Why wasn't Hagler more aggressive vs. Duran and Leonard?

Hagler is forever destined to be remembered as the ultra-aggressive swarmer he never was.

If you're actually familiar with Hagler and his career,it really shouldn't come as any surprise to you as to why he struggled with Leonard and Duran.He sure as hell doesn't have the benefit of being old and decrepit when he struggled against a mediocre talent in Marcos Geraldo - and Geraldo sure as hell wasn't competitive by employing the type of tactics that he(Geraldo) used against Leonard.

 

I honestly don't think he gets enough.

 

Everyone gets too much credit for beating Duran.

 

It's funny this question is asked.. think of it this way.... lets say you were 6'2 220 and you were scheduled to fight a kid 5'8 180 after school. You've known the kid to be an excellent fighter and minor legend even. Just because you're bigger and a good fighter yourself... you don't think you're a little concerned about what you're in store for. You dont' think you might try and take a cautious approach at first to not get caught and see what they still have left? I would. Well hagler did, and found out they had something left when they landed crisp clean punches and were outboxing him at times. He was probably like.. damn.. they aren't as bad as people think they were and that might make him even more cautious or aggressive. Add to that, SRL and Duran were both acting VERY confident in their respective fights... So you add that to Hagler also learning they weren't as bad as expected, and certified boxing legends in their time, yeah his confidence wouldn't be at its peak. I just don't get why people are so surprised by these performances.. it's Duran and SRL for God's sake.

 

:yep

 

It was after the Minter fight that Hagler developed a reputation for being a monster among casual fans who'd never seen or read about him. Those of us at the time who were in the know,knew that he would bo with boxers etc.

 

Did you watch it on ITV the following monday night after news at 10. ****in 1st round was missing & started off midway through round 2 & missed out a few more rounds too boot. It was Hugh McIlveney i think who headlind in the guardian "Not so Marvelous" & raved over Durans tactics which took all of us never mind Hagler by suprise. I've got to dig this fight out again as i'am sure at the end of the 3rd or 4th it looked liked Duran stuck the nut on hagler as the bell rang

 

The thing is this was a bonafide middleweight great fighting a Welterweight and Lightweight great, to really dumb it down.

A great big man almost always beats a great small man.

Duran had but one impressive win in eons and that was over a guy Hagler would have bent over. Straight after this decent win he was also jumping to yet another division.

SRL had but one fight in 5 years, and a poor one at that.

Monzon said it best post SRL - you've got to use your size advantage and show the smaller guys who is boss.

Duran was allowed to perform better than he otherwise would have. Leonard was also not pressed enough. They were never going to worry the cast iron chin of Hagler. I'd accept he was worried about gassing out or being cut,but being the genuine middle you'd expect the smaller men to tire more quickly.