What if Roberto Duran had defeated Marvelous Marvin Hagler in Nov 1983?

After Duran fought Hagler, he told Ray Leonard he'd beat him ( Hagler) if he fought him.

 

Hagler is an on top fighter. When he is in that mode he steamrolls guys and looks devastating. But when he is not on top, he looks very vulnerable.

But that is the way it is with the on top guys. Hagler was no exception.

 

Sugar Ray Leonard would have been inconsolable watching Duran do it. He’d go through a ton of tissues wiping away his tears. Then negotiate a fight with Duran courtesy of his ass licking WBC with no doubt purse parity.

 

To the contrary i think he would have been elated. Hagler unified titles on a platter in a huge money match. I'd bet solid solid money he was barracking for Duran.

 

L

Fair point but I still think Leonard wanted the whole pie for himself.

 

You could be right but this was years before they fought. Duran would have been far easier than Hagler for the whole kit and caboodle at 160 and they had history as well as duran being a big name again.......well even bigger if he beat Hagler.

Of course i am in the camp that Hagler beat him far easier than the judges said and it had potential robbery written all over it.

 

You’re right about Duran being an easier route to a middleweight title than against Hagler at any point in time. Not easy but easier. Glad the judges did right by Hagler. As you say it had all the hall marks of a Duran victory on points simply due to his name deserving or not.

 

It would've been one of the greatest wins of all time and possibly put him as top 3 of al time. However, I think Hagler would have won it back in a rematch.

 

I wasn't born yet lol but I do have an appreciation for the ol time fights always have ala Armstrong, Louis, Ezzard, Dempsey, Harold Johnson,etc


Hope y'all enjoyed the fight! 80s was a great time w Welter n MW even outside of the Fab 4 much respect to them tho.

 

Duran really exposed a lot of holes in Haglers game. As the middleweight champion he was getting schooled and countered by the former lightweight king. Hagler went back to his corner after a few rounds and didnt know how Duran kept nailing him with the right hand the Petronellis told him Duran was timing him. Apparently a new concept to Marvin.
The 11th round shows Hagler nearly running from Duran, of course he got the decision as there were big potential fights with Hearns and Leonard on the horizon. This fight was a draw IMO and Duran should have gotten a rematch.

 

Agreed. I have a ton of respect for Hagler but I have always thought that certain guys that were movers would have been a huge problem for him. Anyone that stood in front of him was going to lose but guys like BHOP or even Kalambay would be a problem for him. I have Haglar lower than most on my ATG middleweight list than most. Duran attacked from angles used a lot of feights. I will go to my grave thinking BHOP was the more complete fighter and they guy that would have come out on top head to head.

 

Yes easier is a better description than mine. Duran was never going to beat Leonard again post Montreal.

It's certainly a strange event in it's own way. Hagler vs Duran. Even in loss Duran's stocks rose immensely and even us guys noting the fight wasn't near as close as the judges had it still recognise what a fine effort it was for Duran.