Best losing effort: Duran-Hagler or Whitaker-DLH?

Whitaker vs Vazquez was an excellent win considering Pea's physical limitations, but c'mon if you saw anything in that fight to thnk he could outfinesse hagler, it could be time to concede that marvin was indeed no Sweet Reggie in the boxing stakes.

 

There's no chance of Hagler fighting Whitaker the way he fought Duran. The very reason Hagler was cuatious against Duran was because Roberto had the power to earn Marvin's respect, Whitaker wouldn't. Strength is less of an issue than power here imo.

Even if Hagler initiated the fight in a semi-arrogant fashion like he did against Leonard and allowed Pea to do his thing for a few rounds, it's hard to see it going the distance.

Pea of the Vasquez fight vs. Roberto of the Hagler fight is a more intriguing match up than Pea-Hagler...

 

Yes. I know that. But if he, puzzingly, stood off, was what I was trying to say. He would pressure, Whitaker, thats for sure.

 

Who do you like between Pea and Roberto at middle?

 

Sure. Whitaker would be a challenge to any lightweight who ever lived. We just see the fight between him and Duran differently.

As to what Duran did, right -Duran was more or less countering off the perimeter, though you really are answering your own assertion here about Pernell-Marvin.

Let's say that we were sitting ringside at Hagler-Duran with JT. We'd be commenting about how "Hagler is giving him too much respect," though I'd also assert that it wasn't without sound reason. Duran's power, Duran's busting up recent big guys however he could, Duran's considerable strength...

Now let's say that we were sitting ringside at Hagler-Whitaker with Hagler "resisting" the urge to bore in on the weaker, slighter, lighter-punching Whitaker. I'd be standing up with every other knowledgable boxing fan yelling "dah fix is in!" And it wouldn't take any explaining.

 

I think the Duran rep as an offensive beast and cheating roughousing ******* was important as well, even if it was smoke and mirrors to an extent at that point.He could play with fighters mentally a bit with it, because as you say he still hit solidly.Though Hagler could have walked through his shots from the outset if he had really wanted to, but as has also been said why risk a thumb or a headbutt closing your eye.

Pea's unfair reputation that most non-dynamite punching cuties get as a featherfisted fighter without a lot of offense would probably doom him before the fight began.

 

Watched this one again last night, great battle bettween two greats. I Had Hagler up by a few rounds going into the final three rounds which he won the last two well. Hagler did very well on the inside and Duran did ok on the outside and got a few good stright right hands in there.

People seem to forget how good this bout was for some reason.

Hagler's eye was swelling from the mid rounds and at one stage told his corner that Duran was trying to thumb him, I don't think that Hagler took it easy with Duran, he fought the same way in which he ko'ed his 7 defences, but Duran has a lot more skill / cunning / speed than those other guys so Hagler did not look as good.

Sorecards were a fair bit off, the bout was closer than the tally of the rounds though.

 

Duran got more than his fair share of low blows in, tried to a thumb in & Marvin a couple of elbows. But both guys took it in their stride.

 

It was a very good fight. It seems to be one of the forgotten ones between all the fabulous four.