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Hagler is definitely not overrated. I don't think many people realise how good a lot of the guys were that are on his record. Hearns is a massive win and yes, he was very big for his starting welterweight division, but Duran, even though he was the only to go the distance with him, is most definitely not big for a lightweight. He is actually on the small side for a normal lightweight. In all of his defenses that I remember he was always smaller than his opponent. Juan Manuel Marquez is very small for a lightweight right? Duran is smaller in height and reach than Marquez.
Anyway, a bit off topic there. Hagler dominated a very good era of middleweights, utterly dominated. He beat everyone in and around that challenged his reign from early on through until his past prime loss to Leonard (No, I'm not arguing about the loss. Both guys were over it, Hagler more so in my opinion but he fought a ****** fight full of arrogance).
He lost three times in 67 fights. The first two were very early in his career and both were brutally avenged, the last being to Leonard who would not rematch him for anything, knowing he would not win a rematch I believe.
He went undefeated from '76 until '87. He held the undisputed, unified middleweight crown from '80 until '87 and would have held it a year earlier if not for the bad decision of the draw against Vito.
Before he won his title he beat the very fine, highly touted, and undefeated Sugar Ray Seales twice, once by wide UD and once by KO in 1 and also the great Bennie Brisco by a wide UD. He also beat a slew of undefeated top prospects while a young, green prospect himself such as the aforementioned Seales, Johnny Baldwin, Phillips and Colbert.
After he won the title he had a huge reign, beating numerous great champions along with two legendary ATG's and only ever losing in his very last, highly controversial fight in which many think he won.
I don't think he is at all overrated. His record speaks for itself.
Anyway, a bit off topic there. Hagler dominated a very good era of middleweights, utterly dominated. He beat everyone in and around that challenged his reign from early on through until his past prime loss to Leonard (No, I'm not arguing about the loss. Both guys were over it, Hagler more so in my opinion but he fought a ****** fight full of arrogance).
He lost three times in 67 fights. The first two were very early in his career and both were brutally avenged, the last being to Leonard who would not rematch him for anything, knowing he would not win a rematch I believe.
He went undefeated from '76 until '87. He held the undisputed, unified middleweight crown from '80 until '87 and would have held it a year earlier if not for the bad decision of the draw against Vito.
Before he won his title he beat the very fine, highly touted, and undefeated Sugar Ray Seales twice, once by wide UD and once by KO in 1 and also the great Bennie Brisco by a wide UD. He also beat a slew of undefeated top prospects while a young, green prospect himself such as the aforementioned Seales, Johnny Baldwin, Phillips and Colbert.
After he won the title he had a huge reign, beating numerous great champions along with two legendary ATG's and only ever losing in his very last, highly controversial fight in which many think he won.
I don't think he is at all overrated. His record speaks for itself.
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