Hagler vs. Leonard - Rematch

[OctoberRed]

This is a hard one. The first fight was very close.

Promoters wanted the rematch, Hagler had no interested.

If it did happen, who would have won?

[Sugarj]

Probably another close Leonard decision.

Hagler fans will probably think that all he has to do in the rematch is come out in the southpaw stance in the early rounds, fight a similar fight to last time and bag the decision.

But realistically Leonard wasn't a fool and would almost certainly anticipate a southpaw start. He would be less ring rusty in the return, he'd have settled more into the weight and would have the confidence of being champion.

The first fight was close, no doubt. But realistically; even in the rounds that Hagler won, he didn't look great. His hand speed and reflexes had seriously faded. I defy any Hagler fan to choose one round of that fight where Hagler looked good. Rounds 5, 9 and 12 were probably his best.....but you won't find them in any Hagler highlight video. He was on the slide, and that would have continued into the rematch.

[Anthony342]

Hagler had no interest? I thought he was trying to get a rematch and Leonard was the one not interested?

[Sugar Adam Ali]

Hagler had no interest? I thought he was trying to get a rematch and Leonard was the one not interested?

I thought hagler wanted it right away but Leonard wanted a few months off and wanted it a year down the road. Hagler didn't want to wait and retired.
At that's what I have heard over the years

[The Old LefHook]

Hold it, dear. Plain logic, intuition and experience says that if anyone was avoiding a rematch, it was Leonard. Hagler did not want to be dicked with Leonard style. He had already been out-negotiated in a near shutout at the table for the first match, mesmerized by the money they were waving. Whatever was coming his way next, it was certainly not a nice clean rematch in a timely manner. Not with Leonard calling the shots.

Leonard also put boxing on a sure path to 12 round championship fights, by negotiating for 12 in that fight.

The WBC was powerless if the fighters had simply told them to screw themselves. They would have backed right down and accepted 15 rounds for their cut. But Leonard did not want to look at Hagler for 15. Over twelve, just maybe he could squeeze by. Leonard never did have the pride he thought he had. Almost all his negotiations in all big fights were looking for an easier way out. Because of his negotiating power, he was usually given that out, or, rather, bought it.

For Hagler, he negotiated for a ring the size of a casino parking lot and gloves the size of resthome comforters. Against Duran II he waited until Duran was a fat hog with no proper time to repair. This is not pride, I do not care what anyone calls it. Out of the ring trickery was a big part of some of Leonard's most famous wins.

Another individual who will rely more and more on negotiating trickery is Canelo. Mark my word, boys. NO rematch with Canelo is getting done easy for GGG. Canelo already showed his future once when he gave up his championship rather than face GGG. The tactic will be to let GGG age more, while De la Hoya and his boy stall. When they feel GGG is truly through, they will step right up.

If Canelo manages to negotiate a win over GGG, no one on here is foolish enough to think he will then face Charlo, are they? If you want to see some negotiating, wait for that one. They will throw another $200, 000 at Charlo for every stitch of advantage he gives up. In the end it will be illegal for him to throw a punch without a million dollar fine.

I am tired of these punks who will not fight the best fighters in timely fashion. Mayweather was the absolute worst for this, and perpetuated this trend all by himself.

[OctoberRed]

Hagler had no interest? I thought he was trying to get a rematch and Leonard was the one not interested?

I thought Arum always said Hagler felt he was robbed and lost interest with the sport after that?

[TBear]

I thought Arum always said Hagler felt he was robbed and lost interest with the sport after that?

I was under the impression at the time that Hagler was disgusted with the scoring as well. After all he gave to the sport, he felt the judges gave Leonard star treatment.

Ironic that to this day, fans get into heated debates over who won.

[Willy Wanker]

I thought Arum always said Hagler felt he was robbed and lost interest with the sport after that?

Hagler was mad that he was robbed and wanted a rematch right away, but he lost interest and retired because Leonard had no interest for an immediate rematch. Leonard was vague as usual saying "yeah, maybe down the road in a year or so," or something along those lines.

Hagler had to wait years for the first fight, so he didn't want to go down that road again. He also knew that he was past his prime and waiting around for at least another year wouldn't have done him any favors.

[OctoberRed]

Hagler was mad that he was robbed and wanted a rematch right away, but he lost interest and retired because Leonard had no interest for an immediate rematch. Leonard was vague as usual saying "yeah, maybe down the road in a year or so," or something along those lines.

Hagler had to wait years for the first fight, so he didn't want to go down that road again. He also knew that he was past his prime and waiting around for at least another year wouldn't have done him any favors.

Why retire? Hagler still had plenty of big fights in the bag.

[Willy Wanker]

Why retire? Hagler still had plenty of big fights in the bag.

Hagler was already contemplating retirement after the Mugabi fight and before Leonard announced that he was finally ready to fight Hagler.

He could have had some other big fights, but he knew that he lost a step when he fought Mugabi, and he was even more past it when he fought Leonard. And his desire for the sport was gone as he felt he gave all he had. The politics and Sugar Ray just made him hate boxing even more.

The Leonard rematch was the only fight that mattered to him at that point.