Leonard got knocked out by Quincy Taylor in sparring

Accounts I’ve read say he was out, but out on his feet.

I guess Hagler wasn’t quite on Quincy’s level, haha.

In fact, actually, Quincy may have been the most important reason Leonard won. His game plan up unti that ill-fated sparring session was to go at Hagler and go after him hard with the intent of busting up his scar tissue and getting a stoppage that way. After Taylor stopped him in his tracks, he and his team rethought that approach and he decided to box.

 

Lol! Interesting. Never heard this. Yeah if Sugar Ray went at Hagler and tried to go the route of Tommy Hearns… he would’ve went out like Tommy did too. lol

Wow! He was actually going to go at Hagler?!?? WTF Angelo?? Man Angelo was smarter than that?! Surprised it took a bad sparring session to get some sense into them.

I mean yeah… Leonard had some zip on his punches and had power. But the kind of power to be able to GO AT Hagler and stay upright?? No. Only person in history I envision being able to go at Hagler and take what would be coming back at them… Triple G. No joke. He had the pop and the chin.

 

Antuofermo did in their first fight, an aged Briscoe also did against a pre title Hagler. I'd back Richard Tiger to do it as well as guys like Valdez and probably Fullmer. LaMotta would have a chance. There's a lot of tough middleweights scattered across history.

 

The GOAT Ray Robinson would be fine handling Hagler’s shots he has his own steely mandible and the hardest punch south of 175lbs IMO.

 

Valdez vs both Leonard and Hagler at MW would’ve been great matches imo. The way Rocky KO’d Briscoe was sensational - terrific power.

 

Hagler was one tough nut but he wasn’t exactly walking through Leonard’s punches - not enough to go punch for punch of course but upsized Ray took some respectful pop into that fight -

 

"His game plan up unti that ill-fated sparring session was to go at Hagler and go after him hard"

That would have been outright suicidal.

 

They be good matches for sure. Valdez was a great puncher and had some skills but i thought his footwork was a touch plodding and that was his, I won't say weakness, but his stylistic intangible. I like Marvin to win a comfortable decision in boxing mode, which was his default mode at his best. Valdez would have enormous trouble with Ray's speed but Ray would have to box well all the way to the finish. I'd take Ray over 10 with reasonable confidence but a 15 rounder would be a lot more precarious.

Valdez vs come forward fighters make for great matches. Imagine him against the likes of D Tiger, Fullmer, LaMotta, Barkley, Rubin Carter, and co

 

The reasoning behind going after Hagler's scar tissue was sound. That’s how Mike Rossman attacked Victor Galindez in their first fight and got the stoppage win.

Would it have worked? Maybe not.

But at least Ray woke up in time to adjust, whereas Hagler stuck to his stupid idea of fighting orthodox and trying to outbox Ray to show everyone he was the better pure boxer, giving away the early rounds.