Could Hagler have fought at 154 with 24-hour weigh-ins?

Former MW Champions Vito Antuofermo and Sergio Martinez
said they could make 154 lbs. And even Golovokin hinted he
would have make 154 for a Mayweather fight in the past.
So yes Hagler could have made 154 if he really wanted too.

 

Easy peasy lemon squeasy.......

 

Hagler weighed only 158 1/2 in both his first and last middleweight title fights, so 154 would have been no problem.

 

he could have, but I don't think he would have been strong. It is amazing to think. I think a 154 pound Hearns vs. a 154 pound Hagler and Hearns gets an early knockout. Crazy as it sounds 5 or 6 pounds making a difference. I think at 160, Hagler was as comfortable as anyone could be, and he was only 5-9 tall, but he had 75 inch arms and was southpaw. With his chin, the only way someone could beat him is the way Ray did by boxing him or maybe stopping him on cuts.

 

But he would be 160 in the ring anyhow. Draining 6 lbs with one day to rehydrate shouldn't pose a problem.

 

It could be a little issue. Otherwise he would have gone for that title also. Rehydration still puts stress on the body and the mind. That is why Hearns and Duran and Ray and all Hagler contemporaries did more than him.

 

Name me fighters below HW today that haven't regularily rehydrated at least 6 lbs. The only one I can come to think of is Rigondeaux.

Hagler was King of one of the most prestigious divisions. You don't drop down from MW, you go up to MW.

 

Yes for sure.

 

I think the question should be, could Hagler come down to 147? At 5'8.5", I think he could. He obviously wouldn't be as strong.

 

I think that would be a little too steep. Hagler was cut, shredded, and in absolute peak shape at 160. No way does he strip 13 lbs and still perform in optimal condition even with 24 hr rehydration. Lets not forget that just because they had same day weigh in doesn't mean they didn't cut weight even just a little.

 

It does make a difference. 6 pounds can be a lot. In the era of today where Floyd wants weight guarantees, those guarantees are for advantages. so his wins should have an asterick. I think Hagler being 154 pounds means Hearns beats him that night in 1985.. It is enough weight and it is a weight Hagler never really got down to. Whether he came in 157 for Duran or 158 1/2 for Ray, or 159 1/4 for Hearns, does not mean he could make 154 and fight there comfortably. I think it would have affected him. Ray wanted Lalonde (Not comparing a great like Hagler to a mediocre guy like Lalonde) at 168 to win 5 titles... well 2 on one night.

 

Considering Hagler's training habits, I question if he could comfortably get to 154. He was in extremely good shape at middle and likely had very little left to lose.