Marvin Hagler v Sugar Ray Leonard in 1982..?

Hagler stops Leonard late.

 

Concur, Marvin too much for Ray to handle at this point.Hagler stops Leonard around the thirteenth.

 

Hagler stops Leonard . Leonard knew that even in 1987 Hagler was 2 much 4 him and that was y he demanded those bigger gloves , bigger ring , shorter distance (12 instead of 15) and IDK what else . And all of it despite he knew that Hagler was already years removed from his prime by 1987 . H2H Hagler was clearly superior 2 Leonard for those who know how 2 read boxrec . It's not all about reds and greens , L's and W's .

 

Hagler couldn't even beat a rusty leonard who had fought just once in 5 years. Leonard was too fast for Marvin, always. Hagler had never seen that kind of speed before.

 

Hagler was also a lot quicker in '82.

 

This, people make every excuse for Hagler but Leonard was the inactive one who was gassed after 5rounds

 

:deal

Always found it sort of amusing that early 80s Hagler automatically stops Leonard. Duran managed to go the distance in '83 -- oh yes, I know, Marvin was exceptionally cautious - and this is prime Leonard at optimal speed of hand and foot, full of stamina, heart and chin.

 

My prediction is based on a couple of things, firstly, Leonard was a lot smaller in '82. Secondly, I think he would've brawled more back then.

 

In the early 80s, Hagler was sharper, friskier, faster, more reactive, and more active than he was when they fought, BUT, so too was Leonard. Ray was no spring chicken either when they fought and he was coming off the longer layoff and greater overall inactivity. So I'm not sure how the fight would have gone had they met when both were closer to their primes. But what we do know is Hagler WAS willing to fight Leonard all along, but it was Ray who held off on accepting the bout until Hagler was showing signs of slowing down, and when it would only be 12 rounds. Sort of like Mayweather and Pacquiao, we may never see them fight in their primes, if we ever do. I think for sure that in the early 80s, when both men were more prime, it would have been an even more entertaining fight.

 

If the fight was held in the New England area....15 rounds in a smallish ring then I'll take Hagler by decision with Marvin having Leonard on the verge of a stoppage at the final bell. If the fight is in Las Vegas with Leonsrd dictating the size of the ring, size of the gloves and the number of rounds then Ray takes it by decision in a hard fought battle. Prime for prime I always felt Hagler would've won...though it would've been a helluva fight.

 

Everyone picking Hagler really needs to offer no explanation IMO. It's Prime Marvin Hagler for christ sakes, in a Middleweight Fight. Leonard is an ATG Welterweight talent, first and foremost. Not much shame in coming up short, although I think he has the right stuff (namely speed) to pull off the feat, even in '82.

 

I'd pick Marvin, based on the fact that he was just considerably better in '82 as opposed to '87.
So too was Ray, but I think ironically in the five year interim, Hagler seemed to slow down more than Ray.
Also, it would have been a 15 round fight (I think) which could have made all the difference.

It would still be competitive I feel, but the bigger, stronger Hagler would have walked away with a decision.

 

An 82 hagler is a different prospect to 87 hagler. Leonard bites of a bit more than he can chew here in 1982. The 15 rounds is a factor in this (for me anyway). Hagler wins a close 15 rounder, by no means the murder picture some predict.