Where does Mike McCallum rank among the best MW?

But isn't that just what he was and did? He fought all of his top contenders his entire career (except in his final bout when he was looking- understandably- for the big payday) and wiped them out. I don't recall fights being cancelled because Hagler was asking too much or making unreasonable demands. They lined them up and he knocked them down.

You got me a tad confused here.

 

The Leonard fight even taking place was a complete betrayal of that mindset and reputation he had deservedly built up.That's what i'm getting at.

 

So you think Dempsey feared Wills or Holmes feared Page? This is all hypothetical, but I personally don't. I think they also figured they find better value in terms risk/reward somewhere else.

If Hagler declined to face both WBA:s and IBF:s mandatories to fight someone who wasn't ranked anywhere, then of course that's ducking. Duran at least ducked his mandatory in McCallum to face a fighter who was a true force at the weight. Leonard hade done nothing worthwhile in boxing for 5 years and nothing at MW period. He was thought a gimme, and for good reason.

Leonard was the comfortable choice for Hagler, seemingly the best risk/reward in the history of the sport, and there's some poetic justice to it blowing it up in Hagler's face.

 

He is not top 10

 

I agree with this....he wanted no part of Hearns for the rematch....he thought Ray was the easy way out....and he would have been had he not excepted that money for 12 rounds instead of 15 and the bigger ring, he sealed his own fate and then he packed it in and quit like a lil biitch....and sat on the sidelines from Italy talking shiiit about everybody.....yea real tough guy, yup i see him for what he really was a crybaby....

 

He'd already destroyed Hearns really quite severely though.
Your critique would make more sense if you said he someone other than Hearns, someone he'd hadn't already put to sleep inside 3 rounds.

 

No one on earth would turn down that money.

 

Hagler did not duck McCallum

 

Everyone knows that Hagler ducked Chong Pal Park :yep

 

true.It's not like it's a big criticism of him or anything...i'm just mocking his uptight demeanour and eventual hypocrisy.

Still, it would have been more satisfying if he had told Leonard to **** off and earn a shot.But the lure of the green was too strong.