John Mugabi vs Mustafa Hamsho

Hamsho at his peak had what was considered the best chin in boxing. I see him mauling Mugabi and smothering his power on his way to a stoppage around the 6-10 round mark. He was very likely the second best middleweight in the world at one point for some time. I'm in the camp that Mugabi gets a bit overrated from his spirited challenge of Hagler. He gets excused for everything thereafter (never the same again etc) but he never beat a solid contender in his career. Hard Rock was oh so close to beating him too pre Hagler.

 

Mugabi didn't really have much time to truly acclimate and test himself against contenders like Hamsho. Huge disservice to him. Jumping in the lion's den and cashing out was more than likely his camp's plan.

 

True but neither did hundreds of other boxers like Azumah Nelson, Pedroza, Weaver.....the list is endless. They had the fortitude to come back better than ever. He had plenty of time after Hagler as a loss need not mean the end of a career. I mean maybe in his case it did but i don't quite buy it.

 

Good point. He was far more limited compared to those guys.

 

Hamsho stops Mugabi late after one hell of a war. Just more durable and tougher overall.

 

Better than Haglers?

 

At his peak it was considered the best in boxing by a great many. It caved somewhat later but plenty do. Hagler's chin at the time, tho unquestioned, was still gaining in reputation. Hagler didn't get hit clean a lot once his career took off where as Hamsho was a bit of a face first fighter so his chin was frequently on display. Hamsho's chin was amazing.....until it wasn't.

Hope that makes sense. Hamsho at his best would smother Mugabi, fighting dirty and giving him very little breathing space while really roughing him up.

 

Pre-Hagler Mugabi stops Hamsho. John was an incredible puncher with an irresistible offense. It took someone who could lay down fire like Hagler to dissuade his attack, and ultimately Hagler ruined him. Hamsho didn't have that potential in his arsenal.

 

You are spot on ,

 

Beat me to it- people are overlooking the fact that Mugabi was a huge puncher and while Hamsho had a great chin I dont see it standing up to alot of flush shots from a Mugabi.

 

He fought some decent fighters. Some of them didn’t last long because he was so overpowering. I think James Green took him to the 10th (I can’t remember if it was a stoppage or decision). Frank Fletcher and Curtis Parker were no slouches and there are a few other pretty decent opponents on his ledger.

Mugabi was a tough guy to match. Not sure who exactly was going to ‘test him’ before he fought Hagler. He was offered a title shot and took it. He had experience and had beaten some decent opposition. He certainly didn’t look like he was in over his head against Marvin.

He goes into the Hagler fight rated No. 1 by The Ring at middle (Hagler) and junior middle (Hearns). There are some guys he could have fought but who do you fight that’s not TOO big of a risk to blow that … but who he’s also not going to KO early? Hard needle to thread.

You even see it in his career later: he gets KO’d early and quickly but he also won a title over Rene Jacquot in one round. Very little in between with him.

I think the biggest factor there that doesn’t get brought up much is that Mugabi was basically a junior middleweight and being aimed for a shot at 154 when the Hagler offer came. Probably a lot more money in fighting Marvin in a high-profile title fight than one of the champs at junior middle, so that might have been a sound decision.

 

I watched Green vs Mugabi like 2 years ago ? It was stopped in the last round. A pretty good fight as I remember it where Mugabi got tested and pushed pretty hard in the fight.

I also agree Mugabi was brought along just fine against solid contenders like Fletcher, Green, Parker. They were acid tests which Mugabi passed with flying colours, he was ready for the Hagler fight its just Hagler is an ATG brick wall which Mugabi couldn't knock down.

 

Mugabi was extremely close to being stopped against Green, a small fairly light puncher, reasonable fighter.

His comments - He literally knocked me out in one of the early rounds of our fight but I was saved by the bell, then rallied to beat Green in the 10th.

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Seriously, who’s he going to fight that’s going to make the difference so he beats Hagler?