Why did Hagler never move up to 175lb?

[SBleeder]

Hearns was at his very best at welterweight, would you disagree with that?

His chin couldn't handle punches from far bigger guys and his power didn't always hold up well.

But my point is this, it's all fair fighting great names like Hearns and Duran who are, let's be honest, smaller guys than Hagler but why not stretch out for more greatness and pick on bigger guys? Hearns and Leonard made a career out of it. Oscar did too but wasn't always successful, more recently Pacquiao and Mayweather have done the same.

I was curious when I started this thread to hear from guys who were alive during the 70s and 80s and knew of any challenges made to Hagler by light heavy champs or if Hagler ever spoke about moving up fighting those guys. Did he ever seem to want it?

I'd say Hearns was every bit as good at 154 as he was at welterweight. And he was still a huge middleweight.

[New England]

Hearns was at his very best at welterweight, would you disagree with that?

His chin couldn't handle punches from far bigger guys and his power didn't always hold up well.

But my point is this, it's all fair fighting great names like Hearns and Duran who are, let's be honest, smaller guys than Hagler but why not stretch out for more greatness and pick on bigger guys? Hearns and Leonard made a career out of it. Oscar did too but wasn't always successful, more recently Pacquiao and Mayweather have done the same.

I was curious when I started this thread to hear from guys who were alive during the 70s and 80s and knew of any challenges made to Hagler by light heavy champs or if Hagler ever spoke about moving up fighting those guys. Did he ever seem to want it?

stop it.

[Killer_of_Sheep]

Spinks would be just too much. Also he spend alot of years waiting for Sugar Ray, he was old and worn out after that fight, not much left in him.

[TBear]

Hearns was at his very best at welterweight, would you disagree with that?

His chin couldn't handle punches from far bigger guys and his power didn't always hold up well.

But my point is this, it's all fair fighting great names like Hearns and Duran who are, let's be honest, smaller guys than Hagler but why not stretch out for more greatness and pick on bigger guys? Hearns and Leonard made a career out of it. Oscar did too but wasn't always successful, more recently Pacquiao and Mayweather have done the same.

I was curious when I started this thread to hear from guys who were alive during the 70s and 80s and knew of any challenges made to Hagler by light heavy champs or if Hagler ever spoke about moving up fighting those guys. Did he ever seem to want it?

I was a boxing fanatic during the 70's and 80's and I don't recall the light heavies calling him out at all. There were plenty of challenges at 175 to keep them busy.

And about Hearns not handling the bigger guys, ask Dennis Andries and Virgil Hill. Both were good enough to win titles after losing their titles to Hearns. Andries was a pretty strong fighter with power.

[Scott9945]

Hearns was at his very best at welterweight, would you disagree with that?

His chin couldn't handle punches from far bigger guys and his power didn't always hold up well.

But my point is this, it's all fair fighting great names like Hearns and Duran who are, let's be honest, smaller guys than Hagler but why not stretch out for more greatness and pick on bigger guys? Hearns and Leonard made a career out of it. Oscar did too but wasn't always successful, more recently Pacquiao and Mayweather have done the same.

I was curious when I started this thread to hear from guys who were alive during the 70s and 80s and knew of any challenges made to Hagler by light heavy champs or if Hagler ever spoke about moving up fighting those guys. Did he ever seem to want it?

Sure, Hearns was a great welterweight, but there is no way someone that big could make weight safely for very long. Would you say that Sergio Martinez just fought a career junior welterweight?

As to your point, Hagler was proud to be the undisputed middleweight champion. Back then that meant a lot more. Marvin and his promoter (Arum) weren't ****** so of course they were going to fight Duran, Hearns, etc. rather than lower paying fights against obscure middleweights like Peter Quillan does.

Hagler made weight easily with same day weigh ins. There was no reason for him to move up 15 lbs unless it was for big money. How come nobody ever wonders why Carlos Monzon (who was definitely bigger than Hagler) didn't move up to challenge Bob Foster? Why doesn't Monzon get criticized for defending against a small past his prime welterweight like Jose Napoles? Seems like a double standard to me.

[billeau2]

Oh no, some anonymous pleb on a forum thinks I'm an "azz" - how will I cope?


Nothing I said was untrue, dolt.

Yeah...your an idiot alright...Your right because having a ****** opinion of people who are more than an apple in mom's eye isn't wrong its just ******...get it? ask mom to explain it maybe?

[FistoftheDallasStar]

Moving up in weight wasn't as big then as it is now. I think more often than not staying at the same weight and defending your title until beaten marked your territory. I am the king of this division, try to knock me off if you can, sort of thing.

[soul_survivor]

Sure, Hearns was a great welterweight, but there is no way someone that big could make weight safely for very long. Would you say that Sergio Martinez just fought a career junior welterweight?

As to your point, Hagler was proud to be the undisputed middleweight champion. Back then that meant a lot more. Marvin and his promoter (Arum) weren't ****** so of course they were going to fight Duran, Hearns, etc. rather than lower paying fights against obscure middleweights like Peter Quillan does.

Hagler made weight easily with same day weigh ins. There was no reason for him to move up 15 lbs unless it was for big money. How come nobody ever wonders why Carlos Monzon (who was definitely bigger than Hagler) didn't move up to challenge Bob Foster? Why doesn't Monzon get criticized for defending against a small past his prime welterweight like Jose Napoles? Seems like a double standard to me.

Maybe someone should start a thread for Monzon then? lol

Thing is Hagler often felt aggrieved by journalists, magazines, promotional companies, endorsement deals and fans that he didn't get the same adjulation SRL did, maybe he could have if he had moved up. That's why I picked on Hagler in particular for this thread. I'm not criticising him, just a legitimate look at his career. Hagler is a top 20-30 type ATG, I respect his achievements.

[soul_survivor]

I was a boxing fanatic during the 70's and 80's and I don't recall the light heavies calling him out at all. There were plenty of challenges at 175 to keep them busy.

And about Hearns not handling the bigger guys, ask Dennis Andries and Virgil Hill. Both were good enough to win titles after losing their titles to Hearns. Andries was a pretty strong fighter with power.

Fair enough and yeah, I guess the 175 division was awesome and the guys there were damn busy.

[Anthony342]

Maybe someone should start a thread for Monzon then? lol

Thing is Hagler often felt aggrieved by journalists, magazines, promotional companies, endorsement deals and fans that he didn't get the same adjulation SRL did, maybe he could have if he had moved up. That's why I picked on Hagler in particular for this thread. I'm not criticising him, just a legitimate look at his career. Hagler is a top 20-30 type ATG, I respect his achievements.

Me too, but those feelings weren't as strong after Hagler beat Hearns. He started getting more recognition and endorsements then. The only thing he stayed mad about seemed to be not being able to get a Leonard rematch.