Roberto Duran vs Marvelous Marvin Hagler (II)

[elmersalsa]

What if Marvelous had never retired and fight the Roberto Duran that fought Iran "The Blade" Barkley in February 1989?

Marvelous looked unimpressive that night when he fought Sugar Ray Leonard in April 1987. I think it was the worst performance of his boxing career. He looked like he was ready to be taken.

I also believe that Thomas Hearns could have beaten Marvelous that night if there was a rematch in '87.

I think that Barkley, Duran and Hearns beat that Marvelous that lost to Leonard in '87.

Your comments.

[keithmoonhangover]

What if Marvelous had never retired and fight the Roberto Duran that fought Iran "The Blade" Barkley in February 1989?

Marvelous looked unimpressive that night when he fought Sugar Ray Leonard in April 1987. I think it was the worst performance of his boxing career. He looked like he was ready to be taken.

Or..... Sugar Ray was the best opponent he ever had.

[2128778]

If Hagler would've continued fighting after SD loss to Leonard, it's possible he would've entered Duran It fight without ring rust (yes, I think ring rust attributed greatly to how Hagler looked in that Leonard fight).

And as cliché as it sounds, styles make fights. Hagler wouldn't need to chase Duran and thus he'll look better than against SRL.

I think, I'll favour Hagler slightly here.

[elmersalsa]

If Hagler would've continued fighting after SD loss to Leonard, it's possible he would've entered Duran It fight without ring rust (yes, I think ring rust attributed greatly to how Hagler looked in that Leonard fight).

And as cliché as it sounds, styles make fights. Hagler wouldn't need to chase Duran and thus he'll look better than against SRL.

I think, I'll favour Hagler slightly here.

But that Marvelous looked slow and lethargic against Sugar Ray Leonard in '87. What if that night Thomas Hearns was in that ring with him? A different outcome? Perhaps. It would not surprise me if The Hitman wins.

And that Roberto Duran that fought courageously against Iran Barkley against that Marvelous that loss to Leonard would have been a win for Duran imho. Marvelous looked flat!

[gilgamesh]

Hagler would always be the bigger, stronger man than Duran. Duran would always do reasonably well with Hagler though because he always did good with guys that came to fight, and Hagler certainly did.

I think the 1st time these 2 got together Hagler was a little nervous as it was his first high profile name, and it represented the key to him possibly getting the Leonard and the Hearns fights.

If they had fought again in the late 80's I'd have to think Hagler would've won easier the 2nd time around. I'd favor Hagler via a wider UD in the rematch.

[gilgamesh]

If Hagler would've continued fighting after SD loss to Leonard, it's possible he would've entered Duran It fight without ring rust (yes, I think ring rust attributed greatly to how Hagler looked in that Leonard fight).

And as cliché as it sounds, styles make fights. Hagler wouldn't need to chase Duran and thus he'll look better than against SRL.

I think, I'll favour Hagler slightly here.

But that Marvelous looked slow and lethargic against Sugar Ray Leonard in '87. What if that night Thomas Hearns was in that ring with him? A different outcome? Perhaps. It would not surprise me if The Hitman wins.

And that Roberto Duran that fought courageously against Iran Barkley against that Marvelous that loss to Leonard would have been a win for Duran imho. Marvelous looked flat!

The thing Leonard was doing that troubled Hagler though was moving around the ring. Using his quickness, and lateral movement. Duran doesn't fight like Leonard. He can move, but he couldn't move and dance around the ring the whole night like Leonard did. He'd have to outfight Hagler, and I don't think he could do that.

[elmersalsa]

If Hagler would've continued fighting after SD loss to Leonard, it's possible he would've entered Duran It fight without ring rust (yes, I think ring rust attributed greatly to how Hagler looked in that Leonard fight).

And as cliché as it sounds, styles make fights. Hagler wouldn't need to chase Duran and thus he'll look better than against SRL.

I think, I'll favour Hagler slightly here.

