20 YEARS TODAY: HAGLER vs LEONARD.

[CletusVanDamme]

What do u mean by that?

I dont believe Leonard threw weak punches. They had no effect on Hagler, becuase Hagler was....well....Hagler!

Leonard hit him more, used the ring better, and was hit less.
That sums it up for me.
Hit and not be hit.
Leonard didnt run all night. He at times stood there right in front of Hagler and Hagler couldnt land the punches he wanted to.
Leonard OUTPOINTED Hagler. He didnt outfight him. He outboxed him.
It was no robbery. Not by a long shot.

It was no robbery I will admit, though Hagler was the champ. I am also biased because I dislike SRL and always have. I should be honest upfront unlike other posters.

Hagler should blame himself for trying to box with Leonard and the slow start though.

[wmute]

leonard treated us to his greatest achievement ever.

negotiating everything to his advantage (rounds, ring, gloves...) out of the ring, like a true warrior.

putting on a near perfect performance against hagler, making hagler fight his fight.

like the true warrior that he was, he then pretended to retire while hagler was asking for a remacth. Then, with hagler retired, he decided to come back...

one of the greatest fighters in the ring

one of the greatest bitches out of the ring.

[The Noose]

It was no robbery I will admit, though Hagler was the champ. I am also biased because I dislike SRL and always have. I should be honest upfront unlike other posters.

Hagler should blame himself for trying to box with Leonard and the slow start though.

The scoring point system doesnt take into account who is champion. And i dont think it should.

I also disliked Leonard for many years, and am a massive Hagler fan.
But ive overcome my bias, and now give Leonard the credit he deserves.

[Hydro]

There's no rule that says the champ gets the benefit of the doubt in close rounds and that you have to take it from the champ.

It's an old boxing axiom and nice in theory, but plenty of fighters have lost their titles in close decisions in which the challenger had close rounds go his way.

Hagler wasn't at his best and got owned at the negotiating tables, but Ray himself had fought just one time in 5 years, not once in 3 years, and was moving up in weight.