Just rewatched and rescored Leonard-Hagler - Our Scorecards

I thought Leonard edged it, and still maintain that Hagler underestimated him before, and during, the fight. He gave up some of his belts and conceded on ring size etc, all because he clearly thought it was an easy retirement payday and Leonard would fall apart within six rounds..all he had to do was walk him down. And the pundits and bookies for the most part agreed with him too. He threw away the early rounds because he thought he could afford to.

 

The whole entire fight centered around Hagler essentially giving the first 4 rounds away trying to show Leonard he could box too.
You might have been able to do that in a 15 rounder but not a 12 rounder.

 

Like him or not but Leonard has an extremely high boxing IQ. Very high.
He had been watching Hagler slip from his prime and I believe it was the Mugabi fight that Leonard saw a significant decline in Hagler enough to make the fight.
Ray would never have stood a chance with a prime Hagler who was an absolute wreaking machine in his prime.

 

I don't think this for one minute. With a record like Leonard's, Marv would have known he had to be all business and train accordingly for a potentially tough/long night. He was just faded by this time. Something that was capitalised on quite brilliantly by Ray, even if one disputes the decision (which I don't).

 

Not a robbery, but I always had this with Hagler ahead two points. Leonard mostly threw arm punches and ran. Hagler landed more effectively and never got backed up.

 

Draw. Coming out righty for the first 2 rounds did Hagler in

 

Think I usually have Leonard by a point or so. Just like a did Bivol the other week. But both are fights that could have gone either way. Would say that Beterbiev's pressure was more effective than Hagler's, though. Don't think I've ever seen a fighter do that much damage by just beating on the opponent's guard before.

Would absolutely have preferred Leonard to stay active and face Hagler some time 83-85 with both guys in their primes, but a great fight as it was and both guys had enough left to make it a real quality one, whereas Hearns-Leonard 2 was a bit more just about the will to win.