Could Marvin Hagler go 12 with Ron Lyle?

Exactly. The biggest black mark on Hopkins' legacy. Why he never gambled more during the Taylor rematch. During the last 4 rounds of the first fight, he showed enough power to discourage and scatter Taylor's senses.

He should have went against his own rule book, which is staring off tentatively, and pick up from where he left off in the previous encounter. Hopkins was never going to be a "bull in a china shop" but in hindsight a bit more authoritive work with power punches was needed.

The "cat and mouse" game wasn't what was required against Taylor, and he should have learned from his mistakes, but he never.

 

The thing to add here is that these fights occurred at a stage long after a Hagler had retired, and not just age wise of course. If Hagler had fought as far past his peak as Hopkins we no doubt would have seen some less convincing performances. He got out while not far from the top, and stayed out. A fine retirement, such a rarity in boxing. He and Spinks stand tall. The other thing is Taylor really did not beat Hopkins by much at all and both fights are still debated by many. Tho he's struggled thereafter Taylor was considered Hopkins heir apparent, Hagler in contrast was beaten by a beefed up inactive Welterweight, tho a great fighter.

 

Hopkins only really went on so long after beating Tito because of how bad the division has been otherwise he may have lost at an age closer to Marvins.He was beating nondescript fighters with his far superior ring-generalship and craftiness even when well past his physical peak.

 

Hagler wasn't a physically big guy, which is probably one of the reasons he never considered moving up. I just can't picture him carrying 180 lbs. or more comfortably. Certainly anything above 200 lbs. would render him almost useless.
Lyle would not be troubled in the slightest by Hagler's power. Hagler could punch, but even a 180 or 200 lb. version would not cause Lyle to pause in his tracks.
How does he survive? I'm not sure. Carrying a lot more weight restricts his mobility and stamina, staying on the inside against Lyle would tire him out very quickly, and I suppose a large part of the equation depends on what Lyle does and thinks.
Does he go in there looking to walk through Hagler's shots, intent on a knockout?
Does he box him, comfortable in the knowledge that at some point his power will reach Hagler?

Let's put it this way - If I were Lyle, I'd pull this fight into the trenches, lean all over Hagler and force him to fight inside. Clinch, maul, push him into the ropes and into corners and deliver bodyshots to wear him down. Basically, just bully him, even if it means taking some unneccesary shots.
Staying outside and jabbing him may give Hagler a window of opportunity that he'd try to exploit.

 

Mickey Walker was past 30 when he took on a near peak Schmeling, and actually won some early rounds. But he was also a little overweight and out of shape at 174 pounds. That fight was postponed after Mickey hurt himself just before the originally scheduled date. At the time he got injured, he weighed around 158 pounds, in peak condition. The prime version of Schmeling would be the only heavyweight to ever give Walker a beating.

Hagler never moved up in weight because, as he himself pointed out, his weight went right down when he underwent the training process.

Could Hagler have gone the distance with Lyle, even without steroids? The assumption that Lyle would take him out with head shots is presumptuous, as nobody ever came close to doing this in reality. He had good lateral movement, the best right jab in boxing up to that time, showed with Duran that he could close the show well over the final three rounds of 15, and wouldn't likely have been hampered with the feelings of being intimidated which overwhelmed Patterson against Liston, and Mike Spinks against Tyson.

What Hagler would need to do is employ his lateral mobility, deploy that right jab, and rely on his southpaw stance to befuddle a heavyweight who never faced a first rate southpaw.

Lyle would need to attack Hagler's body. Test the chin, sure, but hedge his bets, in case Hagler proved to have the chin of a Harry Greb. Gene Tunney was finally able to get the edge on Greb by going downstairs, and that's how Ron should cut off the ring, by keeping his lead foot between Hagler's feet, then try slowing down the smaller man's mobility and hurt him with bodyshots. Left hooks to the leading edge of Hagler's body, and lead rights, both upstairs and down. Tyson scored his first knockdown of Spinks with a right to the ribs.

Although we never found out to what extent Hagler's chin was impervious, we do know that he wouldn't have had the firepower to hurt Lyle. Hagler's power has been overrated because his right jab was one of his power punches. (Duran said, "All his power is in his right. His left is dead.") Ron was very good at countering off the ropes, and could box competently while giving ground. With Foreman, he showed how dangerous he could be when somebody really went after him.

Jimmy Young proved conclusively that it wasn't necessary to be able to hurt Lyle to get the best of him.

As a middleweight, Jimmy Ellis did get dropped (unlike Hagler) by Ruben Carter. Yet, he went on to take out Leotis Martin, drop Ringo twice, and then go 12 full rounds with Mr. Lyle himself, conclusively establishing that a puffed up middleweight with an average chin and questionable recuperative powers could do this without having to resort to steroid use. Hagler had a all-time great chin, and although a somewhat smallish middleweight, he was more compactly built than the 6'1" Ellis had been. For Lyle, Hagler would be better off not trying to bulk up, but concentrate instead on getting into the best physical condition he could manage, for speed, movement and endurance. If I was him, I'd also insist on a 24 X 24 foot Olympic boxing ring with a fast surface.

I don't know if Hagler could go 12 rounds with Lyle or not, but we absolutely do not know whether or not Ron could take him out by going upstairs. Again, Patterson was hurt in the amateurs as a middleweight, and Ellis was dropped against Carter, but there was never any indication Hagler was vulnerable in this way. Of course Lyle would first have to reach him to find out.

Everybody figured that Holmes and Cooney would break skinny Mike Spinks in half just by tapping him. Mike Spinks was an awkward customer who came from strange angles. Hagler's awkwardness came from being left handed, once again a situation unfamiliar to Lyle.

Because I don't know what kind of punch Hagler could take, and since he did not box in a style likely to give Lyle a chance to properly get set and tee off, I consider this scenario (with apologies to MythBusters):

Plausible