BEST I FACED: MARVELOUS MARVIN HAGLER

Leonard said he was commentating on a fight some years back and Hagler was in attendance, I think Marvin went to talk to Ray`s colleague`s so Ray said: ''Hey Marvin'' and Hagler cut right past him without saying a word.

 

Sounds honest to me

 

Ray still in Hagler’s head.

He should have given Ray smartest because Leonard beat him at the negotiating table: trading money for larger gloves, larger ring, which were in his favor strategically. And because Ray fought a much smarter fight (especially with Marvin waiting too long to go southpaw, which I think had a lot to do with ego — MMH wanted to show he could beat Ray ‘straight up’ without switching ... played right into Ray’s hands).

 

I remember Gil Clancy at the start of the first round in his fight with Leonard "Hagler is not boxing as a southpaw. I just don't like that at all. Why he does that I'll never know"

 

Hagler lost the fight.
I wouldn’t say it “ruined” his Legacy.

 

Hagler describes what seemed obvious watching the fight - he knew he took Hearns's best early in round one and attacked without fear of being hurt. "I wanted more." Love it .

 

Yep. Marvin was and still is a total badass!

 

Minter was famous for his blast proof chin. Hagler cracked bang on the button several times and never wobbled him. His whole career was blighted by cuts.

 

I remember the hype for the fight, Marvelous Marvin Hagler was going to tie Carlos Monzon's title defense record of 14 title defenses when he fought Sugar Ray Leonard. I do believe that had he defeated Leonard, as was expected, Hagler would have tied it, then give a highly rated challenger a shot, then retired with the belt as Monzon did in 1977. I think that when he fought Vito Antuofermo in 1979, he should have boxed him as he did in the rematch in 1981, he would have won the belt then.

 

Those first two examples were clear and obvious. Frazier beating Ali and Lewis getting knocked out more or less. With Hagler/Leonard it was very controversial. Two schools of thought. Marvin's view is quite understandable as a proud long reigning champion. Part of what made him a great boxer was his mental toughness, determination and stubbornness. You can accuse Hagler of being bitter but nobody will ever accuse him of being phony.
He doesnt to this day respect the way Ray fought him. This is a guy Hagler who went to England and took the Championship from Minter fighting in an honorable way. Yet he has to duck beer bottles on the way out of the ring. I dont even think he got to put on the belt in the ring.
If anyone deserved that it wasn't Marvin it was that phony ***** from Maryland.

 

Well I think Marvin was right,,who's the best fighter he ever faced? it is Roberto Duran.

 

Some use that figt as an example of how speedsters and tricky fighters could have beat Hagler, if he hadn`t losrt the decision that day, they wouldn`t be saying that, they say the same about Duran because he lost to a fast fighter like Laing and slippery fighter like Bentez and because he quit when Ray started playing hide and seek in the final round of 'no mas' it hurt his legacy in that way and Hagler`s image was tainted by the Leonard loss, the guy was a killer and is slightly underrated by some.

 

Hagler truly thinks he won the fight.
He's not really in denial. He just doesn't feel he lost that fight, he never has, he never will.
Hagler wasn't happy about the decision. And he has no admiration for the way Leonard fought to 'take' the title. There's no reason for Hagler to soften his stance on these matters.

He's not obssessed with Leonard, he talks about Duran, Hearns and Mugabi fights as much or more, he talks about Sibson and Minter. But when he does talk about Leonard, don't expect nice things.

 

Hearns hurt Hagler badly with the first right hand he caught him with, but then Hagler took the rest of Hearns right hands in R1 brilliantly, amazing chin.