Why is Hagler always listed as 5'9 1/2"? He's clearly much shorter. On this YouTube clip, Mugabi is listed as only 5'8 1/2" and he towers over Hagler. [ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IclvCafuGeI[/ame] Also, in the Duran ref instructions, I don't have the clip here, but Duran clearly is eye to eye with Hagler. Based on these examples, I'd say Hagler is between 5'7" and 5'8". 2nd question. Was Hagler intimidated by big-name fighters? I've noticed he often seemed to fight way too cautiously when matched with a a big-name fighter. Examples: One of his early fights with Bennie Briscoe, where he seemed content to just move and fight at a distance. He also fought very cautiously in his 1st title fight against Vito. Antuofermo had no punch to speak of and had tissue paper skin. Why was Hagler afraid to really get in there and mix it up with the much slower champion? Lastly, his fights against Duran and Leonard. He was the defending middleweight champ regarded as one of the best pound for pound fighters in the world yet he seemd cowed by both. Surely, he didn't think either the 32 year old blown up lightweight Duran or the ring rusty Leonard could hurt him, yet, he seemed afraid to really press the issue and be the aggressor. He nearly let Duran steal the decision and he did let Leonard cutesy his way to taking the title. He should've busted those two blowhards to smithereens. I've never been that impressed with Hagler. He beat a lot of tough but slow easy-to-hit middleweights like Hamsho, Sibson, Roldan or bleeders like Antuofermo and Minter. A lot of people rave about the Hearns fight but Hearns chin never was that good and he fought a stupid fight. I sure don't think Hagler compares with a lot of the past great middlweight champs. Monzon's black eyes would have bored right through Marvin and that would have been all she wrote.
I wouldn't translate boxing carefully as being intimidated. After the first Antuofermo fight in which he was robbed of gaining the title by given a draw, he went 16-1 (15) KO's, with him winning all of his Championship fights by stoppage except for Duran and Leonard. My point is that he did not feel the need to be aggressive unless he had to. Duran has just beaten the hell out of Davey Moore, so his team's plans was to out box Duran. Slugging with Bennie Brisco is suicide. Monzon hit like hell, but could he stop dominate Hagler? I don't think so. He may have been shorter than listed, but he was an extremely hard man.
I knew some one would bring that up, but Valdez was thee hardest punching MW in the 70's. He was the exception. Anyone else would've gotten out worked and mugged. Asked Monzon who was damn near put to sleep.
You're right, just couldn't resist By the way, Hagler fought 35 years shopworn version of Briscoe and still chose a careful approach - a testament to Briscoe's toughness and Hagler's ring smarts.
Bob Arum said he saw Duran and Hagler standing side by side at some boxing event, and said they were almost the same size. He said that was one of the reasons he made the match.
I think boxer's true sizes have always been manipulated to create a more positive image to the public. Marciano was listed as 5' 11" but he looked about 2 inches shorter to me. Same with Tyson so I wouldn't be surprised if Hagler was listed as being taller than he actually was.
He was an inch shorter than listed -that's what I've read, heard, and believe. 5' 8 1/2. Remember, Hagler was a boxer-puncher. When facing a brawling-type, conventional wisdom and his corner told him to box them to the death. And Antuofermo, remember, was a butter. Why risk a debilitating head-butt when you can slice him from outside? The Petronelli's saw what Duran did to Moore's face -the mauling, the thumbing. They approached Duran like they did Antuofermo I to minimize the risk of his getting banged up or swelled up. In hindsight, they should have went at Duran, but their approach was not mindless. Leonard. The decision to try to outbox a boxer was way off. Nothing more can be said about it, to me anyway. You make a case, but I think that you underestimate him and forget that Hagler had different looks.
As a matter of fact, Hagler was alot like Bert Lytell. * Southpaw * Iron Jaw * Multi-dimensional * Physically strong * Willing to fight anyone * Deceptively long arms. * Middleweight * Standing around 5'8!
Don't know about Haglers size but I've met Mugabi and he looked taller than that. I'd say he was about 5'10.
