Marvin Hagler's place in boxing history?

Question

As fighters fade into history, it's easier to put their accomplishments into a proper historical perspective. Where is Hagler's place in middleweight and overall boxing history? What did he mean to the sport of boxing? What do you think of his walking away from the sport at 33? What do you think of his relative absence from the sport since the battle against Leonard? I remember seeing Ray Leonard and Thomas Hearns sharing a popcorn at ringside for the Mayweather-Hatton fight. I kept thinking how Marvin Hagler should have been there as well. Has there been a void? I keep thinking that he could continue to contribute to the sport through commentary or even a show to compete with Leonard's Contender. He certainly knows more than buffoonish Max Kellerman and the inebriated Larry Merchant.

Answer 1

Best Middleweight ever and a top 10 of all time fighter.

Answer 2

The greatest middleweight ever.  He had one of the longest reigns in that division and he fought everyone in probably the best middleweight era.

Answer 3

Great question.. I think he will be seen more for what could have been than what was, Even as great as it was his career

was to short and his attitude was more of if i can't have it my way   "I'll just take my ball and go home" s***w you Judges...

i think if he's honest he would in hindsight say he hurt himself and his sport by leaving..

Think of the Millions he could have made with a rematch of all his big fights..By this he hurt himself..And the Fans..

Answer 4

Just dropped in to say hello to Elmer, so hello Elmer. (I took 2 hits in politics this week and 1 in camera/technology). They keep trying to tko me but I'm still around. Imagine, I got violated for asking why a clip from 1968 Romeo and Juliet would not load in an answer but would load in a question. (The other 2 were politics, of course).

So, I'll let you get back to boxing.

BTW: I read your question, wish I knew enough to answer. But I can think of a few political candidates I would like to see fade.... into... history.....

Chow for now

Answer 5

Unlike the heavyweights,   I think the middleweight division does have a solid top 3 then remaining Top 10.   Clearly Robinson is the best.  I think Hagler places just behind Monzon.  He would beat some who might beat Monzon but he loses a close one to Carlos.  

Guys like Zale, Greb, Ketchel and Cerdan would give Monzon a terrible time.  A decision could go either way.  Hagler is tough enough to edge each of them in a distance win.  Monzon is upright and can avoid enough punishment from Marvin to keep him on the bad end of a decision.  Styles make fights.  

I dont think the Leonard fight has anything to do with Marvin's place.  He ranks no lower than 3rd and Leonard doesnt even make the top 10.   Hagler DID lose to Leonard by his own doing.  Thats why he became disgusted with himself.  He realized he'd been conned.  He was too obsessed with living in Leonard's shadow.  He allowed Ray to dictate much of the ''contest'' before the fight began.  

I miss Marvin and what he brought to the middleweight division and to boxing.  People often compare him to Hopkins.  I think Marvin guts out a tough win over Hopkins.  He would have stopped Leonard in a rematch as well, realizing his mistakes the first time.

Marvin is no less than 3rd

Answer 6

Thumbs up to toughguy and gannoway, I agree Hagler places very high in Middle weight history, I put him second behind Ray Robinson and just slightly ahead of Monzon.  I am one of the many who feel Marvin beat Ray Leonard, but history is what it is.  Marvin walked away from boxing because he too felt disgusted with the decision Leonard won over him.  Hagler, Leonard, Hearns and Duran WERE the hub boxing spun around for the majority of their championship years, and Hagler's place in history will forever be tied to the other three.  The four dominated the boxing scene like few before or since, and will always be held in awe by students of boxing.  Some of boxing's most epic fights are directly tied to this talented group, and many belive Hagler was the most dominate of the four.  His fight with Thomas Hearns made both of them boxing immortals, and it truth those three rounds may have been the three most savage rounds ever fought in a boxing ring.  Marvin's place in boxing history is very high, along side boxing's best.

I also agree with you on Hagler's potential as a boxing announcer, and would love to see Marvin at ringside for a big fight.  He would be an improvement over Merchant and a blessed relief from the torture of having to listen to that twit Kellerman.

