Hagler vs. Leonard II - Why Not?

Leonard retired, said he wasn't interested.

Hagler took the defeat badly, sulked at home, and made it known that he wanted a rematch. According to Hagler himself, he waited around for six months or a year, then decided to get on with life, and forget about boxing. In the meantime I think his marriage broke down (a sulking Marvin Hagler at home all day, you can imagine). He made some movies in Italy.

Lo and behold, around the time Hagler gave up his expectations of fighting a rematch Leonard, and his desire to box or enter a gym at all, Leonard announced he was coming back to face DON LALONDE.



I suppose it was just unfortunate chance that Hagler's intense desire to fight the rematch didn't co-incide with Leonard wanting to come back.

Seriously, if ever there was a fight that needed a rematch it was Hagler-Leonard. It would have been massive, and very possibly would have been a better match than the first one. October or November of '87 would have been just fine.

 

Seems like this wasn't an too attractive side of Leonard's. But is there any solid evidence that he stalled in giving Hearn's a rematch? He took a long break after their first fight after all.

Funny, though, how little talk there is of Frazier being so reluctant to give Ali a rematch. It only came about when he needed it just as badly as Ali. And Frazier is supposed to be such a stand-up guy...

 

Leonard had climbed his own personal Everest. He was never ever in a million years going to be able to get that motivated and fired up again. That once in a lifetime marathon that never need be run again. Once at the summit, she's all downhill.

 

There is a simple answer to why the rematch didn't happen, and it isn't nearly as longwinded as some want to make it.

Leonard didn't want a rematch.

 

Hogwash, Leonard wanted Hagler again, but at his say so.
It was the Leonard way, as he had done the same to both Hearns and Duran.
.....years went by before Leonard actually called a well retired Hagler out again......

.....to wish Hagler without saying word, figuratively said, "**** You!"
For that, I will forever applaud Marvin Hagler.:happy :yep

 

I applaud Leonard for beating Hagler at Marvin's natural weight. :happy

 

You can applaud him all you want.....too bad that alot of people dont feel Leonard beat Hagler.....this division of who really deserved to have their hand raised is the reason why there should have been a rematch in the first place.....

Leonard of course at the time, was probably in the same position that Manny Pacquiao is in now with the fans wanting a 3rd JMM fight.....
....Pacquiao I feel does'nt believe he can do better than what he's already done against JMM in a gift awarded effort.....so today, like Leonard then, a rematch is'nt about to come anytime soon.
If it happens, it will happen when JMM is just about done and showing signs of visible decay........the same thought process no doubt ran through Leonard......

"The hell with the fans, I'll grant a rematch whenever the hell I want it!"

A Ray Leonard motto for sure!

 

I wouldn't go as far to say it was a gift. I watched the fight a few days ago for the first time, and had Leonard winning by a single point. The fight could have gone either way, just as the JMM vs Manny Pacquiao fights could have.

I won't lie though. I had Marquez winning both fights and I consider him the true P4P champion in my heart of hearts.

 

Whichever way you had it, my point is that both those verdicts considering the outcry of discontent from the fans, deserved rematches.
Rematches that were unwilling to be granted by both officially winning parties.

Lets get real here, when you get a decision, and you're unwilling to grant a rematch to the official loser despite their being mega-bucks involved.
I think it bleeds through the real confidence that the official winner has in getting another decision (in my terms, gift.)

 

Leonard beat Hagler based on the following: better variety of punches, ring generalship, defense. Probably the biggest difference to me was that Leonard put punches together, Hagler didn't put more than two punches together. Hagler was seldom effective with his aggression. Certainly over the first 4-5 rounds he wasn't effective. He stood off, was beaten to the punch, and lacked ideas.

The 9th round. Probably Hagler's best round of the fight. Watch when Leonard sags into the ropes blowing heavily as Hagler comes on strong. He had Leonard as an open stationary target and he missed a lot of punches, although he landed some as well. And the poorest part of Hagler's game at that point in the fight? Handspeed. Very slow.

Over the 12 rounds Leonard deserved the victory. And because Hagler came forward, means nothing IMO. You don't get extra points for coming forward. No use coming forward loading up with punches and missing most of them.

And Leonard did throw point scoring flashy combinations that were not hurting Hagler, but some of them bounced of Hagler's shaven skull. They score points.

IMO Leonard looked like he wanted it more even though he was using lateral movement and darting in and out. Just because your coming forward doesn't mean you want it more. It's all about moving your hands and being effective.

 

Divac. One thing I have noticed about you and scoring fights. It's all about fighters coming forward that seems to impress you in any fight deemed as controversial. Chavez against Whitaker and Hagler the same against Leonard.

 

Regardless the fight was close enough to warrent a rematch. It was not like it was a blowout.

 

If Leonard wanted a rematch there would have been one - pronto. Hagler asked for 12 months and Leonard declined. Leonard didn't fight at all for another 1 1/2 years in case you didn't notice.

 

Didn't see your beloved Julio Chavez giving Whitaker a rematch - AT ALL NEVER NADA

:yep