Hagler v. 1982 light-heavyweights

This is too much speculation as Hagler only fought midlweights.
Don't know why Hagler is matched now always with bigger guys.
It is a bit irritating.

We just have no idea how he would have done at the higher weight classes cause he never fought ther period.

 

I think he'd have a shot vs Matthew Saad Muhammad.

The jump from middle to light heavyweight was perhaps the biggest jump in weight class in Hagler's time. 160lbs to 175lbs, with no super middleweight division.

Hagler would be short for the light heavyweight division and lacked the power or defense at 175 pounds to make a difference. His jab and hand speed weren't enough of a factor either to make up for shortcomings in height, weight, power, and reach.

Toughness and durability can prevent you from getting knocked out, but you have to win on points or a stoppage, and Hagler was just physically ill-equipped to defeat the best light heavies of his time.

I also think Hagler was a little gun shy at times at middleweight, and this flaw would be magnified at 175 pounds. He made the right move not moving up, but I kind of wish he would have given it one try, just so the fans could have seen how he did.

 

His frame was kind of perfect for middle but I like to think a few of those he'd beat. Spinks and Qawi he loses to but not sure they stop him. The rest I give him a decent chance of winning. But which ever guy he takes on, win or lose, Hagler will give em hell.

 

They would all beat him, Spinks, Johnson, and Qawi very badly. Scott would ease up on him because they are both from the same hometown, but Marvin wouldn't beat any one of them.

 

Dwight Braxton - Braxton wins without much trouble.

Michael Spinks - I feel like this fight would have happened if Hagler felt he had any chance of winning, because it would have been a bigger money fight BY FAR than anything Hagler had done previously.

Eddie Mustafa Muhammad - Too big for Hagler. The only way Hagler wins is if the lazy, unmotivated version of Eddie shows up.

Matthew Saad Muhammad - He was falling apart at this point and had no impressive wins after 1981. Hagler has a good chance against him in 82, but not a few years earlier.

Marvin Johnson - Interesting fight. Hagler was certainly a better fighter, but Johnson wears him down and gets a decision in a grueling fight.

James Scott - His career was over in 1981. He'd been beaten by Martin and Braxton and the mystique was gone. A large part of what made him such a feared opponent was the intimidation factor, but I can't imagine Hagler being intimidated by anyone. And by 82, with the two losses, and Scott's advancing age (35, but allegedly older), I'd pick Hagler.

 

Nice summation.

 

I don't know. Great fighters like Hagler could compete with these guys. He was still southpaw with a 75 inch reach, which is probably as long as some of those guys believe it or not

 

Loses to Braxton
Loses to Spinks
Beats Mustafa
Beats Saad
Beats Johnson
Beats Scott

 

Hagler was flat out more skilled than them and had the toughness to take whatever they could dish out.

Mickey Walker was smaller than Hagler and went all the way up to heavyweight. Hagler can take a better punch than Walker and is more skilled.

 

I think he would beat Saad Muhammad badly, but lose to the others. Saad was completely shot by 82 having absorbed so much punishment. After his rematch with Braxton he started losing to journeyman like Eric Winbush.
All the others would beat him though, especially Spinks. I think a Spinks vs Hagler fight might be a repeat of Hearns vs Duran. I never thought in my life I'd see Duran outcold out on his face, but I think Spinks could have done it to Hagler.

 

I know this is a theoretical thread but Hagler is one of my favorite's
and he deserves respect with the way he carried himself and good
sportsmanship.
http://www.nytimes.com/1985/04/17/sports/hagler-s-future-undisputed.html

 

Could be because most of his more memorable wins as champion was against smaller guys or guys who started off in much lighter weight classes? Now in these fantasy matchups the shoe is on the other foot.

 

They're very good light-heavyweights (except for shot version of Saad and inactive Scott rotting in a prison cell) in a great era. Spinks is one of the best LHWs ever, and I'm not even sure Hagler is a superior ATG than him. If he is, it's not by much.