Answer 7

I agree with tough guy, Marvin is the second best middleweight of all time. I personally didn't think he lost to Sugar Ray Leonard. Ray Landed more punches but Marvin landed the harder punches.

Answer 8

My fondest memories as a youngster growing up in Massachusetts was waiting to see who Marvelous Marvin is going to fight next, in the 80's the Hagler/Leonard/Hearns/Duran fights were the best and maybe i'm being a homer but Hagler may be the second best middleweight champ of all time. His walking away after the Leonard debaucle was just the icing on the cake of a Hall of Fame career that left you sayin' "That was one tough S.O.B.!"

Answer 9

He is one of the Greatest! We all know he beat Leonard.

"Anything Else Would Be Uncivilized"

Answer 10

marvin hagler was one of the greatest boxers of all time and one of the top three with monzon and hopkins

Answer 11

Id rate Hagler as the no 1 middleweight of all time. Unfortunately for him he is mainly remembered for the Leonard fight which was a rare off night for him. I actually think he is underrated to a large extent, and doesent often get the respect he deserves due to one high profile loss.

Answer 12

I think Mr. Hagler holds a bit of a bitter grudge against boxing and it's fans. Whatever Marvin did it was his decision, of getting out of the sport, if he is comfortable with his antics when he come to the HOF in Canastota NY, by his arrogance of not signing autographs for kids, I would put him at the bottom because of his personality, Reason why no one really brings him up is because of his pitiful way of dealing with the public. The JUDGES PICKED SUGAR RAY... MARVIN NOT YOUR FANS!!! I remember watching a kid run up to Marvin, asking for one autograph Marvin's reply not now kid, not now!!!  Marvin was unoccupied, I think he should have. I will never like Marvin for just that. My opinion.

Answer 13

Very good question sir.  Marvin Hagler in my opinion is the second greatest middleweight champion in boxing history and gives a very strong argument as the greatest with a final record of 62-3-2 (52)  He was a complete fighter and I'll never forget his great fight with Thomas Hearns.  Anyone that knows boxing certainly has a lot of respect for Marvin Hagler and thinks highly of him.  After the loss to Leonard which many think he won, I believe he was disgusted and felt he should have beaten Leonard.  I think after that, he wanted to get away from it all and went to Europe and I believe he done some films thus his absence from the public scene.  Hagler could have easily won a rematch with Leonard in my opinion and had several more good fights in him when he walked away from the ring.  Yes there has been a void and I would say that most would love to see him back in the public eye again giving expert commentary or at least attending some fights.  His place in boxing history is secure regardless of what he decides to do as everybody knows how great Hagler was.

Answer 14

i would rate marvin in third place at middleweight, behind robinson & monzon.

with the excepton of his last fight when he faded a little, he avenged all his losses & draws, and made 12 successful defences of his title...11 by kayo.

12 months after the leonard fight, he announced his retirement after his half brother robbie sims failed to beat WBA titleholder sumbu kalambay....even though ring magazine told hagler that all he had to do was fight WBC champ hearns for the winner to be named the ring world champ......but his place in the history books was already secure.

Answer 15

Marvin Hagler,for me anyway,was the best alongside Carlos Monzon,middle of all time.If i had to put money on a fantasy computer fight between the 2,yes id pick Monzon but only because I do not see Hagler getting through that solid defence and boy was he a tough fighter !)monzon 2)Hagler!!Not only is a superb fighter,but his outside life was impeccable and a credit to his craft and his race,and I cannot leave without saying,categorically,that Hagler beat Leonard....just my opinion!!

Answer 16

I believe Hagler was one fo the top three-five middleweights of all time. His career shouldnt have been over after the Leonard fight but he was so sore over the decision (that I felt was a fair one) that he just up and quit boxing.  Its a shame.  Imagine a Hagler vs. Hopkins fight!

Answer 17

only one MARVALOUS MARVIN HAGLER in the world, will never be another!