Leanords victory over Hagler was one of the greatest of all time

Discussion in 'World Boxing Forum' started by HEADBANGER, Aug 6, 2013.


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  1. HEADBANGER

    HEADBANGER TEAM ELITE GENERAL Full Member

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    A career welterweight with 1 fight in 5 years, fighting at middleweight for the 1st time and beating arguably the greatest middleweight of all time on an 11 year unbeaten streak.

    It annoys me how esb users look to throw mud on this unbelievable achievement

    1) Leonard won that fight imo, close but clear 115-113, I can accept a draw, or maybe a close Hagler win, but a robbery - not in a million years.

    2) Leonard waited for Hagler to get old - Leonard retired with a detached retina, whilst Leonard waited for Hagler to supposedly get old, Leonard was getting rustier and rustier - c'mon 1 fight in 5 years is ridiculous.

    3) Hagler was past his peak - I don't buy it, he was coming off 2 of the best victories of his entire career against Hearns and Mugabi, yes they were wars, yes they took a little out of Hagler but they were 2 outstanding performances at the end of an 11 year unbeaten streak.

    4) Leonards shots were pitter patter. He mixed the power up in his shots really well, his punch selections was excellent, everytime Hagler had his back against the wall Leonard fought him back off even in the rounds Hagler was winning despite Leonard being the naturally lighter man. Leonard showed outstanding ability to fight in the pocket through rounds 5 to 11, he showed great adaptability during the fight and he fought great in adversity every single time he needed to.


    One of the most intriguing aspects of the fight for me was that Leonard got into Haglers head, all the way through the fight he deliberately used tactics to annoy Hagler such as moving well, holding, punching after the break, showboating, poking his chin out, pushing haglers head down, punching out of the clinch, making Hagler miss, pretending he was overly tired - Leonard messed Haglers head up in that fight, he beat Hagler on the outside and when Hagler thought he was fighting his fight on the inside Leonard had the versatility to fight him off, Hagler just couldn't work out how to beat Leonard and left the ring and incredibly frustrated man.

    That win in my eyes goes down as one of the greatest ever.
     
    HEADBANGER, Aug 6, 2013
    HEADBANGER, Aug 6, 2013
    #1
  2. Scar

    Scar VIP Member Full Member

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    Those that say Leonard waited for Hagler to get old confuse me. Was Leonard getting younger in the process?
     
    Scar, Aug 6, 2013
    Scar, Aug 6, 2013
    #2
  3. Back Hand Slap

    Back Hand Slap Well-Known Member Full Member

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    A fight which could go either way. I think Leonard did just enough, and I've scored it for him twice. He deserves full credit for this win, it was an exceptional performance. I think the Lalonde win is somewhat underrated as well.
     
    Back Hand Slap, Aug 6, 2013
    Back Hand Slap, Aug 6, 2013
    #3
  4. Mind Reader

    Mind Reader J-U-ICE Full Member

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    Good post...:good

    That win is severely underrated here... It was certainly one of the greatest wins of all time, right up there with Duran over Leonard.

    I actually rate Leonard the highest of the Fab 4..
     
    Mind Reader, Aug 6, 2013
    Mind Reader, Aug 6, 2013
    #4
  5. Collie

    Collie Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    It was a great win that helps him to rank so highly on peoples P4P lists, it's certainly a huge win for him.

    I remember watching and scoring it and had it a close Leonard win, something like 6 rounds to 5 and one drawn round. I remember thinking afterward that Hagler would have won if he hadn't thrown away the first two rounds when he fought Orthadox.

    It could be scored close either way but either way, Leonard put up a great performance and fought a smart fight
     
    Collie, Aug 6, 2013
    Collie, Aug 6, 2013
    #5
  6. brown-bomber

    brown-bomber Member Full Member

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    It's different for certain fighters. Hagler was active and was involved in wars, the Mugabi fight was a freakin war!

    I had Leonard winning 7-5 or 6-5-1.

    Just like how Leonard got in to him mentally, he waited for the right time too. As athletic as he was, he was one smart, cunniving fighter. He waited for the right time and it paid off.

    A hell of a victory nonetheless. The brilliant thing about it is that Hagler loses little to no credibility for losing this fight.
     
    brown-bomber, Aug 6, 2013
    brown-bomber, Aug 6, 2013
    #6
  7. Decker

    Decker Boxing Addict Full Member

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    I think SRL TKO14 over Hearns at WW might have been his masterpiece. The betting line was about 3:1 Hearns.

    Was Hagler-SRL the one in Vegas? It was a top SRL performance. However...

    IIRC after the bout Hagler said in effect, "well, you know, this is Vegas". Hagler thought he was robbed.
    IMO the judges gave the benefit of the doubt to SRL in the close rounds. It's been a very long time since I've seen this one, but I remember thinking it should have been a draw :think
     
    Decker, Aug 6, 2013
    Decker, Aug 6, 2013
    #7
  8. like a boss

    like a boss Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    :deal
     
    like a boss, Aug 6, 2013
    like a boss, Aug 6, 2013
    #8
  9. HEADBANGER

    HEADBANGER TEAM ELITE GENERAL Full Member

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    Yeah I like the Lalonde fight as well, although it was a cherry pick, weight jumping was not as common back then and Leonards speed and combination punching was the best I've ever seen.

    I'm currently on a 2 week holiday break from the London Team Elite headquarters and today I settled down with an ice cold decanter of dandelion and burdock and a mouth-wateringly delicious finger buffet complete with mini sausage rolls, scotch eggs, pickled onions and frazzles and re-watched Leonard v Duran 2 and Leanard v Hagler. Tomorrow It is my intention to re-watch Leonard v Lalonde :party
     
    HEADBANGER, Aug 6, 2013
    HEADBANGER, Aug 6, 2013
    #9
  10. HEADBANGER

    HEADBANGER TEAM ELITE GENERAL Full Member

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    Rating them 1 to 4 seems such an impossible thing to do. Even in ATG rankings theres probably not 20 places between them.
     
    HEADBANGER, Aug 6, 2013
    HEADBANGER, Aug 6, 2013
    #10
  11. anton

    anton Well-Known Member Full Member

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    The fight was real close i thought hagler edged it with being more effective. But i hav no probs with the outcome. Tho hagler would beat leonard on any other night.
     
    anton, Aug 6, 2013
    anton, Aug 6, 2013
    #11
  12. anton

    anton Well-Known Member Full Member

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    Durans win is more inpressive
     
    anton, Aug 6, 2013
    anton, Aug 6, 2013
    #12
  13. Ripper11

    Ripper11 Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    good thread man. Leonard's win was a great one and I've watched it twice and don't see much argument for Hagler winning it
     
    Ripper11, Aug 6, 2013
    Ripper11, Aug 6, 2013
    #13
  14. vargasfan1985

    vargasfan1985 Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    I read that SRL prepared for the fight by having REAL fights, with judges and all. Obviously, they were not commissioned fights, but they were treated as such.
     
    vargasfan1985, Aug 6, 2013
    vargasfan1985, Aug 6, 2013
    #14
  15. nutnfancy

    nutnfancy Guest

    No, but he was still younger than Hagler; plus, years spent commentating are not the same wear and tear as years spent in the ring.

    And one more thing....Hagler won.
     
    nutnfancy, Aug 6, 2013
    nutnfancy, Aug 6, 2013
    #15
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