Why didn't Hagler challenge himself

[champion4ever]

If that's the case then we shouldn't criticize fighters who the same. I'm tired of these old timers making it seem as if these old fighters didn't have any flaws. Hell, Leonard was a known cherry picker and he ducked Pryor.

I don't fully understand who you are referring to when you say "If that's the case then we shouldn't criticize fighters who do the same." I don't know of anyone who is doing that. However, I would just love for you to enlighten me on the topic.

Also lastly, for the record Leonard did not duck Aaron Pryor. It was that Aaron Pryor had priced himself out. He hadn't realized that Leonard was the A side and held all the cards at the time and if he really wanted to fight Leonard then he would have done so on those terms.

After all, outside of Cincinnati; Pryor was not a huge mainstream crossover star with a large following or fan base. It was Sugar Ray Leonard that was attracting the mainstream television audience and not Aaron Pryor because he was an unknown at the time.

[NChristo]

If that's the case then we shouldn't criticize fighters who the same. I'm tired of these old timers making it seem as if these old fighters didn't have any flaws. Hell, Leonard was a known cherry picker and he ducked Pryor.

11 minutes in, Leonard offered Pryor a career high payday and Pryor turned it down.

Who exactly did Leonard avoid to earn this title of a "known" cherry picker ?.

[WhatDisButtonDo]

People value fighters taking a challenge, moving up in weight and winning titles at a higher weight is a bigger challenge than sitting in a division with no competition.

Most people in boxing that move up now-a-days don't really fight the best. They fight possibly a gatekeeper for a belt. They aren't fighting a champion for a belt.

[Diego Rodriguez]

I know you are right. Wilfred started at 140 and ended his career at 154. Duran began his career as a 17 year old at a 119 lbs and fought as high as 147 lbs in his prime.

However, the real reason why I believe Hagler stuck around the 160 lbs weight limit, because the welterweights was where the huge box office draws were. There were no huge box office, crossover draws at a 175 lbs. Therefore, he decided to wait on them to eventually move up in weight in order to challenge them.

It's very similar to Bernard Hopkins Middleweight championship reign. He waited for the smaller fighters from the lower weight divisions who were box office draws to move up in weight like Felix Trinidad and Oscar De La Hoya in order to challenge them and cash in.

There can be multiple reasons for a decision but yes I think you are absolutely right. It is common sense and what sane people do. Both guys heard the same arguments against them. Both didn't get their due respect until they actually faced the stars who came up in weight. Some of this sounds a little familiar to today.

[Sheldon312]

He doesn't. Hauler was a fraud that retired when it got too hot in the kitchen.



I lived it --- locally.

Please specify

[Sheldon312]

Most people in boxing that move up now-a-days don't really fight the best. They fight possibly a gatekeeper for a belt. They aren't fighting a champion for a belt.

That's why Floyd isn't a top ten all time great.

[WhatDisButtonDo]

That's why Floyd isn't a top ten all time great.

In ability he is, in terms of actuality, resume, and etc? I would agree.

[Sheldon312]

You know, I've never thought of it that way, but I think you're right. The greats who reigned a long time didn't have the best to compete against or else they would have been in there with fellow greats who would push them and most likely beat them. Makes perfect sense man. Great post.

This why I rank Leonard, Duran, Ali, Oscar, Chavez, Lewis, and Holyfied so high. These guys literally dominated against all time greats.

[Sheldon312]

How many rounds did Hearns last against Hagler? Hearns was a ATG and I have huge respect for him. His flaw that he could be hurt by a hard punching fighter made him vulnerable against Hagler.. Against other Middleweights that Tommy could use his boxing skills and avoid big punishment he would win. Hagler was all wrong for Tommy. Roberto was too small and ran out of gas because of his age. So no those versions of Tommy and Duran were not the best fighters Hagler faced.

Disagree. Nobody else in that weight class was on the level of Hearns and even that Duran that faced Hagler. Hagler is an ATG don't get me wrong but I just can't give a guy a lot of credit when his best fights were against much smaller guys.

[Sheldon312]

Smaller men who are ranked among the greatest fighters ever. I cant stand this idea that you have to move up a division in order to challenge yourself, some people really need to educate themselves more on boxing history.

But what if you are dominating in a **** division?