Roy Jones Jr. vs. Marvin Hagler, at middleweight< who wins?

HAGLER both 12 and 15 rounds

 

Jones by decision courtesy of his incredible speed and evasiveness.

 

I think Roy could box and move and keep Hagler at bay the way Leonard did but I also think that Left cross that felled Hearns can fell Jones (like Southpaw Tarver did)........Marvin can do it but has to go to war like he did against Hearns and not get into the cat and mouse game like he did vs SRL

 

I don't think so, Bummy. I don't think Hagler has to go to war in the way that he did with Hearns. I've seen a lot of Hagler fights and read about a few more, and the only time he fought like he did against Hearns, was against Hearns. This was a one off, imo. I don't think Hagler would do it and I think he's be crazy to try it. Jones would evade it, tie him up and give away the first two round and then get his fight on.

On the other hand if Hagler boxes Jones, then he's in deep trouble. Hagler had tremendous, and very underrated boxing skills, but he doesn't have the speed and reflexes of Jones. Hagler's key weakness is that he often boxed when he should have fought - Duran and Leonard come to mind. I think he beat Duran handily, but he almost allowed himself to be robbed by the judges by not going for the more decisive win. I also thought he edged Leonard, but he could have given Leonard fits and won more convincingly if he'd come out more aggressively with an opponent who was admittedly apprehensive about the prospect of that happening.

But Leonard is Leonard and Duran is Duran. Two of the greatest fighters ever, both top ten in many peoples view. RJ is not in the same league, frankly. With Duran, especially, you didn't know what you would get. His survival tactics against Hagler were unexpected by many and served him well against Hagler who expected an aggressive Duran.

With Jones, you know what you are gonna get. He's not gonna come winging against Hagler. He's going to box and use speed and move. He'll go to the ropes and try and be tricky and counterpunch there. There's no mystery to the tactics. With this in mind, Hagler won't try to box. Even the Petronellis ain't that dumb. I see Hagler using skillful agression, whacking the body when he has Jones against the ropes, and using that great jab to keep Jones thinking. I can't see Jones living with the sustained pressure. At some point it's gonna get intense and I think Hagler wins by stoppage late, very close on scorecards. A Jones win is not out of the question, but it would be the result of poor Hagler tactics, which is not unimaginable. Bottom line though, I don't see a performance at middleweight by Jones that makes me think he could do it.

 

Hagler has to used his controlled effective aggression to wear down Jones with body shots he will probably lose the first few rounds but come on strong late and IMO KO him aorund the 13th

 

I think Hagler would win it on points,Jones would make a good fight of it and it would be close.

 

To all the fans of old time fighters being in better condition.....if we are to assume they are training for a real fight, can we at least assume Roy prepares for 15 rounds. Anyone saying that ROY wins in 12 but loses in 15 is being completely ignorant to both fighters.

If its for 12 rounds then Haglers activity will be a huge turning point because he can work harder for shorter period. If its for 15 he paces himself slightly differently - but BOTH fighters would have prepared for the WHOLE fight not miraculously having one prepared for 12 rounds and one for 15.

fantasy criteria always sucks

 

people are saying that because Hagler always comes strong from the 13-15 and that could make the difference

 

What fights would you say Hagler came on strong in, from rounds 13-15?

 

Peak Jones would have been Hagler's toughest fight, especially if they fought at light heavyweight.

 

been a while since i watched abit of Hagler will watch some next weekend as this weekend is busy and get back to you

 

Cheers. Be sure to watch the Antuofermo fight.

 

The first Antuofermo fight he fades TBH

i watched afew but no 15 rounders but he seemed to always been at the same level his performance didnt decrease in the later rounds. Look at Obelmajias and Mugabi he still has the strength and fitness to take them out. Thats what i mean he always stay at the same lvel of performance but RJJ seems to coast rounds

 

Just to interject, in the Antuofermo fight, the onus was on Vito to come on strong. He did, and Hagler stayed with him. From what I remember of the fight, Hagler won the last two rounds handily, hurting Antuofermo more than once.

Also rounds 14 and 15 were two of Hagler's best rounds against Duran.

Having said that, I think the argument that Hagler comes on strong rounds 13 -15 is an empty one, as Hagler only went 15 rounds twice in a 60+ fight career.

He did show repeatedly during his career his ability to step it up as the fight progressed however, and had many second half KOs. The Mugabi fight being the most recent. The only fight he really couln't was against Leonard. Jones advocates would point out that perhaps a speedster then, could wear Hagler down to a standstill. I tend to think that he just didn't have it in the gas tank at that stage of his career after the Hearns and Mugabi wars.

 

This will be up to GP to decide and decipher.

They should have been too, given Duran was a genuine lightweight for many years and Hagler was the epitome of the natural Middleweight. Duran was out of wind long before the last rounds but was allowed to cruise thru both his great canniness and Hagler's cautiousness.

Mugabi had been past 6 rounds just once in his relatively short career. He'd actually been past 4 rounds only 4 times. It was no surprise to see a great like Hagler finish well over the top of him. Great fight that one.

I don't think Jones would wear him to a standstill. I think his incredible speed and evasiveness would curb Marvin's workrate somewhat. His power and sharpness would also dispell any sort of reckless attack IMO. It would be a fight for the ages one way or another, and infinitely fascinating on many many levels.