I dont mean straight up duck him, but did he avoid him? Do you think he thought it was too a risky fight to take? Great Video/Watch Here, talks aboput it a little aswell. [ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ca8_AJCLp2w[/ame]
It's a tough call but yes. Graham was definitely world class. Good man too, my sister is a prison officer and met him when he visited some of the cons in the nick she works at. She got his autograph for me but prior to the event she told me Errol Flynn was visitng. I eventually worked it out and she was suitably embarrassed. lol.
Hagler avoided him because Herol wasn't a big name and he only wanted huge fights at the end of the career. He also knew he wouldn't look good in beating him either.
Hagler always had other options that were just as credible (Hearns/Mugabi), or made him a ton of money (Leonard). No one outside Britain was calling out Hagler to fight Graham immediately. Anyway, I knew what I wanted Hagler... Olajide; the Silk was the future of the division!
The real question should be: would Sumbu Kalambay have defeated Hagler? To which the answer is clearly yes.
and fought Leonard for a vastly higher sum. Not the mark of a warrior perhaps but a financially smart move and lets face it Hagler's warrior credentials have never been in doubt.
This. Hagler can hardly be criticised for taking on Ray, had a great run/resume beforehand, and retired in apparent disgust afterwards. Graham had a chance to prove himself the premier 160lb fighter afterwards, in an equally great era for the weight. No biggie IMO. Hagler greatest middle of all time IMO, with Monzon a close second.