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

[edgarg]

I don't think that Hopkins fought "plenty of guys his size and bigger" as you aver, A 6'1" middleweight who is really a dieting 175 pounder isn't going to meet many, (probably just a very few) who would be bigger.

And....2 fights before he won the IBF middleweight title he was still fighting "losing record" opponents, in fact he fought probably more than any other champion.

Hagler was a different sort, he took on all comers, mostly guys with excellent records. He "served his apprenticeship" by having more than 50 fights before he won the title, and ran from nobody. In fact as the Irish joke goes, "he ran at'em".

And, as has been mentioned he was not a big guy, and during his day there were larger differences between divisions, and those he has been compared with, fought partially or permanently when the Jr. and Super divisions were created.

Whoever picked Hopkins as an example was as wrong as can be. Another star fighter who kept "going up" is Macho Camacho, from Jr light to Super middle, and has done very well at it.

And, I forgot, Hagler beat more than a few champions, Hall of Famers and Alltime Greats, and ALWAYS played the part of a warrior, endearing himself to many.

[AddiX]

Hagler cleared his entire division from top to bottom. This thread is obviously by a newer boxing fan because fighters aren't expected to move up.

They either do it for money or because they have to. Cleaning out a division has become a thing of the past and I give any fighter props for attempting to do so.

[SugarRoyJones]

Hagler cleared his entire division from top to bottom. This thread is obviously by a newer boxing fan because fighters aren't expected to move up.

They either do it for money or because they have to. Cleaning out a division has become a thing of the past and I give any fighter props for attempting to do so.

Not a newer fan. Started watching boxing with my father in the late 80s. I'm making this thread mainly because I feel my guy Roy Jones doesn't get his just due for Dominating the LightHeavyweight division after starting his career at 154lbs. Also Qawi and Hagler are about the same height and reach, but Qawi was soft looking so i can understand the argument about Hagler being too small.to be at his best at 175lbs. Hagler was great. Roy was great. I just want people to give Roy his props for doing something fighters who are ranked higher than he couldn't or wouldn't do.

[Calilloyd]

I don't think that Hopkins fought "plenty of guys his size and bigger" as you aver, A 6'1" middleweight who is really a dieting 175 pounder isn't going to meet many, (probably just a very few) who would be bigger.

And....2 fights before he won the IBF middleweight title he was still fighting "losing record" opponents, in fact he fought probably more than any other champion.

Hagler was a different sort, he took on all comers, mostly guys with excellent records. He "served his apprenticeship" by having more than 50 fights before he won the title, and ran from nobody. In fact as the Irish joke goes, "he ran at'em".

And, as has been mentioned he was not a big guy, and during his day there were larger differences between divisions, and those he has been compared with, fought partially or permanently when the Jr. and Super divisions were created.

Whoever picked Hopkins as an example was as wrong as can be. Another star fighter who kept "going up" is Macho Camacho, from Jr light to Super middle, and has done very well at it.

Two of Hopkins biggest fights were against opponents above 160 (Tarver,Calzaghe). And Tarver is bigger than Hopkins. Since you want to use height, how tall is middleweight Kelly Pavlik? You can't have it both ways if you're going to use Hopkins height against him. You can only pick a handful of fighters that moved up to fight Hopkins which doesn't represent his entire career. And your claim that Hopkins "dieted" his entire middleweight career is just plain silly. If you can make the weight and fight with success, you belong in the division. Period. Was Antwon Echols smaller than Hopkins? Glen Johnson? Didn't think so.

[cupocity303]

Not saying it's bad, but am I wrong for saying it should be a blemish on your legacy if you never do it?

What blemish?

Isn't he judged accordingly in history. Nobody is placing him higher ATG wise then he should be.

One of the greatest Middleweight of all time, P4P not so much.

[cupocity303]

Two of Hopkins biggest fights were against opponents above 160 (Tarver,Calzaghe). And Tarver is bigger than Hopkins. Since you want to use height, how tall is middleweight Kelly Pavlik? You can't have it both ways if you're going to use Hopkins height against him. You can only pick a handful of fighters that moved up to fight Hopkins which doesn't represent his entire career. And your claim that Hopkins "dieted" his entire middleweight career is just plain silly. If you can make the weight and fight with success, you belong in the division. Period. Was Antwon Echols smaller than Hopkins? Glen Johnson? Didn't think so.

Well said.

[Heeb]

He was already a small middleweight.

[sicko]

this topic is LAUGHABLE!

Boxing then wasn't like boxing is now, not only that but most guys today Move Up for more MONEY or because the division they are in is so bad that they have to move up or down to get bigger fights, Hagler actually had competition so it was no need to move up, his last fight was against Sugar Ray Leonard so why would he move up when he had guys to fight like Hearns, John Mugabi and Leonard, come to think of it...those was the last 3 fights of his amazing career

you can questions guys of this current ERA all you want but you cannot question someones like Hagler's career because Hagler never ran from ANYONE, he fought and beat the best (YES INCLUDING LEONARD!!! even though he didn't get the win)

[Spray_resistant]

No one is required to move up or down anywhere, the weight classes are in place so you can fight guys your own size.....remember that whole idea?

Maybe Hagler physically stopped developing and was just fixed at a certain weight.

Not everyone can just "get bigger" and perform like they did at a new weight.

[Ray*]

Moving up is kinda overrated these days, as long as you're not killing yourself to make weight I don't see anything wrong with staying in one weight class. Clean up your weight class or move up if your body has outgrow the weight.