Monzon versus Hagler in 1977

In 1977 Monzon would have won by decision.

Hagler, to me, didn't become "Hagler" until he beat Alan Minter for the
title in 1980.

I watched some of Hagler's fights on closed circuit undercards and at that time he was more of a boxer, than the beast he was later.

If Monzon could handle Briscoe & Valdez attacks, then he could have handled a young Marvin Hagler.

But the Hagler of the Hearn's fight would have taken the 1977 version
of Monzon.

 

I would say Hagler was slightly past his best when he won the championship.

Anyway; 1977 was his last learning year. I think in 78, Hagler wins, but 77 was just a little too early.

 

Monzon W 15 Hagler. A solid decision for Monzon, who was just too damn clever, and ringwise for Hagler. I don't care what Marvin would have brought to the dance, Monzon would have been too smart for him. No knockout or knockdowns here, instead a tactical boxing match between two guys who rank in the upper stratosphere of guys who were too good to be ko'd. Monzon would show everyone like he did against Valdez and Briscoe that he's just too good for guys like them and Hagler as great as they were.

 

Monzon by UD at this stage. A few years down the line and it's a toss-up.

 

A few years? That is harsh on the Marvelous one!

 

Monzon UD. No doubts. Funny but I was reading Boxing Illustrated's preview of 77 the other week. It predicts Monzon would be champ by the end of the year, then retire. Their American tip for honours when he retired was not Marv, but Eddie Gregory.

 

Often think about this match up in this year. Hagler was ready for him physically and skill-wise but still didn't quite read fights as he would. If this fight had ahppened it would have been really something.

 

Hagler would have outhustled Monzon rather decisively at this point. Monzon was slipping, Hagler was starting his peak years. Of course, a prime Hagler always had the skilled to beat Monzon (Monzon, although big, strong, and effective, was too slow and one-dimensional to deal with a technician as Hagler, who was, let's face it, the best there ever was this weight), but prime for prime it would have been close. Not close in 1977.

 

Not at all - when Hagler thrashed Minter he was squarely at his peak. I think he looked his best in the second Obelmejias fight actually.

 

The Hagler that was in extremely close calls with Colbert and Finnegan (I) would have little chance here. Monzon's performance in the Valdez rematch was arguably his best since the Briscoe contest in 1972. Hagler wasn't ready for this kind of fight until 1979, late '78 at a push.

Marv's biggest win at this stage was Mike Colbert or Willie Monroe, the former turned out to be a huge struggle, while the latter had dusted him once before. Monroe had fallen out of the top 10 by the time Hagler avenged his one-sided pasting; while Mike wasn't even rated in the Top 10 of Boxing News or Boxing Illustrated when they met, but was mysteriously rated #1 by the Ring (and we all know why)*.



* Dung King and Johnny Bought to quote 'Flash'.

 

I'd say anywhere between 1981 and 1983 was his peak too. He was certainly mentally stronger when champion than he was in 1978.

 

I like 78 myself, he was a better boxer, he seemed to slip slightly skill wise after winning the title. But do not get me wrong, he was still marvelous all the way until the Sibson fight.

 

If the fight were in 1977, then it would have been a hard fought, and maybe even a disputed decision for Monzon, considering that he was beginning to slip, and he had that hard fight with Valdez on top of that. Matching up a prime '74 Monzon with whatever year was Hagler's best, and Monzon wins more decisively, because as I've said before, Monzon was far too clever, as well as strong for a fighter even as great at Hagler. He would defeat Hagler, with neither man scoring a ko or a knockdown, by a comfortable decision.