming out the loser.
he doesnt look so skilled to me. Point out what is so special about this particular performance [ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fk3vZBMkypI[/ame] he may be strong but strong fighters are dime a dozen to Hagler. Walker stands straight up and it's obvious he cant get inside. Fighters like Hagler and Roy Jones would have a field day with him. Watch him closely, he's really not that skilled at all
I've never thought of Walker as being ridiculously skilled, more like abnormally tough and determined.
First of all, he's standing straight up when Loughran is out of range -like Ali had his hands down when he was out of range. When Loughran steps in he dips and counters with overhands. That's good strategy. Second of all, why don't you try fighting a guy like Loughran when you're DRUNK.* A natural welter/middleweight does not fight the top heavyweight contender in the world to a draw that nearly everyone said he won -if he's just strong and crude. His penchant for brawling shouldn't mislead you anymore than Duran's did the boxing world until the 80s. * no proof. Make that 60% proof considering Mickey's reputation. Pun intended.
How would Marvin Hagler look against a 175 lb. alltime defensive Lightheavy Tommy Loughran ? Why then in heaven did Marvin Hagler not taken on the cream of the Light Heavyweight crop when he was fighting.? The answer is self evident. The Paul Berlenbach,who at a powerful 175 pounds would have overwhelmed the 160 pound Hagler,yet Little ole Mickey Walker won a unanimous decision over Berlenbach. When you or I watch segments of old clips ,we must bear in mind the opposition our fighter is fighting...No one looks GREAT in every fight. Be it Robinson, Ali, Louis, Walker or Hagler. It is a fighter's whole body of work that counts. Some of the "slickest" boxers in history have been flattened by fighters who don't look "good" on a film clip...Same with Mickey Walker. His great record against great bigger men he licked, Marvin Hagler couldn't or wouldn't have attempted to duplicate....
Firstly, Walkers record alone should tell you that he was in a different class to Sibson. If you thought that he looked no better than Sibson on film, it should lead you to question your ability to judge a fighters abilities from film. Secondly, Hagler never dared to step into the ring with an elite light heavyweight like Tommy Loughran, and might have got destroyed for all you know. Thirdly, you have to study (not watch) all (not some) of the available footage of a fighter from that period, to form any coherant idea of their skillset, and even then you will probably be missing a lot.
