How could Hagler stay retired?

[billeau2]

All my favorites and almost all the great fighters take one or more fights to many.

Of the greats from that time period, Ali, Leonard, Hearns and more took to many fights. Not Hagler though. When he couldn’t get a return with Leonard, he opted to stay retired and settled down in Italy.

Of all the fighters that fought on too long, I would have guessed that Hagler, the bonafide rough, tough cookie of that period with boxing in his blood, would have fought on and on. He didn’t.

Why?

My own opinion. hagler was not a fighter that left an opportunity in the ring to be second guessed... He was coming hard, come hell, or high water. He never had a reason to second guess his effort.

Compare that to floyd for example. Who fought in a manner which was risk adverse, and left people doubting certain fights, like the Castillo fignt.

Floyd has to tell anyone that will listen how good he was, to me this shows insecurity, the belief that maybe a few more risks coulda/shoulda been taken... For example, risks guaranteeing a really steller round against Pac...

Marvin never had that consideration, never really had to second guess his approach, primarily because of his style... I believe this made him secure enough to not need to wax and wane when it came time to quitting.

Marvin could never say "If I came a little bit harder, and more at Ray, the fight might really be different." The only difference to hagler was what the judges would say.

[Eff Pandas]

He was 32 which is young for life, but the beginning of the end for most boxers if not already the end. He made a nice chunk of money to never have to do anything he didn't wanna do for the next 40 or 50 years. He'd been a great champion. He had historic fights. What else was there to do? Why would you trade brain cells for money when you are already set for money?

I think most folks are chasing a always moving goal in life specifically athletes. They unrealistically think they can be forever young & that they aren't on the same clock as everyone else. Hagler likely was a realist about his life & boxing. Get out when the getting is good.

[Rockin']

He was 32 which is young for life, but the beginning of the end for most boxers if not already the end. He made a nice chunk of money to never have to do anything he didn't wanna do for the next 40 or 50 years. He'd been a great champion. He had historic fights. What else was there to do? Why would you trade brain cells for money when you are already set for money?

I think most folks are chasing a always moving goal in life specifically athletes. They unrealistically think they can be forever young & that they aren't on the same clock as everyone else. Hagler likely was a realist about his life & boxing. Get out when the getting is good.

Great post! ..........Rockin'

[QueensburyRules]

Couldn't it have just been the smart move and he is smart man?

There is a prejudice; one expects a fighter to do the wrong thing, and when he doesn't there must be a reason.

For decades we have watched fighters spend themselves broke; so when Tommy Hearns managed his money well, the boxing wags don't praise his thriftiness, (being smart) instead they labeled him 'cheap.'

Why must there be bitterness for Hagler to walk away, how bout just being smart.

- -Marv was embittered over the Leonard card, however he left the windo open for the rematch that never came.

When he announced his reirement a year later, Leonard came out of retirement, but Marv weren't having any more of his monkeyshines and retired.

Unlike too many other greats, rather than being reduced to to tragic circumstances, he thrived as he expanded his horizons in Italy that he found more welcoming than his own country. As much as he put into boxing, a more deserving end was where he found the happiness lacking in boxing not that he's ever short of adoring fans who flock to him in any public appearence.

[b Murphington]

He’s probably smart for walking away from a sport that takes away good health from its athletes.

I wish there were more like him.

Watch now he’s going to be one of the legends in Tyson’s ‘league of legends’

[JakeTheBoxer]

He was probably disappointed because of a loss against Leonard.

Clever guys go away on their peak. Many others take unnecessary losses before they go away ( RJJ, Toney, Holmes, Ali..).

[The Old LefHook]

Hagler's retirement was one of the best ever, because it amounted to another attack against the forces defying him. That kind of will and stubbornness made him the great champ he was. His legacy is secure.

[Dr. Frank]

Hagler was disgruntled and disgusted with boxing for what he felt was a clear robbery against Leonard. I think he felt that he was treated unjustly and it made him bitter and ultimately walked away from the sport. It was a way for him to feel empowered by snubbing the sport and not allowing them to make any more money from his fights.

Hagler was clearly on the slide by that point. And he probably knew it.

[buddyr]

Hagler was disgruntled and disgusted with boxing for what he felt was a clear robbery against Leonard. I think he felt that he was treated unjustly and it made him bitter and ultimately walked away from the sport. It was a way for him to feel empowered by snubbing the sport and not allowing them to make any more money from his fights.

I'm not some big leonard fan, but I'm not so sure that was a robbery. He gave away the first 3 or 4 rounds trying to box. He lost round 9 and he lost round 12. That's 6 rounds there. He couldn't get anything more than a draw. Now the scorecard of leonard winning 11-1 was insane. That was bs. But Hagler has only himself to blame by not trying to kill Leonard. He shouldn't be mad cuz Leonard was smart enough not to stand in front of him though he was running a LOT.

[QueensburyRules]

I'm not some big leonard fan, but I'm not so sure that was a robbery. He gave away the first 3 or 4 rounds trying to box. He lost round 9 and he lost round 12. That's 6 rounds there. He couldn't get anything more than a draw. Now the scorecard of leonard winning 11-1 was insane. That was bs. But Hagler has only himself to blame by not trying to kill Leonard. He shouldn't be mad cuz Leonard was smart enough not to stand in front of him though he was running a LOT.

- -Marv and everyone else esp the rubes betting were bamboozled when cone to find out Leonard had been training in private for a year in prep to calling out Marv.

In short, Ray had no rust and a running after after every popcorn flurry that was popular with his fans.

Yeah, it was that ridiculous score that Marv knew was a prearranged setup, but he finally made his big purse and made Ray publicly duck the rematch, win/win!