What if Marvin Hagler had gotten a title shot in 1977?

Hagler probably beats him

 

Jesus You are boring like hell. Writing tremendous bible that i ignored totally . since now simply don't quote me simpleton, make me the favour

 

You didn't totally ignore it, though, did you? You took the trouble to reply to it, you big plum.

And you call me 'simpleton'?

 

Hagler by decision. Lateral movement was the least stressful way with Valdes and Hagler was extremely good at it. His jab, movement and countering variety would get him home by UD. He had the durability and indeed the ability to survive any exchanges and rough going.

 

What if Marvin Hagler got a title shot in 1979?

Oh, he did. And fought to a draw with Vito Antuofermo.

I don’t think he was ready in 1977.

 

Hagler was green in 1977 i agree

 

Hagler was a rare fighter where he needed everything to line up for him. Experience and maturation of his body and even getting angry for not getting the chance to win the title sooner. I think winning a title in 1977 means he is more beatable than he was in 1980..

 

Yes. In all the ways that matter, Hagler was quite probably as ready in '77, as he was in '79 - the unfavorable decision he got against Antuofermo, notwithstanding (which, had the same misfortune occurred with him as the Champion, Hagler would have remained Champion).

Valdes was coming to the end of the road and I suspect Hagler would have been favored to take the title from him, at this time. Following that, I think he'd have been pretty much unstoppable, as he actually did appear to be, until he began to creak a bit, in 1986.

Had it have happened this way, Hagler would have likely already equaled Monzon's record, before Leonard's challenge came (if it came at all, within that new timeline). As for his All-Time ranking, there's not a lot of room to maneuver, with him seeming to be a staple in the Top-4, these days.

There'd be a much better case for having him above Monzon, though.

 

Ha Ha that made me laugh.

 

Or maybe if Hagler won it in 1977, sometime before the end of 1979 he’d have lost it and had to win it back later.

 

And you'd base such a speculation on what?

 

The Antuofermo fight, in large part. Marvin wasn’t Marvelous at that point in his career.

(And yes Marvin would have retained had he been champ and the fight gone to a draw, but he could easily lose a decision in a fight like that to Vito or others at that level.)

 

I disagree - the Antuofermo (I) bout was a poor decision by most accounts and, while there's no accounting for the quality of the judging, that type of result should really be seen as the exception and not the rule. Hagler's performance was fine and too much is made of this aberration. But, then again, there's not a whole lot to criticize Hagler for so, I can see why this 'on-paper' blemish might garner so much attention.

Of course, in an 'alternative reality', anything is possible. But the fact is that, after his loss to Monroe in March '76, Hagler didn't lose again until April '87 - that's 37 contests in 10 or so years. So, the likelihood of Hagler losing the Championship, had he won it two or three years earlier, seems very low.

 

The Antuofermo draw was a woeful decision and historic in it's infamy. It's akin to holding the Ramirez and Chavez decisions against Whitaker. I've seen two cards in my lifetime that favored Vito.

 

It's amazing that a question about Hagler and Valdez somehow brings out the Monzon zombies. It's like setting out a can of tuna out behind the garage, knowing that the stray cats will come running. (Hagler in '77 mugs Valdez and/or Monzon, I'd bet. )