Hagler Vs James Toney

Hagler is sharper and better conditioned ... JT lacks stamina and strength at this weight ..

 

Well, at the risk of strengthening your argument but for the benefit of the discussion, I think Leonard actually employed some of the tactics Toney would try. There were sequences where Leonard was on the ropes and making Hagler miss badly. Of course we know that that wasn't prime Hagler. I don't think anyone, including Leonard pulls that off against a prime Hagler. Do I think Toney could make Hagler miss some? Sure. I just think it would come at too great a cost. Hagler punched in combination and they all aren't going to miss.
Toney absolutely has good wins at the weight, but I think the majority of his big wins are against a similar style: Barkley, PC Williams, Jirov, then the heavyweights. Similar in that they were coming to James. Even McCallum, as supremely crafty as he was, wasn't terribly hard to find. Hagler moved much better than these guys and I feel that would make a big difference. Hagler doesn't absolutely have to bore in on Toney to win the fight. Sure, Toney kind of did the search and destroy against Nunn, but that's a bit of an anamoly and Hagler is much more sturdy.
You make good arguments. But for me, it's Hagler's superior movement and sheer ferocity that would take this.

 

I actually think the most similar opponent to Toney that Hagler faced was Duran, with the excellent rolling defense, countering and all round boxing skill, Duran gave Hagler plenty of problems and Toney would bring a similar puzzle except he is stronger and more primed at the weight

I wouldn't be suprised to see Hagler win and don't have an argument with anyone picking him, this is Toney's ultimate test at the weight, I just think he has the ability to pull out the win. Either way the fans would be the winners in this match up

 

Igree with you in that I think Duran showed Hagler up a bit, I thought it at the time. I don't know if James had the know how back then but I wouldn't bet against him here. I'll give Hagler the benefit here but I think this could be his touighest defence.

 

Toney would get sucked into a brawl and thats where hagler would out muscle him to a ud,but JT would have his moments forsure but Haglers conditioning was far superior to JT s