Gerald McClellan vs Marvin Hagler

Hagler fought a defensive fight against Bennie Briscoe and had trouble with the onrushing Juan Roldan before his thumb found Roldan's eye and the tide turned. The point is that McClellan was an ultra aggressive, vicious puncher who would have definitely gotten Hagler's attention in the first few rounds. However, Hagler's conditioning and determination would win out in the end. In rounds 8-10 he starts to really punish the tiring McClellan and puts him away in the 11th of a truly classic bout for the ages.

 

Well,Nigel Benn survived McClellan's early onslaught,and Hagler's chin was granite.


Hagler by middle rounds tko.

 

The last few posts make a lot of sense. Hagelr`s granite chin takes him through Gerlad`s power. And his overall superior boxing skills lead him to a late rd stoppage. I mean really, we`re talking about one of the true middle weight greats against a short time alphabet title holder. Hagler lost one fight legtit in his career, #1 against the `Worm`. he would have figured Gerald out, and ground him down into a stoppage, similar to Benn. Except Gerald would have no moments of glory, (knockdowns ) ...

 

Silly silly post and like the thread starters one that makes me wonder if you people were even born during hagkers career and even saw how he had almost complete mastery over every type if boxer and generated awe amongst his peers. Nigel Benn fir one was in awe.

McClellan belonged to an era that cane just after hagler and which fir a 5 year windowless pervasive if the richest in the last 50 years for pure power punch err s at 160. U had gman mugabi Benn j Jackson and t hearns all plying their trade at this time. Hagler already wore down and beat a unrefined power punched at the end of discretion in mugabi and whilst McClellan had slightly more power I don't think thread as good a boxer as the mugabi that Marvin fought. The mugabi who disclose to McClellan was bashed around by than not the same

 

Jamal, I don`t know you but I like you... Great knowledgeable post !!

 

It's basic knowledge of the human anatomy and simple biomechanics. Hagler was known to come in LIGHTER than he weighed in (156 for at least a few champs fights).... McClellan entered the ring at 182-185. That's a 30lb weight difference. That's an obscenely dangerous difference if you're a puncher who hits with leverage. Marvin would hardly stand a hope, much as I love him.

As for who was the better fighter and more skilled, etc, it's Marvin all day long for me. I love watching the cute mid-70s Hagler, when he was at his best. He (mid-70s Hagler) maximized his speed with a deceptive reach and superb timing, he was also great at setting up counters with good evasions and footwork, and the master of tricking opponents into setting themselves up. Tremendous operator.

Not to say McClellan wasn't talented in his own right. (Steward said he never worked with a fighter who had as much talent...)

 

Hagler would've beaten the **** outta McCllelan. I plagiarize because that sums it up. In his prime years, late 70's to 83ish, Hagler's boxing abillity and footwork would have allowed him to gradually, systematically, and brutally break McClellan down. The gap in abillity in this area would be too large for McClellan to overcome against an ironed chinned opponent like Hagler.

 

In his prime, MMH was a better overall fighter. Also, the "weight" advantage would be mitigated in the 80s as Hagler would weigh around 164 and GMan would be around 168 by the evening. Weigh in was 9am....sameday of the fight. The longer the fight went the more damaging Hagler would be....by the 10 or 11th.....the ref would rescue GMan after a knockdown and with Gerald against the ropes.