Was Hagler s loss To Leonard More About Marvin Declining,Or Ray's Tactics?

If I may say, it does appear that you’re trying to argue that the opening rounds of Hagler - Leonard were all about what Ray was doing, not about what Hagler wasn’t doing but could’ve done.

First you said Marv never fought someone as quick as Leonard. Not true. Hearns hand speed was obviously on par.

Then you said Marv didn’t have to go looking for Hearns. I agreed but probably should’ve qualified myself further on that.

I added that Marv wasn’t actually looking for Leonard in the opening rounds of their fight.

Your incorrect suggestion that Marv never started notably aggressive allowed me to return to duly qualifying that Hagler did in fact do same vs Hearns.

Notwithstanding Hearns aggressive reciprocation, Hagler initiated the fireworks which set the tone of the fight that unpacked thereafter.

I never said Hagler’s errant tactics during the opening rounds vs Leonard were due to age and slowing down. I clearly framed them as a poor election on Hagler’s part.

So, it doesn’t run that you would anticipate that I would call in age and slowing down as an explanation for Hagler’s overly cautious tactics vs Duran.

Quite simply, Hagler afforded far too much respect toward Roberto, applying less than ideal tactics/strategy.

Since the time of the Duran fight and perhaps in due correction of the err of his ways vs Roberto, Marv had accrued the successful application of a more pro actively aggressive start under his belt when he blew away Hearns.

The Hearns fight would’ve lent heavily to the belief that Marv would start exactly the same against Leonard - especially a virtual 5 year inactive, presumably rusty as hell Ray who didn’t ever hit as hard as Tommy at any rate.

Basically, Marv gave Ray too much rope in those opening 4 rounds, and despite putting more pressure on Ray in the mid to later rounds, the fight more than arguably got away from him due to his overly passive opening rounds.

Also, aside from how the 12 round limit came to pass (of course it wasn’t part of the negotiations) it was still 3 rounds less than Hagler had when dealing with Duran so that’s another reason why Hagler shouldn’t have opened the fight on cruise control.