Who did Marvin Hagler Call the Hardest Puncher He Ever Fought?

Christ, Hagler of all people doesn't need fanboys defending him. I think his greatness is apparent to everybody.

 

Sorry I'm so in your head but it's just too easy .

 

I actually think it was his mind. He hypnotized himself or whatever before the fight that he couldn't be hurt. "He would have to hit me with the ringpost"

Like when he went to camp he referred to it as putting himself in jail.

 

Hearns had recovered from a period with hand problems. His hands were better going into the Duran fight, then the Hutchings fight there after. Then reinjured it in round one of Hagler vs Hearns.

 

I recall him discussing how he could only fight by spending his camp convincing himself that he had a burning hatred of his opponent so that he'd walk into the ring full of rage and ready to destroy. Always interesting to hear how different fighters prep.

 

I've got it somewhere and when i eventually come across it i will repost, as a header this time. I've posted it before at length but am sure it got lost way back when quite a bit of archive was lost, from memory.

I have a feeling this was after SRL decided not to come back as Howard hurt/dropped him etc. Hagler said he'd been hurt so badly at times that (from memory) he didn't know what stadium he was fighting in.

This matters little, but as an aside, Hagler found boxing after being flattened by Dornell Wigfall who was a boxer. They fought outside a party and most stories have Hagler having to roll under a car to get away and Wigfall ending up with his jacket. Hagler always claimed a bottle but there's stories there was no bottle.

Hagler beat him on points in his 4th pro bout, Wiggy had 8 under his belt. Wig weighed 168, Hagler 162.

Edit - Hagler claims he was decked with a bottle over the head then instinctively rolled under a car. There's also stories Dornell dropped him while he was taking off his jacket.

 

Great find, TS. Thank you!