The Myth of Marvin Hagler

[Orange Sneakers]

The 70s Hagler was a counter-puncher.

[-EX-]

My friends who admire Sugar Ray would say its Hagler's fault for coming out fighting orthodox. Was there a reason why he did that?

[TheGreatA]

Hagler had to have that gameplan against Hearns, IMO.

Hearns was a terrific outside boxer who had about 4-5 inches in height on him, a couple inches in reach, and outboxed both Leonard and Benitez.

Agreed, he saw how Leonard beat Hearns and did the same thing himself. Hagler hyped the fight as a brawl and a war and almost forced Hearns to come out and brawl with him even before the fight.

Hearns never wanted to disappoint his fans and they both went right at it from the start.

Iran Barkley did it later but Iran didn't really think twice about it because that was pretty much the only thing Barkley could do, brawl.

[Silencers]

He was a very good boxer-puncher, feinting, jabbing and throwing combinations behind the jab, he changed his style after the first Antuofermo fight to a more in-your-face style, but for the majority of his career he was a boxer first.

[SkillspayBills]

That's what happens when most of your most memorable bouts show you as a "hunter" or the "in your face brawler." That being said I totally agree with the premise of your thread, maybe it will enlighten anyone whodesn't know.

[BennyST]

My friends who admire Sugar Ray would say its Hagler's fault for coming out fighting orthodox. Was there a reason why he did that?

Actually, referring to your first post, Hagler was a very slick boxer/counter puncher who happened to be able to put guys away with strong punching/smart brawling as well. The majority of his fights were very much pure boxing clinics.

To answer this post though, it was because Leonard had talked to him after the Mugabi fight and had a few drinks and Hagler had said he was tired of boxing and was slowing down, didn't enjoy training anymore etc. Straight after that Leonard called Hagler out. Obviously, it really enraged Hagler as he realised why Leonard was doing it (also Leonard had seen that Hagler had become vulnerable to the lead right after watching Duran/Hagler and also in the Mugabi fight) and so Hagler ******ly decided to try and out-box Leonard as well as doing it orthodox to show up Leonard and prove that he was the greatest fighter out there at any weight, which at that stage was just silly.

So, basically, it was a pure ego thing. Leonard had really pissed him off and he wanted to show that he could out-box the pure boxer still by also starting out orthodox. It was truly the most unfortunate mistake of his career. He had already slowed enough that it was going to be difficult no matter what style he fought and to come out orthodox lost him those first few rounds which he really needed to win. An unfortunate but ****** mistake that most definitely cost him the fight.

[Silencers]

Actually, referring to your first post, Hagler was a very slick boxer/counter puncher who happened to be able to put guys away with strong punching/smart brawling as well. The majority of his fights were very much pure boxing clinics.

To answer this post though, it was because Leonard had talked to him after the Mugabi fight and had a few drinks and Hagler had said he was tired of boxing and was slowing down, didn't enjoy training anymore etc. Straight after that Leonard called Hagler out. Obviously, it really enraged Hagler as he realised why Leonard was doing it (also Leonard had seen that Hagler had become vulnerable to the lead right after watching Duran/Hagler and also in the Mugabi fight) and so Hagler ******ly decided to try and out-box Leonard as well as doing it orthodox to show up Leonard and prove that he was the greatest fighter out there at any weight, which at that stage was just silly.

So, basically, it was a pure ego thing. Leonard had really pissed him off and he wanted to show that he could out-box the pure boxer still by also starting out orthodox. It was truly the most unfortunate mistake of his career. He had already slowed enough that it was going to be difficult no matter what style he fought and to come out orthodox lost him those first few rounds which he really needed to win. An unfortunate but ****** mistake that most definitely cost him the fight.

The move cost him the fight, he lost the first three rounds because of that, if he had fought Leonard the way he fought Hearns or just come out as a southpaw, he would've won.

[BennyST]

The move cost him the fight, he lost the first three rounds because of that, if he had fought Leonard the way he fought Hearns or just come out as a southpaw, he would've won.

Yep, exactly. It was such a ****** move and his corner should have drilled it into him right after he tried it in the first round to "Get the **** outta the orthodox and stay in your lefty. Don't box with him, just come in and get to work!". Really damn ****** thing to do.

It was a bit sucky that Leonard didn't give him a rematch either but he didn't really give anyone timely rematches unless it was in his favour to do so. It would of been so huge though and one of the biggest rematches in the history of the sport without a doubt. Though I think Leonard knew he had been lucky to steal it with those first few rounds and maybe wouldn't be so lucky in the rematch I guess. He could of always done it again though...? Hard to tell as Leonard had kept his physical traits much better with age than had Hagler. He still had his speed, reflexes and stamina. Hagler had lost quite a lot of his by that stage though.

Anyway, if it wasn't for those first few rounds of complete arrogance and ******ity by Hagler, it would have been quite a different fight.

[tills9191]

man some people have time on their hands to write to much and post so many youtube clips

[Mike Tyson77]

"He was a pressuring brawler"

"He was a face-first guy who beat guys through will and toughness and raw power rather than skill"

Wrong.

He was a versatile boxer-puncher with an ability to brawl with success (Hearns, latter rounds versus Mugabi). He generally liked to box behind his piston right jab, mix in his combos, and move laterally. He was very effective at boxing at range while moving laterally or even on the backfoot (Briscoe). If he was able to hurt a guy while boxing at range, he would jump on them and usually get them out of there (Scypion, Lee, whom he hurt with a jab).

He boxed at range in the majority of his fights rather than brawled, but people like to watch a bout or two of a fighter or some highlights and (often falsely) define them based on that.

True. Hagler was a monster.