Why don't Hagler, Monzon, and Hopkins gets criticized as Career MWs?

Hagler and Monzon were able to remain at 160 the whole career. Canelo can`t be there just a few years..Hmmmm...

GGG gets so much hate for staying in his one division and dominating for a decade, beating every single threat that came through the division. Never moved up in weight to duck an opponent (ala Mosley moving up to avoid Floyd). Hagler was a middleweight for his whole career. Based on his body type and head shape, he could have gone up to as high as Cruiserweight like the skinny Thomas Hearns did. Hopkins didn't move up in weight until he was like 45 years old. Like GGG, he made a ton of title defenses in middleweight. Only the MW division in Hopkins time was the weakest it ever been. There was a lot of tomato cans in Hopkins 20 fight streak. Look dude you need to be able to separate real boxing criticism from dumb sh-t. I don’t like ggg. It’s fair to criticize ggg’s resume. But if a poster criticizes him for being in shape and disciplined enough to stay at 160 then that poster is a f-cking idiot and you should quote them and tell them that directly. Don’t let “ggg didn’t move up” upset you.

You know Hagler was sure he beat Leonard, and I think he was right. It was close but Leonard would shoeshine near the end of a round to make him look good. Hagler was scoring very heavily to the body and also several times he had Leonard in trouble that he had to hold on. The ref warned Leonard for holding about 50 times; it seemed he was doing it more than fighting, and he should have lost a few points for it, but didn't. There were a couple of times when I thought that Leonard was going down, but he held and recovered. Leonard would have waited longer for Hagler to get older, but Hagler's previous fight against John Mugabi was one of the most brutal fights in middleweight history. It had to have taken a lot out of Hagler. So Leonard, getting 12 rounds instead of Hagler's preference of the usual 15 rounds, the largest size ring, and bigger 10oz gloves instead of the usual 8oz, already had many advantages before the fight even took place... So we disagree amicably on this one matter... Good post I think Hagler was chasing the big payday that always eluded him, and the only guy that could deliver was Srl. He gave up ring size, gloves, etc. to get the $. Close to 20 mill after the final tally according to most sources that was a big deal in the 80's. He didn't think Srl could beat him under any circumstance but Srl was always the more cagey guy in and out the ring. Smart move for Hagler to retire when he did. He was 60+ fights in and still on top despite the loss, Srl was avoiding a rematch, nobody around his weight could make a similar payday, and ppl still give Hagler the nod for the actual fight.

Style wise I am more of a Hagler fan. However Ray did beat him, all ends up, that night. Good point about the waiting him out though. Ray was very canny, in and out of the ring. He knew what he was doing. He certainly wanted every advantage he could get. You know Hagler was sure he beat Leonard, and I think he was right. It was close but Leonard would shoeshine near the end of a round to make him look good. Hagler was scoring very heavily to the body and also several times he had Leonard in trouble that he had to hold on. The ref warned Leonard for holding about 50 times; it seemed he was doing it more than fighting, and he should have lost a few points for it, but didn't. There were a couple of times when I thought that Leonard was going down, but he held and recovered. Leonard would have waited longer for Hagler to get older, but Hagler's previous fight against John Mugabi was one of the most brutal fights in middleweight history. It had to have taken a lot out of Hagler. So Leonard, getting 12 rounds instead of Hagler's preference of the usual 15 rounds, the largest size ring, and bigger 10oz gloves instead of the usual 8oz, already had many advantages before the fight even took place... So we disagree amicably on this one matter...

Because they all faced quality opponents at middleweight. Bernard Hopkins' record at MW would like a word....

Hagler retired from disgust at Leonard saying he wouldn't give him a return. There have been videos of Leonard talking about it and looking crafty, wagging his finger and saying "no, no, I'm not that stupid".... Hagler already had a budding career beginning in Italian movies, but he really wanted that return with Leonard. Leonard also looked for big advantages against top opponents, before he'd fight them, and planned it out very carefully beforehand. Look at the disgusting advantage he took against Donny LaLonde, a really good light-heavy champ. Made him put up his title but also made him kill himself by coming down to 168 an almost impossibility. But Leonard was the big name and the money guy. (Reminds me of someone else distasteful to me...) Lalonde still was leading until he grew weak and was stopped in the 9th. . Which is why I was quite satisfied when Macho half killed Leonard in their fight which put Leonard into permanent retirement. (KO'd in 5th after a beating for previous 2 rds.) Style wise I am more of a Hagler fan. However Ray did beat him, all ends up, that night. Good point about the waiting him out though. Ray was very canny, in and out of the ring. He knew what he was doing. He certainly wanted every advantage he could get.

Hagler weighed in 157 or 158 for a lot of his fights .One of the Brothers who managed him said he could have made 154.168 lb division had no money in it in the 80s and that left only Spinks basically at 175.There was more money from guys moving up.Hagler at cruiser is stupid.These guys move up now because there is ten champs in every division.Nelo is impressive moving up and down but is not fighting the best light heavy there’s tough undefeated middle champs out there but no fights.Two controversial fightswith a 36 year old middle champ why not a 3rd one.Thank god zale and the rock didn’t stop at two fights.

Triple G didn’t get criticism for staying at MW. The fact he shares that defense record with Hopkins is amazing and any fight fan acknowledges such feats as such. I criticize Triple G for claiming Mexican style yet put out a performance that would make Salvador Sanchez roll in his grave against Canelo. Triple G is near 40, what he continues to do at a high level is amazing and anybody trying to act like triple g wasn’t a beast is dishonest or foolish or both. With his last win he's gone ahead of Hopkins and now holds that record.

