Pre Hagler - Mugabi wins. Post Hagler - Benn wins. I think the pre-Hagler Mugabi was a higher level monster than Nigel - I don't for example, see Benn going 11 brutal rounds with MMH like Mugabi did, and if The Beast nailed Benn like Anthony Logan did, Nigel is unlikely to get up within 10 seconds. The MW Mugabi was a bigger banger than anybody Benn boxed at MW. I am a huge Benn fan by the way...I go back to the days when he boxed Rod Douglas, Roy Andre & Wendell Henry in the ABAs.
Benn was a more complete fighter than John. John vs. anyone in 1984-1986 is an exciting fight. He would come in and swing for the fences. His fight with Hargrove was crazy. After Hagler he calmed down a little and that made him less effective. For Hagler he actually was calmer. Had he come in swinging like he did for Hargrove against Hagler it might have been better for him. He might have either stopped Marvin or got stopped in one or two rounds, but it would have been a better chance for him.
What a shootout it would've been. I think Mugabi's style would've suited Benn. I could see then trading knockdowns. I think it would be Mugabi early or Benn late. I really do think the later the fight went the more Benn would've come on. The problem i see for Benn here is, i think Mugabi would be able to take Benn's shots, better than Benn would be able to take Mugabi's which would be big factor. But i'm going for Benn to pull it out.
I voted for Mugabi KO using this logic. I just don't see Benn being able to resist a tear-up and the pre Hagler Mugabi takes it in an absolute barnburner imo.
I like Benn by late KO. Both were hard sluggers and loved to war, and I could see a case being made either way. However, I think the Dark Destroyer was more solid overall, hence my choice.
