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

[RubenSonny]

I seriously doubt Roy could of stayed at MW and feasted himself for over 20 years against MWs. He would of outgrown the division and weakened himself.

Anyways Willie Pep never moved up, Carlos Monzon never moved up. Doesn't mean they get a passed or takes away from their ATG's.

Even Aaron Pryor didn't move up until he was completely done.

he would have had he got the fight with leonard though.

[Frank Ducketts]

No fighter has to ever go up in weight-ever!

[Calilloyd]

Almost all the great fighters outside of the heavyweight division have moved up the scale to test themselves at one point or another. I know the excuse will be he was waiting on Leonard and Hearns to come up to 16olbs to make big money fights, that's fine, but they weren't gonna test him physically.

He could've fought Spinks, Qawi, Saad Muhammad. Mustafa Muhammad, or any of the top rated lightheavys of his time, but he just feasted on the 160lbs division and never challenged himself. Guys who move up multiple weight classes and eventually lose to naturally bigger men as a result get criticized harshly, but shouldn't they be given credit for testing their physical limits? Hagler as great as he was didn't risk himself.

Roy Jones couldv'e starved himself and feasted on the middleweight division for over 20 years, but he went above and beyond and eventually annihilated a solid heavyweight. Even Hopkins is testing himself now at higher weights.

Roy Jones(154-Heavyweight), Leonard(147-168), Hearns,(147-190) Pacquiao,(106-147) Mayweather(130-154) Hopkins(175-160-175) James Toney(160-heavyweight) Sugar Ray Robinson(147-175) Duran(135-168) MARVIN HAGLER (160)

Fans need to give more credit to the men who beat naturally bigger fighters.

Because he was a natural middleweight. And a small one at that. Monzon never moved up either and is considered by some as the best middleweight ever. I think it's more impressive to stay in one division to dominate than moving up to get a paper title from the weakest champion. And no, Roy Jones could not have "starved himself". He outgrew the division.

[-Kev-]

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.

[Calilloyd]

Both Spinks and Qawi called him out, but he wasnt interested in moving up.

He also called out Duran, Benitez, Leonard and Hearns

He shouldnt get a pass imo, but he was a great fighter so maybe thats why he gets a pass

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

Maybe you don't realize that the lightheavyweight division is considered two divisions above the middleweight division today. Hagler was too small. As for Hopkins, he fought plenty of fighters his size and bigger. Moving up is not the only way to define greatness.

[cooper5]

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.

[Doctor_Tenma]

Ruling a division (IMO) for a long period of time is as good as moving up in weight and beating the champions. Anyway, Hagler was a really small MW, he weighed in at 158 against Leonard, and he never looked like he was killing himself to make weight. He looked like a comfortable 158 pounder.

Jump to 5:15

[jrosales13]

he would have had he got the fight with leonard though.

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.

[Calilloyd]

Ruling a division (IMO) for a long period of time is as good as moving up in weight and beating the champions. Anyway, Hagler was a really small MW, he weighed in at 158 against Leonard, and he never looked like he was killing himself to make weight. He looked like a comfortable 158 pounder.

Jump to 5:15

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

[SkillspayBills]

Why move up from your best weight? Especially when the big money fights were with fighters that would have moven up to face Hagler? I get your point, not everyone has to do so though.