Why didn't Hagler challenge himself

[club fighter]

I just can't give a guy a lot of credit when his best fights were against much smaller guys.

"MUCH" smaller guys don't fight in the same division, get it straight, SLIGHTLY smaller guys sometimes do. So it's not like he was beating up people 20lbs less than he was.

You also mentioned "old" fans ...blah blah blah

Well I just recently watched Limon vs Chacon again, and I was really thrown by how little fighters held in those days.

So yes, fighters in the pre Lennox Lewis years held less, fought more, and didn't do that much dodging. Hell, Frazier gave Ali a shot after only 2 tune up fights, things were different then.........they were better.

Stop trying to trash a legend.

[Tony Trick-Pony]

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

No doubt about it. And a lot of greats had losses only to other at least very good fighters or fellows greats. There's no shame in losing to a great fighter. There is shame in never testing yourself though. None of the guys you mentioned failed to test themselves against fellow greats. That's what it's all about.

[Tony Trick-Pony]

"MUCH" smaller guys don't fight in the same division, get it straight, SLIGHTLY smaller guys sometimes do. So it's not like he was beating up people 20lbs less than he was.

You also mentioned "old" fans ...blah blah blah

Well I just recently watched Limon vs Chacon again, and I was really thrown by how little fighters held in those days.

So yes, fighters in the pre Lennox Lewis years held less, fought more, and didn't do that much dodging. Hell, Frazier gave Ali a shot after only 2 tune up fights, things were different then.........they were better.

Stop trying to trash a legend.

Oh man. So much more action and excitement. I'm not sure what got the hold trend going but it's been pretty awful in many modern fights. I think used to be, even other fighters looked down on you for holding excessively and of course the refs would actually penalize you. Nowadays no one does either. It really robs the fans of a great fight sometimes.

[john l]

Hagler is considered to be the greatest MW of all time which is arguable. But looking at his resume all his big wins were against smaller men moving up like Hearns and Duran. There's not one MW on his resume that screams "Great" if anything, Jones and Monzon have better resumes. Most of the greats went up and challenged themselves. Hagler didn't seem to want to do that. He could've went up and faced Michael Spinks but he chose to take the easy way out and stay in a dead division. Why does Hagler get a pass for this.

That was not DEAD div Hamsho,sibsion,mugabi(for that one night he was hell of fighter)plus Hearns was not really a small 160pder.Not counting all the really tough guys he fought before he got his shot(and that took speaker of house Tip O'Neal and T Kennady) to help him get it he was so ducked.

[EvanFields]

I've always had issue with this as well. Hagler could have done so much more but he let boxing politics beat him. That always sit bad with me

[john l]

I've always had issue with this as well. Hagler could have done so much more but he let boxing politics beat him. That always sit bad with me

I think holding a div for 7yrs(should been longer if he got shot when he should have)is a lot more impressive than hoping div cherry pickin titles.(broner)

[club fighter]

Oh man. So much more action and excitement. I'm not sure what got the hold trend going but it's been pretty awful in many modern fights. I think used to be, even other fighters looked down on you for holding excessively and of course the refs would actually penalize you. Nowadays no one does either. It really robs the fans of a great fight sometimes.

You noticed I refer to Lewis on that, it's because he perfected it, Klitchko used the same to dominate the division for years. A big defensive heavyweight with KO power and good footwork, the recipe to get the angle, pop your shot and wrap him up before your opponent can counter.

James Toney had the shoulder roll thing and Lennox had the smash and grab-on.

To his credit, Lennox Lewis was dominant and had some of the best foot work of any heavy I've seen, outside of Ali.

[john l]

No doubt about it. And a lot of greats had losses only to other at least very good fighters or fellows greats. There's no shame in losing to a great fighter. There is shame in never testing yourself though. None of the guys you mentioned failed to test themselves against fellow greats. That's what it's all about.

GREAT POST everone jumps on fighters when they lose to even top fighters.And then wonder why they don't want to fight the best.

[john l]

You noticed I refer to Lewis on that, it's because he perfected it, Klitchko used the same to dominate the division for years. A big defensive heavyweight with KO power and good footwork, the recipe to get the angle, pop your shot and wrap him up before your opponent can counter.

James Toney had the shoulder roll thing and Lennox had the smash and grab-on.

To his credit, Lennox Lewis was dominant and had some of the best foot work of any heavy I've seen, outside of Ali.

seen Patterson, holmes holyfield just a few who had better footwork then lewis imo.Not to say Lewis was not very good just don't think footwork is what made him imo. I think his power and very good sence of distance made him the very good fighters he was also jab.

[daggum]

You noticed I refer to Lewis on that, it's because he perfected it, Klitchko used the same to dominate the division for years. A big defensive heavyweight with KO power and good footwork, the recipe to get the angle, pop your shot and wrap him up before your opponent can counter.

James Toney had the shoulder roll thing and Lennox had the smash and grab-on.

To his credit, Lennox Lewis was dominant and had some of the best foot work of any heavy I've seen, outside of Ali.

aka cheating. just like ward. cept ward would hold and hit, throw low blows, jump into you head first on purpose. such great fighters