D. Tiger vs John The Beast Mugabi, Both Prime, 15 Rounds. 160 lbs.

Monzon and Hagler I’d favor, too. They were boxers first and foremost. Hagler could brawl with the best of them, though. He could do pretty much all, but I very much doubt he’d take that route against Tiger. He wasn’t stupid.

Watch how a young Hagler executed against an old, faded Briscoe. Took as little part as he could in any kind of close quarters exchanges. Instead opting to box almost entirely off the back foot, piling up points with his jab.

He could’ve brawled with Bennie and I believe he’d have won that way, too. Why take the hardest route, though? What’s the point of all those hours in the gym working on all those different techniques if you’re not gonna use them when the situation calls for it?

 

I’d favor Dick Tiger but what a great affair this would be

 

I really don't think Tiger would have much trouble with Mugabi at all. Mugabi was huge fun, but he really only had one game plan which was bomb the other guy out. That isn't the fight plan you want to beat Tiger at all. Mugabi's power was probably comparable to the likes of Fernandez and Carter, and those guys couldn't put a dent in Tiger's chin. Would probably be a fun slugfest for a few rounds before Tiger takes control and grinds Mugabi down for a stoppage around the 7th or so.

 

You can name the elite fighters he wore down on one hand and they were all faded ex welterweights. And he typically did it with favorable officiating and a healthy dose of dirty tactics. I stand by the assertion that Fullmer was no puncher by any metric.

 

Hard to disgree with this.

 

Maybe he wasn't a hard puncher, but none of the guys he fought looked like they were doing too well to me.

 

Fullmer wasn’t a puncher, but he still falls within the other styles I mentioned, William. More in the swarmer/brawler mold, though he wasn’t limited to any one method.

He even tried to box and move against Tiger. Just not successfully.

 

I agree with this.
Hagler to me despite his fearsome reputation, at heart was a boxer who if required could brawl, not the other way round.

 

The Fernandez fight was exactly the one that I was thinking of. FF took it to Tiger at the start, and actually was doing OK for a while. The difference was that Tiger is a tank and FF was not ... maybe a tankette at best. Tiger's chin plumb wore FF out.

 

At the end of the day Green was honest but just not that good. He was within a whisker of stopping John.

 

I actually think a lot higher of Mugabi (before Hagler took his soul) than most on here. This just ain’t the opponent you put him in with if you want the best for him.

 

Yet again I agree. Mugabi was damaged goods after Hagler. I don't think he regained all of his former impetuosity and fire. I think getting KO'd after such a gruelling bout did something to him mentally.

 

When did Dick Tiger ever lose a slug fest? He'd batter Mugabi, badly.

 

I'm really late to this post but I have Tiger hands down. I love his steady pressure and strength against a guy like Mugabi. I think Mugabi was a deadly puncher but that steady pressure from Tiger would back Mugabi up and take that power from him. Tiger himself did not have that homerun power that the Beast had but he was as strong as anyone at Middleweight and pressure and Strengh was his key to wearing out and breaking guys down.

 

Thats funny because there is a strong argument that he got gift decisions against Webb 1, Robinson 3, Giardello, Tiger 2, Fernandez, and possibly Turner 2 and 3 as well. So Id be curious to know which fights you think youve seen.