Why does Hagler get a pass for never moving up in weight?

[Doctor_Tenma]

You have to remember there wasn't a super middleweight division during most of his career if he were to move up it would be all the way to lightheavy and Hagler was not a big middleweight standing about 5'7". I think if he was comfortable at 160 way not stay there.

Anyways, many fighters move up because they get beat at that weight, can't get a fight at that weight or even to avoid certian fighters. Hagler didn't have any of those problems, aside from having to wait forever to get his title opportunity.

See this I didn't know. When did the SMW division come about? Also Hagler was 5'9; still small.

[B.U.R.N.E.R]

See this I didn't know. When did the SMW division come about? Also Hagler was 5'9; still small.

I dont kow the exact date but I know it started in the 80's. Thats why the history is so limited to fighters like Roy, Calz, Ottke, Benn etc..

[Southpaw Stinger]

Too much is made of cherry picking opponents as you move up in weight. Hagler dominated a single division and fought many great fighters in doing so.

[RubenSonny]

Then he should of done it taking the career high payday that Leonard offered him and fight Leonard.

Or maybe he should of done what Duran did move up to WW and force the issue a little bit more.

Or maybe he was just cool with dominating one division and cleaning house. There is nothing wrong with that at all either. That is impressive as well IMO.

dude i was just saying i wasnt trying to take credit away from leonard of pryor.

[Doctor_Tenma]

Good find Dom. Hagler even came in as low as 157 for some of his fights.

Yep,

I mean in comparison to how Cotto, Clottey and Margarito look at the weigh in at 147, Hagler was real comfortable. Even looking at B-Hop's regin at MW, you could clearly see that he struggled to make 160.

[SplitSecond]

you move up when you got no one to fight, hagler had plenty to fight and at 5'9, to go to 175, is just a ****** idea

[Doctor_Tenma]

I dont kow the exact date but I know it started in the 80's. Thats why the history is so limited to fighters like Roy, Calz, Ottke, Benn etc..

Good thing it happened, 175 is a HUGE jump. Also, look at most of the LHWs Roy faught, looked more like CWs to me

[ИATAS]

Hopkins isnt exactly testing himself, his basically fighting smaller fighters at a higher weight

For one you need to factor in that hopkins moved up in weight at 41 years old and fought nothing but elite fighters, all pound 4 pound (tarver, winky, calzaghe (undefeated), pavlik (undefeated)) in that stretch of time.

Obviously at 45, his last two recent fights were were meaningless, but he most certainly did test himself.

[istmeno]

You may have a point OP. The guys you mentioned really tested themselves physically while Hagler only fought at 160 and his biggest fights were against guys coming up in weight and he's considered high in the ATG list by boxing historians. Hopkins biggest fights were also against smaller opponents and somehow he's not near Hagler for some reason and he tested himself in 2 weight classes.

for people who only look at names your statement is correct. for those of us who actually saw hagler fight during that time realize that the wins later in his career against the big names were simply his pay biggestdays which he earned with his big wins at mw against some damn good fighters. he fought literally EVERYBODY at 160 and owned the division. when he got his money fights there was noone left in the division that he had not faced. and back then noone expected himto move up, as it was the single biggest jump in allof boxing (15lbs).

and to those saying he neverr tested himself, he tested himself against the absolute best the division had to offer without ducking anyone.

p.s. ray leonard never fought at 168 that belt is as bogus as they come

[istmeno]

See this I didn't know. When did the SMW division come about? Also Hagler was 5'9; still small.

ray leonardwas the first 168 champion. he "won" that bull**** title in that bull**** fight with donny lalonde