better fighter? Iran Barkley or John Mugabi?

then again Barkley punched harder than Hagler in my mind and he would have hit Mugabi and maybe knocked him out. It is tough to say. Marvin was not really that sharp for that fight. It was an odd night also. Raining and outdoors and the Richie Sandoval fight (was that his name) making everyone worried about Richie. The rain and rust all that seemed to have affected Hagler and he took time to warm up. It was not a great night to be fighting.

 

Both could punch. Barkley knocked down Kinchen with almost a push punch in 1986.. And Mugabi. I remember Harwood. John just came out throwing wild hooks.

 

That was an odd fight card. Hagler and Hearns on the same card was rare and it was setting up the rematch in November. The rain and raincoats and then the Sandoval fight. By the time the Hagler/Mugabi fight came up it seemed really late at night. Marvin was a guy whose greatness was not just one thing ,but due to added up things like experience,activity,southpaw,toughness, but if you took away one of those he sometimes stuggled. He needed to be active, and not fighting since Hearns almost a year before hurt him. He had fought in November against Kinchen or anyone, he would have stopped Mugabi earlier I think. Marvin reached a certain height with Hearns and the excitement which I don't think he could reach again. He had such a long career to that point and 65 fights. Then he waits another year and fights Leonard and looked more rusty and not sharp. He also came out right handed with Ray which again hurt him.

 

Exactly. Everything worked for Ray. And Ray was smart. He saw in the Mugabi fight how Hagler had slowed down. Ray always looked for weaknesses. Ray also didn't do what Hearns did and argue and get in back and forth insults with Hagler, which seemed to make Hagler fight better. Ray complimented him and called him a friend, and I think it worked with Marvin. Starting off right handed was also a big mistake for Marvin. Got the momentum to Ray's side. Ray's style would have always given Marvin problems, but the Marvin who fought Hearns, had he fought this Ray, I think Marvin wins by mid round stoppage.

 

I agree with you totally. Barkley did not have Hagler's chin at all. Hagler took incredible punches. Barkley/Hagler? I see Marvin winning the fight, but having a tough fight when Barkley lands at times, but Marvin would swell up Barkley and win probably by TKO 8 or so. I think you are right. I think the Hearns fight was tough on Marvin and he was hit cleaner than he had for a long time, and he took time off and was inactive, then he has another tough fight with Mugabi when he is more inactive and I think each fight hurt him more and more. Ray had to see this and knew Marvin would not be the same as 2 years before.

 

Mugabi fought great against Hagler. But it does seem like Hagler was not himself in that fight. He came out so slow. He looked great with Hearns and pumped up a year before, but against Mugabi he looked softer and not motivated at all as though 5 and not one year went by, even when the first round started he came out slow and tentative, not at all like he did with Hearns all pumped up.

Marvin had been off for a year, and never before had he done that. He had fought just a few months before Hearns against Hamsho at Madison Square Garden, and then before that against Juan Roldan the same year. Then after Hearns, Hagler also had a broken nose in sparring in late 1985 getting ready for Mugabi which probably meant he didn't spar as much.. They had to postpone the fight. If everything is put together, it was not good for an impressive Hagler showing against Mugabi. In a way Hagler seemed to reach his peak with Hearns mentally and physically. He accomplished what he wanted. A great win over a great fighter. But he came in not as motivated and Hearns came in wanting to redeem his fight against Hagler, so Hearns looked pumped up and ready to fight the rematch and Hagler looked a little unmotivated. That was my impression. And also I remember a day after Hearns fought Medal, Hagler had a press conference to discuss that fight and fighting Leonard, who had announced he wanted to fight Marvin. Marvin said that he might retire. So he just didn't look like a guy who wanted either to fight Ray at that point or Hearns. I think he reached his peak.