If Hagler didn't fight orthodox early on vs Leonard, would he have won?

[Ham Porter]

Even if Hagler had shaded the decision.....fans would be calling for his retirement.

No, they'd be asking, "if you're such a badass, why couldn't you convincingly beat a washed up, inactive welterweight?"

[Sugarj]

No, they'd be asking, "if you're such a badass, why couldn't you convincingly beat a washed up, inactive welterweight?"

I agree, I'm sure they'd be saying that too.

Hagler was in a lose/lose situation with Leonard. All that he gained from the match was a good pay cheque......

[Ham Porter]

A guaranteed twelve million to comprehensively deal with someone who, on paper, has no real business giving you any real bother?



I don't see where the 'lose/lose situation' comes in here.

[Bennyhill]

And why did he do it?

He did it because he let Leonard manipulate him mentally. The blunder confirmed that Hagler was not a smart fighter.

If Leonard tried those games with Monzon it would not have been effective.

[Anthony342]

No, they'd be asking, "if you're such a badass, why couldn't you convincingly beat a washed up, inactive welterweight?"

The answer would probably be because he's a washed up middleweight.

[Sugarj]

A guaranteed twelve million to comprehensively deal with someone who, on paper, has no real business giving you any real bother?



I don't see where the 'lose/lose situation' comes in here.

Ha, I'm talking from the point of view of legacy. Yes; financially he did very well.

[Ham Porter]

The answer would probably be because he's a washed up middleweight.

Seems a convenient enough excuse - god knows he'd need it to rationalise losing that fight.

[Anthony342]

No rationalization needed. He was way past prime and ready to retire. Leonard knew it when he attended the Mugabi fight and Hagler even mentioned it when visiting Leonard's restaurant. Leonard waited until his chances of winning a fight with Hagler improved, which Leonard himself even admits.

[Ham Porter]

Leonard was retired, removed from the ring for the better part of five years and had a dependency on coke and alcohol. Being past your prime isn't a valid excuse for the supposed best fighter on the planet to being losing to that calibre of opposition.

[Anthony342]

I'd say it is and the fight was still close.