Barkley was nothing special at MW but he had just KOd Hearns in a huge upset and the 25 pound naturally lighter, older Duran stepped up to the plate and took his title away dropping him in the proccess. Leonard pulled off an even more incredible upset against Hagler, but the size discrepancy between them wasn't as significant, he dictated ALL the terms, benefited from Hagler slowing down (which is why he took the fight in the first place) as well as Marvin coming out orthodox for some reason which allowed him to pile up an early lead. I'd say Duran-Barkley.
I didn't even have Leonard winning, but I still have to give credit where it's due. Duran-Barkley was close too. Hagler hadn't lost a fight in 10 years or so. The last really close one he had was 8 years earlier. Barkley was coming off a good couple of wins, but before that he'd had a close one with Sanderline Williams and been outpointed widely by Kalambay. In the previous few years Barkley had a good few close wars.
I agree that Hagler was way better than Barkley, but that isn't the only factor that has to be taken into consideration. Leonard was younger, had shaken off a lot of rust by simulating legitimate fights in his gym unbeknownst to the public, and had most advantages regarding the actual fight as he was, what modern day fans would call, the A side. It can also be argued that Hagler let the very event get to him a bit. He did not employ an optimal strategy. Nevertheless, it was still Hagler, undisputed, dominant MW champ and it was a huge win. But Barkley-Duran just shades it a bit for me. Duran was pushing 40 and hadn't had a significant win in 5 years, ever since Hearns blew him away in 84. He was a massive underdog, and nobody expected him to take apart a young, crude but extremely powerful Barkley who had just cold-clocked the very same Hearns that annihilated Duran.
i think because of long layoff and moving up in weight SRL v Hagler and anyone who is butthurt about the decision, please tell me what Hagler did to win that fight the fact that he never fought again and blames it on that decision is shameful in and of itself
Leonard - Hagler. 1) I felt that Leonard actually won the fight (I scored the other for Barkley). 2) Hagler was a reigning ATG middleweight champion, a much, much better fighter than Barkley. 3) Leonard was coming up in weight (Duran had 8 previous fights above 154 and hadn't made 154 in almost 5 years) 4) Leonard had been extremely inactive for a very long period of time due to injuries.
Leonard hagler. Two close fights but one was against a much superior fighter and with a longer layoff for the victor