I think a lot of it has to do with in today's age, every opinion is amplified due to social media. There were probably similar comments about Hopkins and Hagler out there, but in those days fringe opinions didn't get a ton of attention. Also, Hagler and Hopkins are American. Most coverage we get of them will be from American sources, so will naturally have a pro-American bend to it. Hagler stayed at 160 largely for the same reasons as GGG imo. His biggest fights were from guys moving up in weight. Hearns, Leonard and Duran. Same for GGG with Canelo, Cotto, and pie in the sky Floyd and Manny. Once Leonard beat Hagler, Hagler probably knew he was done and decided to retire. Hopkins probably wanted to make a name for himself in a legacy division like MW, as opposed to 168 which was relatively new at that time. Notice how he skipped 168 really and went right to a more premier division in 175 to continue his legacy. I think the 'GGG didn't move up' commentary is still pretty fringe on here. There was no obvious easy fight to make above 160. All of his big fights were vs smaller guys coming up; Canelo was always destined to be his big fight anyway. He made the right choice to stay at 160. I think he could have tried his hand at higher weights since the Canelo fights, but I guess he feels comfortable at 160. Maybe he is similar to Hopkins and wants to get some more wins there to build his MW legacy, as that is an historic weight class. I would like to see him fight Plant or someone at 168 though. Would probably be my preferred fight, unless he wants a 3rd Canelo fight. Hagler retired from disgust at Leonard saying he wouldn't give him a return. There have been videos of Leonard talking about it and looking crafty, wagging his finger and saying "no, no, I'm not that stupid".... Hagler already had a budding career beginning in Italian movies, but he really wanted that return with Leonard. Leonard also looked for big advantages against top opponents, before he'd fight them, and planned it out very carefully beforehand. Look at the disgusting advantage he took against Donny LaLonde, a really good light-heavy champ. Made him put up his title but also made him kill himself by coming down to 168 an almost impossibility. But Leonard was the big name and the money guy. (Reminds me of someone else distasteful to me...) Lalonde still was leading until he grew weak and was stopped in the 9th. . Which is why I was quite satisfied when Macho half killed Leonard in their fight which put Leonard into permanent retirement. (KO'd in 5th after a beating for previous 2 rds.)

Because they all faced quality opponents at middleweight.

If they were boxing today they would have haters and their resume would be attacked left right and center ! This is the internet era, today every empty head and extremist can beat a drum, greatness gets lost in the crowd today.

Different era and way of doing things.

Spence seems to actually want the fight,he literally just said it That was 2 years ago man. And that is the point. Your 'well the guy really wants the fight' could differ from my 'he is just talking to get attention/has no intention of making that fight.' Personally I have 0 issue with a guy saying he would beat another guy. If they don't fight I don't hold it against that guy, not unless I have reason to. How are we ever supposed to know who ducked who anyway? Look at the whole Canelo-Charlo thing for example. Canelo miraculously gets the franchise belt, seemingly avoiding the fight. Then we hear he offered Charlo $10 million, and Charlo turned it down. People always want to say the other guy ducked, and their guy really wanted it. It makes them feel better I guess. 99% of these guys want to take the easiest fight for the most money.

Triple G didn’t get criticism for staying at MW. The fact he shares that defense record with Hopkins is amazing and any fight fan acknowledges such feats as such. I criticize Triple G for claiming Mexican style yet put out a performance that would make Salvador Sanchez roll in his grave against Canelo. Triple G is near 40, what he continues to do at a high level is amazing and anybody trying to act like triple g wasn’t a beast is dishonest or foolish or both.

Man you must have killed Spence and Floyd when they said they could beat GGG then. Bring up those posts bro Spence seems to actually want the fight,he literally just said it

Hopkins did not move up at 45 he moved up at 40 and has a better resume at 175 then 160..Plus GGG has his team and himself to blame for saying "154-168 easy for me"

Did they brag they could beat anyone from 154 to 175? Man you must have killed Spence and Floyd when they said they could beat GGG then. Bring up those posts bro

I think a lot of it has to do with in today's age, every opinion is amplified due to social media. There were probably similar comments about Hopkins and Hagler out there, but in those days fringe opinions didn't get a ton of attention. Also, Hagler and Hopkins are American. Most coverage we get of them will be from American sources, so will naturally have a pro-American bend to it. Hagler stayed at 160 largely for the same reasons as GGG imo. His biggest fights were from guys moving up in weight. Hearns, Leonard and Duran. Same for GGG with Canelo, Cotto, and pie in the sky Floyd and Manny. Once Leonard beat Hagler, Hagler probably knew he was done and decided to retire. Hopkins probably wanted to make a name for himself in a legacy division like MW, as opposed to 168 which was relatively new at that time. Notice how he skipped 168 really and went right to a more premier division in 175 to continue his legacy. I think the 'GGG didn't move up' commentary is still pretty fringe on here. There was no obvious easy fight to make above 160. All of his big fights were vs smaller guys coming up; Canelo was always destined to be his big fight anyway. He made the right choice to stay at 160. I think he could have tried his hand at higher weights since the Canelo fights, but I guess he feels comfortable at 160. Maybe he is similar to Hopkins and wants to get some more wins there to build his MW legacy, as that is an historic weight class. I would like to see him fight Plant or someone at 168 though. Would probably be my preferred fight, unless he wants a 3rd Canelo fight.