John Mugabi

[Prince Mongo]

I remember the build up to the Hagler fight well and thought Mickey Duff was screwing things up by setting up the Hagler fight. After that fight Mugabe was never the same . I had a hunch at the time that Mugabe would have had a surer career if he avoided Hagler but it would be curtains if he fought him. To his credit Mugabe gave Hagler plenty of punishment before he faded. He threw in one super upper cut that would have finished off any other fighter than Hagler. Mugabe was a beast.

[Scott9945]

I think his reputation came from being 25-0 w/ 25 KOs when he fought Hagler.

Withought any real contenders on his resume. The Curtis Parker win was the only win worth noting.

[fitefanSHO]

Withought any real contenders on his resume. The Curtis Parker win was the only win worth noting.

But if I remember correctly, Mugabi was feared and respected for a reason, and it took all of Marvin Hagler to finally cut that man down to size, and sure it wasn't easy but it took all the real fight outta Mugabi from then on.

[Scott9945]

Insane stats

You can say the same thing about Edwin Valero. Of course he really was insane.

[Scott9945]

But if I remember correctly, Mugabi was feared and respected for a reason, and it took all of Marvin Hagler to finally cut that man down to size, and sure it wasn't easy but it took all the real fight outta Mugabi from then on.

No doubt that Mugabi had very heavy hands, especially at 154. But his fear and respect came largely from his frequent exposure and hype on NBC. If he were anything close to a top fighter, he would still have plenty left after the Hagler fight. When I watch James Kirkland I'm reminded of Mugabi. You seem to dismiss Hagler being on the decline at that time, but it is a fact that Leonard saw the same thing and that Mugabi was Hagler's last career win.

[fitefanSHO]

You seem to dismiss Hagler being on the decline at that time, but it is a fact that Leonard saw the same thing and that Mugabi was Hagler's last career win.

I don't dismiss Hagler.

But IMO Hagler was much better against Mugabi than he was against Leonard.

In some ways, it's like he didn't show up against Ray, wtf

[Scott9945]

I don't dismiss Hagler.

But IMO Hagler was much better against Mugabi than he was against Leonard.

In some ways, it's like he didn't show up against Ray, wtf

I can see your point. The first few rounds of Leonard-Hagler had a lot of observers shaking their heads in confusion over Marvin's tactics.

[fitefanSHO]

It was like Hagler wanted to try and prove he could outbox Ray.

[The Surgeon]

I don't dismiss Hagler.

But IMO Hagler was much better against Mugabi than he was against Leonard.

In some ways, it's like he didn't show up against Ray, wtf

Hagler fought a good fight against Mugabi, far better than he did against Ray i agree (even tho i thought he won)


Mugabi really was a Beast and if that was another top fighter in there with him and not Marvelous Marvin Hagler than he'd have won.

Duke Mckenzie says that when Mugabi trained with them, he'd sneak out at night and stumble back in an hour or two before wake up time stinking of booze and smoke before getting up and out running the lot of them