Who was the bigger underdog? Leonard that fought Hagler? Or Ali that fought Foreman?

think thats a bad comparison

leonard had only fought once in 5 years before hagler

leonard was a career welterweight

think leonard had only ever fought once at light middle, never mind middleweight

there was an issue with leonards detatched retina

hagler was considered pretty invincible going into that fight. i was only 11 when that fight happened but just about everyone thought leonard was an idiot to make that fight in the first place, thats why it ****s me off when so many people on here try **** on leonards victory saying he waited for hagler to get old. hagler was only 33 and it was one of the greatest victories in boxing history.

 

bull****, its very debatable and actually the 1st decent thread ray hogan has ever started.

 

wasnt alive to see the aliforeman fight but if anyone is interested there was a great piece on grantland about the buildup to the leonardhagler fight.

really long article but well worth it.

http://www.grantland.com/story/_/id/6983512/hagler-vs-leonard

 

LEONARD - 'After the fight (hagler v mugabi) I went straight to my room and called (manager) Mike Trainer. I said, "Mike, I want to fight Marvin Hagler." Mike said, "Ray, how many beers have you had?" I said, "No, Mike, I want to fight him. I can beat this guy. I can box this guy." No one believed it. The only person that believed I could beat Marvin Hagler was my father. My brothers didn't believe. My closest friends didn't believe, but they would support me'

 

Ali. Foreman, at the time, was a juggernaut.

 

I dont think its close Ali was bigger underdog for sure.

 

Ali.

My post from another thread:

Ali VS Foreman was the most important boxing match in my time.

You have to understand that almost ALL the “experts” had Ali losing BIG!

Ali’s career was OVER!

Ali was a good boxer and all… but he had “met his match’ in Foreman

The most famous sports caster of the day -- Howard “big mouth” Cosell -- teary eyed, bemoaned the inevitable loss. (notice all the pics with him and Ali at link)

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Foreman was “TOO BIG” “TOO STRONG” “TOO POWERFUL” -- they all chanted!

The BEST odds were Foreman over Ali 3 to 1 and I think they went as far as

Foreman over Ali 5 to 1 at some point.

If you listened to the “experts” -- Ali had as much chance of beating Forman as a snowball forming in hell!

Foreman wasn’t just going to KO Ali… heck, he might even (literally ) knock Ali out of the ring!

I bet on Ali.

I bought a ticket to see the fight in the theater on a “live” closed circuit broadcast.

I will NEVER forget when Ali KO’d Foreman in the 8th round.

ALI! ALI! ALI! ALI! ALI! … we chanted!

It still gives me shivers remembering that moment.

I KNEW Ali would win!

… And I’ve still got that ticket!
　
　

 

thanks for that, was a great read :thumbsup

 

ali was 3-1 to beat foreman, leonard was 4-1 to beat hagler.

ali was actually 7-1 to beat liston.

just shows how so many of you underestimate how big an underdog in leonard was to beat hagler. leonard was effectively moving up 2 weights to fight one of the greatest middleweights of all time, after only having 1 fight in the previous 5 years. 60 out of 67 boxing writers picked hagler to win.

 

yup np.


i thought the same thing when i first read it. its got such great insight into the beforeduringandafter of that fight.