Marvin Hagler vs. Ray Leonard

[Dynamite Kid]

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'Agree, i have also tried to score that fight in favour of Hagler and give him the benefit of the doubt in the close round but is still did not have him winning. This is a fight that really infuriates me because people make out Hagler got a raw deal and that Leonard did not win, when i think most people know Leonard won deep down, even Hagler fans.'


I think this fight falls into a similar grouping with De La Hoya vs Trinidad. The problem is that Trinidad got the decision! I can never find 6 or more rounds for Trinidad in that fight! Hagler, like Trinidad (with Oscar) finished strongly over Leonard and may well have left his fans wishing it was a fifteen round fight. Round twelve saw two very good flurries from Leonard, an Ali shuffle and a hell of a lot of running, Hagler did finish at least aggressively. If Hagler had got the decision there would surely have been an even bigger outcry, most people I know think Leonard deserved the decision.

Alot of people favour the guy going forward, which Hagler certainly did and I know some respected boxing writers saw it for Hagler, but I'd doubt they would actually be able to score the fight for him on a round by round basis, he gave too much away early.

Agree 100%

Im sure many of us including myself would of put their money on Hagler winning that fight if it had been a 15 round fight because Hagler was coming on and Ray was fading towards the end.

[Sugarj]

Yes true Dynamite, it would take a real Leonard nuthugger to argue that he'd have found three more rounds of flurries the way Hagler was coming on.

Leonard's 12 round battle plan was executed almost to perfection, a rematch should have happened. I've heard a few views as to why it didn't depending largely on who you speak to. Hagler fans say that Leonard ducked him for two years and frustrated him into retirement. Leonard fans say that Hagler gave up on his career the moment the scores were announced and didn't have the heart to set the score straight, that he preferred to moan about the decision and pursue his acting.

Who knows?

[Benncollinsaad]

Yes true Dynamite, it would take a real Leonard nuthugger to argue that he'd have found three more rounds of flurries the way Hagler was coming on.

Leonard's 12 round battle plan was executed almost to perfection, a rematch should have happened. I've heard a few views as to why it didn't depending largely on who you speak to. Hagler fans say that Leonard ducked him for two years and frustrated him into retirement. Leonard fans say that Hagler gave up on his career the moment the scores were announced and didn't have the heart to set the score straight, that he preferred to moan about the decision and pursue his acting.

Who knows?

It WAS pretty cowardish of Leonard to retire right after the match. But he redeemed himself somewhat when he came back as a SMW and took on Lalonde and then Hearns. Obviously he had been getting some bad rap about all his retirements and wanted to prove he really was a warrior.

[Sugarj]

It certainly could have looked that way, it wasn't like it was that long after Hagler that he came back to face LaLonde and Hearns though. No two ways about it, he showed some heart climbing off the floor in both these fights.

Hagler did the telecast for the Leonard/Hearns fight, no reason why he couldn't have plugged for a rematch or put the heat on afterwards.

[GJC]

This was a close fight like I say if anything it was a draw and I hate draws. Whatever you view it is silly to call it a robbery. If I had to pick a winner I thought Hagler shaded it but he fought a ****** fight. I believe he thought it was a matter of time before he caught up with SRL, he probably deserved to lose for not doing his job in there. If you think about it in all of the fab 4 fights he let the opponent dictate the pace and terms of the fight.

[Sugarj]

Yea, he certainly made the Duran fight tougher than he needed to and he didn't show much caution for Tommy's right hand early either. Hell Marvin is a legend, I cant find any more than five rounds for him in the Leonard fight though...............and I have searched in vain

[ßringer]

Ray Leonard earned the decision that night. Regardless of personal opinion.

Hagler fought Leonard's fight, and got outhustled when it mattered most. He was coming on stronger towards the end of the fight when most thought Ray was fading, but he honestly should've started out like that much earlier than he did. Instead he let Ray fight his fight, control the pace of the action, and shoeshine him to hell and back with cute combos that awed the judges and audience.

I honestly don't see where the "controversy" is in that fight.

[RRICAN]

Hagler lost this fight in the negotiation process. he gave srl everything(biggest ring ive ever seen, gloves) but what really ****ed him up was the 12 rds instead of 15 he was barely starting to fight around the 6-7 rd while srl was downhill the last 3 (9-12) with 9 more mins i believe hagler will have koed srl

[Dynamite Kid]

I dont wanna sound like a SRL fanboy and a Hagler hater but i never thought Hagler was exceptionally skilled a fighter. I think he was a good counter puncher without being expectational but his gifts like power, strength, durability tenacity and those good Boxing skills albeit not spectacular made him formidable.

I think Leonard and Duran were better technicians and thats why they were so competitive with Hagler. Hagler fought guys like Roldan, Fully Obell, Sibson, Hamsho, Vito, guys that would come straight at you and with Hagler's left handed counter punching stance they were pretty much good matches for him style wise.

More saavy technicians like Leonard, Duran made Hagler's skills look far more conventional.

[JM1]

sugar ray clearly won that fight. this is also one of the many reasons why hes included in my all time favorites