Did The SRL Loss, Hurt Hagler s Legacy?

I concur with your opinion, Leonard wanted no second bout with Hagler, but the loss in no way harms the legacy of Hagler, as you say a legend of our sport.

The loss of the title was disputed, sadly the night he won the title from Minter was controversial and a dark day in our sport, in regard of the crowds reaction, no fighter who wins a world title fairly should have to be escorted from the ring while enduring bottles, glasses and abuse raining down on them.

 

Yes, it immensely damaged Hagler's legacy. If he had beaten Leonard, I think almost everybody would have him as the #1 or #2 Middleweight of all time. I agree the decision was dubious. But, just like the dubious decision on Golovkin-Alvarez I, the official verdict is still historically damaging for the loser.

 

I don't think it hurt hagglers legacy at all, but I never liked how Hagler reacted to the loss.
He should have at least given Leonard his props and demanded a rematch.
Instead he basically took his ball and went home.
He was up there in age and may have been ready for retirement anyway, but the boxibg elites try and paint the picture that Hagler was so disenfranchised by the decision that he just couldn't carry on, which I think is a crock.
I think Haglers heart for fighting was already waning and Leonard just came and took the rest of his soul

 

Don't people already have him top 2 ? Atleast top 3. I thought it's always SRR, Monzon, Hagler, then you have GGG and Hopkins.

The decision is debatable but not robbery, Hagler giving away first 3 or 4 rounds is just shooting himself in the foot. And he can't have no complaints after making such a school boy error there.

 

Absolutely damaged his legacy and helped Leonard’s, and solely due to the judges who could’ve come up w scores for Hagler if they felt like it.

 

At least slightly. Losing to a smaller, inactive, post-prime fighter is never a good look, and the fight arguably further raised questions about Hagler’s “ring IQ.”

 

I'd say no, but I understand those who's opinion differs. What stood out for me in that fight was how slow and sluggish Hagler looked. He reminded me a middleweight closer to 40 than 33 and I'll say this with confidence. Had Duran fought that version of Hagler he beats him. I think the punishment Marvin received from Mugabi was never really appreciated due to Haglers great chin but if you look at Haglers head after the fight it was the worst damage I believe he ever took in the ring. I was not really surprised that Hagler retired , after watching the replay I thought if he continues he'll end up losing to a fighter he'd have crushed a few years ago. I have Marvin securely as one of the best middleweights of all time with Greb, Monzon, and Robinson. That is a great legacy in my view.

 

I don't think so no, i think his pride was hurt more, he resented leonard getting the decision and who can blame him, personally i thought he won the fight, and i said at the time that hype and SRLs publicity machine played a part in him getting the nod, the fans were like girls at a One direction concert!!

 

....and I think Ray knew that too.

 

I don't really think it hurt his legacy. He is still ranked extremely highly at 160 which would be the case even if he didn't fight Leonard. However, I think winning the fight would have enhanced his legacy.

 

I never accepted he lost to SRL, so he's second only to Monzon imo.

 

Yes I think it hurts his legacy a lot. The greatest fighter he fought in my mind whom he wanted to fight his whole career and talked about, who was there for many of his fights commentating and built up the drama, comes out of retirement and beats him in his last fight. How could that not hurt his legacy. ,Marvin in everyone's mind was going to come out and demolish Ray in a few rounds. It did not take away the wins over Duran and Hearns, yet if overshadowed them forever since his career ended with that fight and he complained so much about it, and it was a superfight which was in the press.

Obviously the Hearns win is his claim to fame and he will always be remembered for that, but the Leonard fight did hurt his legacy significantly and that aura of destruct and destroy which he started to talk of during Hearns more. Had he stopped Ray in a few rounds his legacy would have been much better and dominant in our minds. He has to blame himself. He believed the press that Ray was past his prime and he would win in a few rounds and he came out right handed, giving away the first two rounds and the momentum to Ray. That was a mistake, and his cornermen failed him when they really needed to step up. But with Marvin mentally, you did not push him or get him mad. He was very sensitive and the Petronelli's probably knew this. They were good support and Marvin usually won, so they didn't have much to do as far as losing, but in this fight they were ill prepared in my mind once the rounds started to add up and Marvin got a bit behind. Marvin took Ray for granted and he was more upset with himself probably than Ray later on. Usually a great fight helps both fighters, but this fight was not great like Hagler vs. Hearns, so it has the feeling that Ray was elevated and Marvin went down a few notches. As it turns out, Ray was not too great at that point if we look at his later fight with Hearns, but he had a great style for Hagler and knew how to fight him. He also knew when to fight an inactive and less motivated Hagler. It is a fascinating fight as far as timing and legacies.

So my conclusion. This affected Hagler's legacy in a huge way. More than most last fights of great fighters. To me it diminished his legacy by 25 percent or more, which is sad since he was such a great fighter, but he had mental flaws which contributed to Ray winning. He could be swayed by someone being nice to him in the same way Hearns infuriated him and made him fight harder. Ray knew how to butter up Hagler, and I think it worked.