Attention Sugar Ray Leonard fans. Did you know this?

I highly recommend Sugar Ray's interview with Joe Buck.


[url]https://www.directv.com/tv/Undeniable-with-Joe-Buck-c3R2NFFoMjlKL0NGby9GckxSaXJvUT09[/url]


You'll learn about the man in and out of the ring, and a seldom mentioned secret going into the Hagler fight.

To spill the beans, Leonard noticed Hagler was slow, and being outboxed by John Mugabi, who was no boxer! He brought in middle weights to spar with, and put on the larger gloves. The initial plan was to attack Hagler, but during the sparring, Leonard tells the audience he was nearly knocked out cold. Suddenly going toe to toe with Hagler was not such a good idea. In fact, it's how he lost the Duran fight!

So Sugar Ray changed up his tactics and decided to box and move. What is well known is Sugar Ray had a corner man yell out 30 seconds before the each round ended, and he used his flashy combinations to steal rounds.

Leonard's win over Hagler is perhaps the greatest thing a welterweight moving up has ever done.

I also think Leonard absolute nails the psychology of a boxer, in particular mentioning there's often a moment in a fight where a decision is made to soar or slump. It's the stuff the best champions when tested are made of.

 

It's not overlooked. Basiilio wasn't Hagler though.

 

Robinson was much better at welter. By the time he lost to Bassillo, Robinson was 36 years old. He had also been beaten by Fullmer, Jones, Maxim, and Turpin. Turpin took some of the sugar away and isn't mentioned much when people talk about great upsets in boxing. Perhaps because it wasn't a great upset.

At 160 pounds, Hagler was better than Robinson. Pound for pound, Robinson was a better.

 

No, I was saying Basilio wasn't on Hagler's level as a middleweight.

Hence Leonard beating Hagler is a better win than Robinson beating Basilio.

IMO, Leonard has the best win in terms of a welterweight moving up to beat a middleweight champion.