But that Marvelous looked slow and lethargic against Sugar Ray Leonard in '87. What if that night Thomas Hearns was in that ring with him? A different outcome? Perhaps. It would not surprise me if The Hitman wins.

And that Roberto Duran that fought courageously against Iran Barkley against that Marvelous that loss to Leonard would have been a win for Duran imho. Marvelous looked flat!

The thing Leonard was doing that troubled Hagler though was moving around the ring. Using his quickness, and lateral movement. Duran doesn't fight like Leonard. He can move, but he couldn't move and dance around the ring the whole night like Leonard did. He'd have to outfight Hagler, and I don't think he could do that.

Marvelous beat Roberto Duran by switching to slugger to boxer and from boxer to slugger. After the Thomas Hearns fight, Marvelous didn't box at all. It was all give and take affairs. I think that slugging it out against Duran, Duran would have beaten him. Duran was the better inside fighter.

[gilgamesh]

Maybe, but by the time the match would've been a possibility Duran was older, and slower than their initial bout. Hagler would've already had the experience of having fought Duran once before, and knowing what he was in for.

And let's be real here. Duran's win over Barkley was a Split Decision win. It wasn't Unanimous or Dominant. It was a Split Decision in a hard fought fight.

Beating Barkley is a hell of a lot easier than beating Hagler, and Duran only beat Barkley on a Split Decision.

[elmersalsa]

Maybe, but by the time the match would've been a possibility Duran was older, and slower than their initial bout. Hagler would've already had the experience of having fought Duran once before, and knowing what he was in for.

And let's be real here. Duran's win over Barkley was a Split Decision win. It wasn't Unanimous or Dominant. It was a Split Decision in a hard fought fight.

Beating Barkley is a hell of a lot easier than beating Hagler, and Duran only beat Barkley on a Split Decision.

Iran Barkley was in his prime.
Marvelous wasn't prime after 1985. At age 30, Marvelous started banging more than using his boxing skills.

Roberto Duran was accustomed to the Middleweight class by 1989. He looked faster than the time he fought Marvelous in '83. He was much more comfortable at 160lbs in '89. And Marvelous lost something after he fought Tommy Hearns. He was fighting one fight a year.

[gilgamesh]

Maybe, but by the time the match would've been a possibility Duran was older, and slower than their initial bout. Hagler would've already had the experience of having fought Duran once before, and knowing what he was in for.

And let's be real here. Duran's win over Barkley was a Split Decision win. It wasn't Unanimous or Dominant. It was a Split Decision in a hard fought fight.

Beating Barkley is a hell of a lot easier than beating Hagler, and Duran only beat Barkley on a Split Decision.

Iran Barkley was in his prime.
Marvelous wasn't prime after 1985. At age 30, Marvelous started banging more than using his boxing skills.

Roberto Duran was accustomed to the Middleweight class by 1989. He looked faster than the time he fought Marvelous in '83. He was much more comfortable at 160lbs in '89. And Marvelous lost something after he fought Tommy Hearns. He was fighting one fight a year.

Marvin Hagler could've come out of retirement in 1989, made his 1st comeback fight Iran Barkley, and he'd have won. Hagler is a whole other level from Barkley.

[goose 5]

Duran, for me, in this one. Hagler's deterioration would have just gotten worse post 1987

[elmersalsa]

Duran, for me, in this one. Hagler's deterioration would have just gotten worse post 1987

That's the way I see it. Marvelous was fading by each year. It would be the right time for Roberto Duran or Thomas Hearns to beat him. Throw in Iran Barkley in the mix. Marvelous wasn't boxing anymore. And he was getting slower each year since 1985.

[Cent0089]

Similar like first fight

[elmersalsa]

All said and done, I think that Marvelous retired at the right time. He was one of those boxers that didn't want to embarrass himself if he didn't had all his faculties intact. He was a very proud man.

[tiny_acres]

All said and done, I think that Marvelous retired at the right time. He was one of those boxers that didn't want to embarrass himself if he didn't had all his faculties intact. He was a very proud man.

I agree. He felt he won as did many fans. He had enough and was not going to go through anymore politics in the game. More power to him