Would Marvin Hagler Have Fought At Super Middleweight ?

So during Hagler's rein there wasn't a Super Middleweight division, and the Light Heavyweight was a step too far with the opposition and size difference.

But say if there was a pretty good era of Super Middleweights in Hagler's time, do you think he would've moved up to try and win another title in a different weightclass ? Or would he of stayed at Middleweight if theres enough big fights for him ?

 

Up until towards the end of his career, Hagler said he wanted to break Monzon's record for middleweight title defenses. So it is highly unlikely he would have fought at 168.

 

No, he was too small. He honestly probably could've gone in the other direction and been a SWW to be honest

 

The super middleweight world title emerged during Marv's reign, so there was that option..."Hagler must prove his mettle by stepping up and taking on Chong-Pal Park" said no one, ever.

It only really gained a bit of prestige when Ray and Tommy saw it as a 5th weight world title thing, then by the 90s it became a big thing.

 

Hagler a natural 160 pounder, with the likes of big name fighters like Leonard, Hearns and Duran knocking on his door to challenge for his belts, i think Marvin was happy at middleweight, king of his division and would have stayed there

 

Is it me or does history treat a unified/undisputed/lineal long reigning champion with a good amount of defences against at least decent if not great opposition even if not unified in one weight division than a multi weight title holder with none or very few defences in one weight where they didn’t even prove their dominance. Is that why Monzon and Hagler have a higher standing in history than Benitez, Hearns and a load of other multi weight title holders. With Armstrong it was slightly different. At least he won titles in three divisions when it meant something. Also why the need for a dominant champion to move up? Why? Would it have improved Michael Spinks status or diminished Hagler’s if they fought and Spinks won as would probably be the case. Same scenario with Foster and Monzon. My opinion.

 

It can improve a fighters standing moving up in weight, depending on the opposition in their weightclass. Or if there are bigger challenges at higher weightclasses.

I'm not saying this applies to Hagler, and I'm creating a fantasy scenario where Super Middleweight would have challenges for him say like in the early 90s.

But to give you a few examples most people think Joe Calzaghe stayed at Super Middleweight too long, and should've moved up sooner which could've heightened his resume.

Ricardo Lopez stayed at Minimumweight too long, and could've moved up and fought Carabajal, Gonzalez, and improved his resume.

Then you have fighters like Pacquiao, Armstrong, ODLH, Mayweather, who certainly improved their resume moving through the weightclasses.

It all depends though really fighters like Monzon, Hagler, didn't really need to move up to heighten their resume. But other fighters maybe could've benefitted moving up a weightclass to heighten their resume.

 

I agree with you certain fighters did or should have moved up to improve their resume. I also agree with you in that Monzon and Hagler were the exception. Another reason is obviously weight problems. Imagine how great Don Curry could have been if he had realised his potential at 147 without killing himself to make 147. Then moving up gradually. He showed glimpses against McCallum. Some fighters need to move up some don’t. I guess it’s a combination of weight making and where you best competitors are at that time. Duran being a fine example. Did everything at lightweight. No need or reason to stop at 140. Forget Pryor. No money. So straight to welter and Leonard.

 

Marvin always came in under 160. He was a smallish MW blessed with long arms. He was comfortable making weight therefore no reason to jump around. I'm assuming if the money was right for some type of super fight he may have but who knows. Still bummed he passed away so soon

 

Hagler trained extremely hard, so I don't think he could make 168 comfortably, in fact, I think he could have dropped down to 154 and fought there if he wanted rather than going up in weight.

 

Duran skipped a complete division and beat SRL at 147. He was already a totally dominant champion, a legend, a great. Did it improve his status? GREATLY. Not only is he above your examples of Hearns and Benitez but he is also well above Monzon and Hagler as well. He dared to be even greater. This isn't a slight on Hagler and Monzon but the fact of the matter is that Duran took a big chance and succeeded. There are other examples too. Spinks dared to be even greater and took on Holmes. He was a 6-1 underdog and thought to have no chance.

Many also don't seem to realise Monzon talked about challenging Foster on a couple of occasions.

 

I feel like moving down to 154 would be more possible for Marvin than moving up to 168. I feel like a lot of good 168ers would give him some issues historically due to his smaller size, not excessive speed and propensity to being tagged. At 160 he is a good size, and probably could have made 154. I imagine a fight vs. Winky Wright to be very interesting and think he could have been an all timer at 154, 160 and probably got a belt at 168 since that 168 title was so weak at the time.

 

They didn't need to but beating a Spinks or Foster sure would have heightened it (thru the ceiling really) into top 10 ATG type status. Again it's not a criticism, not everyone is prepared to roll the dice to that extent. That's why guys like SRR and Duran are so revered.

 

if it was now, he'd clean out 154, then 160 then top out at 168. maybe he'd lose one up there, but i doubt it. my question to the hardcore heads in the house is this : would that be worth more in an historic sense than what he did in his own era?

 

He fights any boxer in History at 168, if we are talking about is he game for it .. **** ya he is .. 175 is a different conversation. Albeit a bigger Greb went up and beat the **** out of Tunney twice .. Hagler's cut from that same cloth . .A warrior