Better fighter, Hagler at middleweight or Holyfield at cruiser?

[Rockin']

In my eyes Hagler was straight out the man at Middleweight. While Holyfield dominated the Cruisers the same as Hagler did at the Middleweight limit Holyfield faced much inferior challenges to his throne.

Somebody mentioned how many great lightheavy weights moved up to Heavyweight while there was no Cruiserweight division, great point. There are tons of guys in that light that would have given Holyfield awhole lot of trouble. Any era and any time Marvelous Marvin Hagler could have held tight to his title. Can't say the same thing for Holyfield had the cruiserweight division been implemented at the same time as the middleweight division.........Rockin'

[slicksouthpaw16]

In that case someone like Charles would have a pretty fair shot to beat Holyfield, maybe Moore as well. Theres always Mike Spinks, Tunney and Moorer, since Holyfield lost to him at HW. Ill assume the CW limit is 190lbs, so Ill ignore heavyweights that naturally weighed 200lbs.

Hagler has guys like Monzon and Hopkins, maybe Jones, possibly Greb although we have no idea how he looks that could beat him...but imo there are slightly less guys at 160 and down that would have had a chance to beat Hagler, than there were between 175-200lbs that had a chance to beat Holyfield.

I think Robinson and Hagler would be a toss up and Langford (one of the heaviest hitters ever) and Charlie Burley deserves honorable mentions also.

[young_robbed]

He went 15 rounds with Qawi in a war (first fight), and i believe he had around 10 fights at the time. Thats pretty impressive.

well I'd certainly say that Qawi was past prime. Qawi's best weight was lightheavy. Like that commentator said he ate himself out of that division.

I'd say Hagler was better because holy didn't have as much experience at that weight. Hagler was more experienced.

[bojangles1987]

Personally I think Hagler was the better fighter at middleweight, and just because there is more competition and better fighters at middleweight would I think of voting for cruiserweight Holyfield. He was amazing at that weight, but it wasn't his best.

[sonnyboyx2]

Hagler struggled to beat Lightweight Roberto Duran, got beat by Welterweight Ray Leonard who was coming back from 3yrs out, fought a draw with Antuofermo and was fortunate Hearns broke his right-hand in the opening round.. Holyfield cleaned out the division via KOs

[slicksouthpaw16]

well I'd certainly say that Qawi was past prime. Qawi's best weight was lightheavy. Like that commentator said he ate himself out of that division.

I'd say Hagler was better because holy didn't have as much experience at that weight. Hagler was more experienced.

Prime weight? Yes, but he was close to his prime years. Just like Toney was against Jirov and Duran against Leonard. Even though they were past thier weight classes doesn't mean that they were COMPLETELY past thier entire prime. Qawi was champion and had fairly decent wins at the weight. You also don't seem to be giving a very green Holyfield enough credit for going 15 brutal rounds with a proven champ ( and he blew him out in the rematch).

[GJC]

Hagler struggled to beat Lightweight Roberto Duran, got beat by Welterweight Ray Leonard who was coming back from 3yrs out, fought a draw with Antuofermo and was fortunate Hearns broke his right-hand in the opening round.. Holyfield cleaned out the division via KOs

You have a point there Sonny though you could say that Holyfield's reign at Cruiser was only a couple of years and by the time Hagler started chasing the superfights after a couple of years i.e. Duran onwards he had cleaned out his division by KOs too?
Holyfield must rank as the best Cruiser ever although it isn't the deepest division, Hagler must rank in the top half a dozen MW's which is a deep division.

Not neccessarily buying into the rebranding smaller Heavys as Cruisers either on this thread.

[The Surgeon]

Holyfield is unrivaled as a CW where as Hagler great as he was, suffered losses in his own MW career and had a few ATG rivals who could be favoured by some over him. Deeper division and longer stay granted but Evander cleaned up his division and moved on to bigger and better things, he beat the best and showed every attribute u wish for in a fighter. Marvin is a True True Great but for me Evander Holyfield was a better Cruiser than Hagler was a Middle, Just.

[Barn]

Only Cruisers Holyfield.
Taking into account all possible Cruisers throughout history Hagler.

[young_robbed]

Prime weight? Yes, but he was close to his prime years. Just like Toney was against Jirov and Duran against Leonard. Even though they were past thier weight classes doesn't mean that they were COMPLETELY past thier entire prime. Qawi was champion and had fairly decent wins at the weight. You also don't seem to be giving a very green Holyfield enough credit for going 15 brutal rounds with a proven champ ( and he blew him out in the rematch).

He definitely was close. But he lacked the experience he had. I remember holyfield saying that Qawi gave him that confidence that he needed. maybe in his autobiography. I'd pick the heavier hitting holyfield that stopped Dokes over the fighter that beat Qawi the first time. Why? Because that Holy was just as fast, but bigger and hit harder. And he had more experience. I do give credit for beating Qawi like that. It's a great win for him. But I'd still say Qawi was better at lightheavy, the same way evander was better at heavy.

Hagler struggled to beat Lightweight Roberto Duran, got beat by Welterweight Ray Leonard who was coming back from 3yrs out, fought a draw with Antuofermo and was fortunate Hearns broke his right-hand in the opening round.. Holyfield cleaned out the division via KOs

Don't agree with you here... He soundly beat Roberto, no matter what the judges say. While he didn't blow him away like Hearns did he still beat him soundly with inside and outside boxing. The fight with Ray Leonard he won in my opinion. I prefer harder, more accurate punching rather then flashy flurries with not much power. That's basically what it came down to. And the maybe bias judges.

Some of this stuff is simply wrong. The hearns win was great. No matter what you say. Weather he broke his hand or not, doesn't change that Hagler blew him away in 3 rounds.

Holyfield's division wasn't as stacked. and he didn't have the experience and strength he would later gain.