a prime Duran vs prime Hagler.

Duran was in his prime versus Hagler. As far as being a middleweight goes, anyway. He was focused and in good shape.

So was Hagler, actually. Let's not forget that in 1983 he knocked the heads together of Wilford Scypion and Tony Sibson in extremely impressive fashion (these are the same fights I used to watch and exclaim - 'damn, that is the most perfect boxer I've seen.')

Now I've studied Hagler's career extensively and I can tell you that if he was slipping by the Duran fight, it was only embryonic in stage and wasn't even noticeable. Hagler's next fight was again unimpressive, but that's what happens when you face an awkward fighter (Juan Roldan). Hagler's opponents' average level of intelligence shot up when he fought Duran and that was no doubt the main factor against Hagler's showing, which was fair, but not spectacular.

In my eyes, Hagler was only visibly slipping after he donned those blue shorts for the last few fights of his career. Though he was devastating in the Hamsho rematch, you could detect a slowing in the reflexes and feet.

Duran versus Hagler was what I'd consider a good, solid middleweight. With the abilities he carried that night I think it would be perfectly acceptable to assume Duran could have, if he stayed there, forged a world class record of 20-3 or something like that.

But of course, Duran at lightweight overshadowed even Hagler.

 

Duran decision

 

anyone who votes for Duran becomes a certified ******

 

Hagler wins anyway you cut it even if he showed too much respect.

 

Alright well if you mean Hagler versus a lightweight Duran - that's 160 vs 135 - then it has to be Hagler by late stoppage, surely?

 

First of all, Duran's prime was at lightweight and Hagler's at middleweight, so this isn't even a good poll question. And Duran would lose to Hagler at middleweight as evidence by, HE DID! Hagler couldn't make lightweight, so again, STUPID QUESTION!

 

When was it then? :huh

 

That was at welterweight.

 

I just had to scroll up to check this was the classic and i hadnt walked into the wrong forum.