I rewatched this match and was interested if there were any other former lightweight champs anyone can think of who could have gone up to middleweight and took on Hagler as Duran did? Also has this actually happened before in history? Former LW fights for MW title?
With a middleweight champ, actually. Ceferino Garcia was recognized as champ by the NYSAC but the bout was only recognized as a title fight by the California commission because it was scheduled for 10 rounds and not 15. Al Hostack was NBA champ, so there was no consensus as to who the middleweight champion really was. Still a great achievement by Henry (who had previously beaten Garcia over 15 rounds in a welterweight title fight).
Hard to picture any lightweights beating Hagler, most of the lightweight ATGs who I picture stylistically beat Hagler never went up to middleweight like Benny Leonard.
I actually consider it to be Durans greatest accomplishment. Equally impressive to beating leonard. Competitive loss to an ATG another 2 divisions above the competitive win over the ATG at Welterweight. Add to that the fact that Duran was past his peak and had been embarassed and beaten by laing and benitez, quit vs leonard and had only recently regained his form.
Maybe Greg Haugen. He’d shatter Marvin’s confidence by telling him his record was built on a bunch of Brockton taxicab drivers.
Whitaker loses a decision, winning a few rounds and then hanging on for dear life the last few rounds. Floyd straught up gets stopped. I dont think marvin would have respect for either ones offense the way he had for duran. Marvin will turn it into a war if he feels like he might get outboxed
I'd be interested to review the tales of the tape of Whitaker and Mayweather vs Duran. Roberto looked pretty solid at MW but his lesser reach really impeded him against Marvin. He had to rely on his speed to get his punches in. Whitaker and Mayweather were arguably quicker than Duran but not sure if they had the power to keep Hagler off? Roberto didn't seem to hurt Marvin but he sure beat his face up and Hagler respected his power. I feel that anyone shorter with less reach than Roberto would have extreme difficulty vs Hagler.
