Hagler wins over Leonard, his 14th & 15th title defense opponents,,,

[Emon723]

I've been thinking of this what ifs, Hagler-Leonard superfight 87' if the judges decision somehow went in Hagler's favor and he goes after breaking Monzon's record of 14 title defenses, who would be his last two opponents? Now here's my opinion and the outcome:

its understandable Hagler only takes career defining fights at that stage, looking at the status of the MW division, Graham has just lost to Kalambay, and Barkley, Frank Tate, Ojaijde arent marque names yet, so Hagler's 14th. defense will come vs mike McCallum, who was impressive in KO'ing donald curry and a year before KO'd Jackson, so Hagler vs McCallum happens in late 87', and it was a difficult fight as expected, Hagler squeezes by a close but comfortable decision over the "body snatcher", meanwhile Hearns and Roldan (they fought for the vacant title) fought in an elimination bout instead, In Hagler's historic 15th.title defense, the stage is set for Hagler-Hearns II, summer of 88', it was war all over again and this time it took Hagler just two rounds longer, stopping Hearns in 5 rounds, thus becoming arguably the Greatest middleweight of all time.

Incidentally, Hearns and Duran won their 4th.titles in the middleweight division at expense of Roldan and Barkley, not necessarily hall of famers, how history was bitter for the marvelous one following the dispute, controversial loss to leonard.

[K-DOGG]

Honestly, I don't know how many times I've watched this; but it's close everytime...also everytime, I have Leonard winning. The last time I scored it, which was last week, I had Ray winning 115-113.

Maybe I need to look for rounds to give Hagler?

No disrespect to the Marvelous one; but he gave that fight away when he fought orthodox the first two rounds.

[BKM-]

I still think that fight should have been a draw, after seeing how many people support both fighters for the W. How about this though, if Hagler got a draw out of that, where would he have gone from there? A rematch with Leonard wich was unlikely, or like you Emon723 pointed out, a fight against mike McCallum?

[Yogi]

If Hagler had recieved he decision against Leonard it's very, very likely the rematch with Hearns is the next fight that he would've taken.

[K-DOGG]

If Hagler had recieved he decision against Leonard it's very, very likely the rematch with Hearns is the next fight that he would've taken.

That's pretty much how I see it, too.

[SABBATH]

Hagler-Hearns II was the fight that would have been made had Leonard not come out of retirement. Tommy's 1st round KO over James Schuler was part of a double header which featured Hagler-Mugabi as the main event.

If Hagler had gotten the decision over Leonard (I always thought Leonard won) and didn't rematch with Leonard then Hearns would undoubtedly have been the fight Hagler would have fought. That would have been a huge money fight and if Hagler was going to defend his title it's going to be for the most money and that fight is Hearns not McCallum or anyone else.

I would be in a rush to pick Hagler as the winner either.

[wmute]

I think Leonard won in the ring

I think Hagler lost at the negotiation table. (12 rounds, ring,... anyone knows if gloves were discussed, too?)

another question is what would have happened if that little sugar-***** gave hagler a rematch?

[SABBATH]

I think Leonard won in the ring

I think Hagler lost at the negotiation table. (12 rounds, ring,... anyone knows if gloves were discussed, too?)

another question is what would have happened if that little sugar-***** gave hagler a rematch?

Hagler-Leonard was for the WBC Middleweight belt only. The WBC mandated 12 round fights in 1983. Hagler's previous two title fights against Hearns and Mugabi were also scheduled for 12 rounds. So let the crying stop.

Consider that Leonard was two weight divisions above his best fighting weight and had been inactive for the better part of 5 years then ask yourself who had the advantages.

[wmute]

Hagler-Leonard was for the WBC Middleweight belt only. The WBC mandated 12 round fights in 1983. Hagler's previous two title fights against Hearns and Mugabi were also scheduled for 12 rounds. So let the crying stop.

Consider that Leonard was two weight divisions above his best fighting weight and had been inactive for the better part of 5 years then ask yourself who had the advantages.

and to put the crying in a different form: why was it only for the wbc belt?

[K-DOGG]

Hagler-Leonard was for the WBC Middleweight belt only. The WBC mandated 12 round fights in 1983. Hagler's previous two title fights against Hearns and Mugabi were also scheduled for 12 rounds. So let the crying stop.

Consider that Leonard was two weight divisions above his best fighting weight and had been inactive for the better part of 5 years then ask yourself who had the advantages.

Weelll, I specifically remember Tompkins mentioning that while they were negotiating the fight, Leonard's camp insisted upon the 12 round limit. Maybe that had something to do with the IBF and WBA stripping Hagler...I don't know that for sure; but I do remember negotiations over the prescribed limit being a topic of conversation.