Why do people rank Sugar Ray Leonard 10 places higher than Hagler?

Not, leonard was greater pfp, he was better fighter, he had more skill, and obviously because he did beat hagler. Leonard is higher than hagler in the history. The comparison might be ali and frazier , hagler was great, but leonard was greater.

 

Leonard went up divisions and beat Hagler obviously...

 

Better fighter who beat better fighters in better periods of their careers and spanned several weight divisions. Beating Hagler himself adds something to it as well. I'd have about 20 spots between them to be honest.

 

I rate Hagler higher.

I definitely see how the Hagler-Leonard fight is a plus to Leonard and a minus to Hagler, even though I had Hagler a point or two in front.
But Hagler's overall resume and achievements are underrated, and Leonard's overrated.

Leonard's reign as welterweight champ was short. I'm not convinced he would have held the title much longer without losing it again.
He gets too much credit for retiring then picking the right time to take on Hagler. He deserves credit for 'winning' that fight, against the odds, but the absence of a solid lengthy reign at welter puts him behind both Hagler and Duran in my eyes.

 

Because Leonard was a media darling, and Hagler wasn't, and people are easily swayed by the media. Simple as that.

All of the above plus weight stips.