What would have happened to the middleweight division in the 80`s if there had been no Hagler?

Hamsho wins the belt, perhaps even defending it successfully a couple times.

 

Hamsho, a motivated Dwight Davidson, or even Curtis Parker.

 

Alan Minter returns to London to a hero's welcome after his victory over World Middleweight Champion Vito Antuofermo.
He announces his first defense will be a rematch with Vito and that it will happen in the UK.

The rematch comes to pass and Minter wins in more dominating fashion.

Minter announces he will next face Ronny Harris. He wants revenge for the tko defeat he suffered against Harris three years prior. Harris has already lost a decision to Hugo Corro in a previous title try and has been stopped by Sammy Nesmith only a few months ago. But Minter feels he is due a soft defense after two rough fights with Antuofuermo. The timing is right for Minter.

At first, the WBC and WBA are hesitant to sanction the fight. But after an envelope containing $25,000 arrives courtesy Harris's Manager Dennis Rappaport at their respective headquarters, the two sanctioning bodies magically change their tune, and the fight is made.

On Oct. 10, Minter decisions Harris in a yawn fest in front of 20,000 bored fans at Wembly.

Minter has pocketed a cool $300,000 for the glorified workout.

In Jan. 1981, Minter's team announces he will make his second defense against the once beaten U. S. based Syrian Mustafa Hamsho. The fight wlll take place at Wembly on March 24, to be televised in the US on ABC.

Hamsho fights well above expectations. He seems impervious to the raucous partisan crowd. He overwhelms Minter with a tireless two fisted attack. He lacks the power to seriously hurt the Englishman, but is ahead on points when an overhand left rips open a hideous gash over Alan's right eye in the 10th round. The blood flows in to the eye during the next two plus rounds and the corner cannot not stop it. Finally, the ref calls a halt in the 12th round.

Mustafa Hamsho, much like Antuofermo before him, is thought of as beatable, and a bevy of contenders clamour for a title shot.

Finally, Hamsho announces he will make his first defense against Mandatory Challenger Fully Obel.

The fight is set for July 15 at Madison Square Garden.

Obel uses his vast height and reach advantages to pot shot Hamsho in the early rounds. Hamsho's chin holds up though, and gradually, he closes the distance more frequently. He bulls hid way inside and works over Obel's body. Finally, Hamsho bulls a tiring Obel to the ropes and unloads a fusilade of unanswered punches in the 10th round. Referee Arthur Mercante calls a halt.

A few weeks later, Hamsho's team announces his second defense will be against Curtis Parker on Novemer 15 in Atlantic City.

Hamsho uses his strength advantage to smother a game Parker and wins a clear-cut 15 round decision.

Hamsho's third defense is scheduled for February 12, 1982 in Atlantic City. The opponent will be Frank "The Animal" Fletcher, who has been on an exciting run.

Hamsho proves far too strong for Fletcher. Hamsho pins Fletcher on the ropes and dominates the action. Frank gamely fights back and lands his best punches, but Hamsho is unfazed. Fletcher is cut and finally the fight is stopped in the 8th round.

Sugar Ray Leonard, the unified 147 Lb. champion, announces he wants to challenge Hamsho. Leonard says he has been cleared by his Opthamologist to fight. He has been inactive since knocking out overmatched Bruce Finch in defense of his Undisputed Welterweight Title in early February.

Leonard wants a tune up at 160 lbs first, though.

Hamsho's team won't risk losing this huge payday so out not to fight while waiting for Leonard to have his warm up fight.

Leonard signs to fight tough trial horse Ernie Singletary, who has lost his last two fights to Fletcher and Thomas Hearns. The fight will take pace on May 5 in Atlantic City. Leonard alternates between boxing and infighting and wins a comfortable decision.

The Hamsho-Leonard fight is set for July 12 at Madison Square Garden. It will be promoted by Bob Arum. Don King is incensed that he couldn't land the fight, so the Garden somewhat pacifies him by agreeing to host Sanchez v. Nelson later in the summer.

Leonard utilizes his hand and foot sped advantages to fight on his terms. Hansho has trouble cutting off the ring. He is cut badly and absorbs a frightful beating. Finally, at the end of the sixth round, trainer Paddy Flood has seen enough and tells referee Tony Perez his charge has had enough.

Ray Leonard becomes one of a select few to have won World Titles in three weight divisions.

Almost immediately, the public and media begin clamouring for a Leonard-Hearns rematch for the Undisputed Middleweight Title. Promoter Bob Arum holds a press conference to announce he is working on it, but nothing has been settled.

A few weeks later, Ray Leonard holds his own press conference. He looks at Thomas Hearns and says, "Tommy, I know you want another fight with me, unfortunately, it will never happen. My Opthamologist and Retinal Specialist say I have a partially torn and detached retina and have advised me to retire. I am taking that advice. I have had a great career, unified the Welterweight title, won a portion of the Junior Middleweight title and won the undisputed Middleweight title. It was a great run. I look forward to spending more time with my wife Juanita and Ray, Junior. Goodnight."

Thomas Hearns is dejected at the news. He offers his opinion. "I think Ray knows I am much stronger at 160 than I was at 147. I think he was not confident he could beat me and is using the eye as an excuse to get out of fighting me again. I'll just keep plugging away and my goal will remain winning the 160 Lb title, whoever that may be against."

Shortly thereafter, the WBC and WBA announce they are holding fights between their respective number 1 and 2 contenders to crown 160 Lb. champs. For the first time in many years, the Middleweight Title will be divided......... .

 

This is realistic, right down to Minter getting cut haha.

I’d like to think Animal Fletcher would have managed a short run — probably with at most one successful gimme defense — but I wouldn’t bet my life on it. He left a lot of himself in the ring and deserved at least a shot at some point and likely would have managed one had the title been split.

Speaking of which, I would guess that somewhere in this scenario the titles do split and Juan Roldan gets one of the straps, probaby the WBA, by beating someone for the vacant belt when whomever is stripped.

Hearns probaby does figure in there somewhere too.

 

I think Hearns really figures in there. Tommy became too involved in moving up and down, but had he become comfortable at 160 he might have started to knock guys out more.

 

I have edited my post. I didn't have time to finish it last night. Hearns does figure in, as well as Leonard. I basically created a scenario where Leonard is the central figure, whether or not he holds the title and everyone else is dependent on his whims.... Just like in real life vis a vis Hagler. In my scenario, Leonard gets a 160 lb shot before Hearns, as he holds the Undisputed 147 lb title and the titlist can can command more $ against him than Hearns. I basically imply that Leonard views Hamsho as highly beatable, so no need to beg off with the eye exusr, unlike what some believe happened in 1982 when a potential fight with Hagler was on the horizon. Then, when Hearns is clamouring for a shot, and the public and media concur, the eye suddenly becomes an issue. Then, the sadness of the titles being divided. Also, this whole scenario played out iny head. I didn't look at anyone else's subsequent posts but it does look like many others have the basic idea I had.

 

It depends on whether Leonard wants to retire or not. You have to say Hearns wins a belt somewhere unless he has to beat Leonard to take it. Duran might even win one of them, as Hamsho, Minter, and others that Hagler defeated were nothing special.

I see a fragmented belts scenario with a lot of politics.

 

Yes, if I had continued on past the splintering of the titles, it would be logical that Hearns would win one of the vacant titles and then possibly unify.