What made Marvin Hagler so dominant?

[Brelampago]

I'll tell u why Hagler wa so dominant, because hes from BROCKTON. Aint nuttin but killers out here in the city of champions.

[dansweeney]

He was so dominant because of his Cro-Magnon like skull that allowed him to take rediculous punches and not be fazed.

[mokele]

Hagler was also versatile

Hagler was aggressive, had an iron chin, heart and guts like others have already said, but he had something else too: versatility.

When he was in against guys shorter than himself or guys with a shorter reach (like Antuofermo, Mustafa Hamsho, Tony Sibson, Alan Minter) he could box from the outside. He forced those guys to come to him sometimes, using his jab to pile up points. Hagler was an excellent inside fighter also, so if they worked their way inside on Hagler he would usually outfight them at close quarters.

Hagler only had trouble with slick boxers who also had a decent chin and a good defence. Willie "the worm" Monroe outboxed him once but Hagler knocked him out twice in two rematches. Bobby "Boogaloo" Watts also won a decision from Hagler but was stopped in the rematch. Sugar Ray Seales boxed Hagler to a draw in their 1st fight but was stopped in round 1 of the rematch. Hence Hagler was murder on guys in rematches.

I remember Hagler saying years ago that he often worked up a hatred for opponents before he fought them, since they made him train for 2 months in a Spartan environment. He used to train in something close to isolation, only eating, sleeping, sparring, jumping rope, doing roadwork, working on the heavy and light bags, etc. with no distractions. It made him ruthless when he got into the ring. He was Old School, a throwback fighter who took his craft with dead seriousness. He only showed a sense of humor when a fight was over and he could relax.