BoxRec

Yes, you read the title correct Holmes vs Hagler.

The question I have is that during the build up to the first Holmes -Michael Spinks fight there was talk of Holmes then offering Hagler a shot at his Heavyweight Title after he defeated Spinks? Although things didn't work out that way as we all now.

Anyone else ever hear of this?

hagler would not only have suffered his first knockdown, but his first knockout loss

BrocktonBlockbuster49 wrote: hagler would not only have suffered his first knockdown, but his first knockout loss

Wow, and I thought the mention of Hearns fighting Spinks in the early to mid 80's was bad.

Of course he would offer a title shot to Hagler but not to other viable heavyweights. Puh.

If you remember,this was during Holmes version of the "Bum of the month" tour.He was defending against people that he was a sure bet(at least in his mind)to defeat,in an effort to break Marciano's record.He figured the puffed up lightheavyweight Spinks to offer a household "name",but no real threat.I don't remember hearing about him fighting Hagler,however,it doesn't surprise me.After all,remember he did fight guys like Scott Frank(who was no more deserving of a shot at the greatest title in ALL sports,than I was),Randy Cobb,who while entertaining,had a much better chance in a streetfight with Holmes than a boxing match,and also when he encountered what he thought were young inexperienced fighters,(who actually extended him and gave very good performances)Witherspoon,& Carl "the Truth" Williams.He might have beaten Hagler during this period,but I really don't think that he would have knocked him out.SURPRISE,SURPRISE,what if Hagler actually outhustled the then tiring,aging Holmes,and stole the fight by close decision?That is slim,but not impossible,if you remember those days(and I do),
zuru

Hagler was what......5'9" and 160? Holmes wanted him to gain 40 pounds to fight him? Ridiculous. If it were true, I'm glad Hagler had more sense than to even participate in the fiasco.
Holmes would have been way to big for Hagler to even be a threat. All Holmes would have had to do was jab and stay away, much like Lennox Lewis did with David Tua.

wlvrne wrote:Hagler was what......5'9" and 160? Holmes wanted him to gain 40 pounds to fight him? Ridiculous. If it were true, I'm glad Hagler had more sense than to even participate in the fiasco.
Holmes would have been way to big for Hagler to even be a threat. All Holmes would have had to do was jab and stay away, much like Lennox Lewis did with David Tua.

i dont think holmes would be hiding behind a jab, if shavers couldnt keep larry`s back on the canvas i dont think hagler could even put him there.
holmes aint no ruiz.

Where did I write that Hagler would be knocking down Holmes? I said, all Larry would do is jab and stay away, and he'd win. Read before you reply.

Thanks for the feedback guys. Like I said it was just something I heard and have no idea wether Holmes made any official contact with Hagler about this or if it was just rumour and speculation.

I have no doubt that Hagler would have rejected any offer. He had no interest in stepping up to 175lbs to challenge Spinks so why make the huge leap up to Heavyweight? Also bearing in mind that Hagler was not a physically big Middleweight.

The Holmes Hagler thing would be the eqivelent of Hagler requesting Salvador Sanchez to move up to middleweight for a fight.

I'd have to disagree on one minor thing and that is that Hagler wasn't a big middleweight. I think he was a very big, strong middleweight.

I remember some Boxing writer seriously suggesting that Hagler should move up to LHW and challenge Michael Spinks. The guy believed Hagler would win an easy decision. Even there though, I think Marvelous Marvin would have been in over his head.

Now this scenario is more believable, but Spinks would definitely be WAY to much for even the Marvelous one.

...now if holmes had meant for HAGLER'S title..and he'd come down to 160.....of course, he'd still have all that reach, wouldn't he?


re:hagler....he was not a big or strong middleweight....in the sense that lamotta (the most extreme example.....zale wasn't big but he was strong) and some others were. not weak...just closer to average. strong puncher, yes...great chin, yes....but not strong in the sense that he could bull in and push around his opponents. the most obvious example of this would be his fight against duran..... this, to me, makes his overall skills even more impressive.

The only ever reference to Holmes Hagler I can recall was Larry saying in an interview that he used to receive a fair bit of hatemail. One parrticular piece of hatemail said he'd lose to Hagler Well ouch, I'm sure Larry lost sleep over that one

This is silly talk.

A Spinks - Hagler fight was mooted in about 84, at 175

Spinks moved up instead.

The no 1 middleweight of all time against the no2 HW of all time.

Its a daft fight and was never discussed at the time.

I believe after he knocked out Calvin Grove in 89, Jorge Paez began yelling that he wanted Tyson. Another time at a weigh in, he let his towel drop and yelled that he wanted women.

Seamus wrote:I believe after he knocked out Calvin Grove in 89, Jorge Paez began yelling that he wanted Tyson. Another time at a weigh in, he let his towel drop and yelled that he wanted women.

Did he yell anything when during a fight he pulled down his opponent's trunks?

Arsenal wrote:I'd have to disagree on one minor thing and that is that Hagler wasn't a big middleweight. I think he was a very big, strong middleweight.

I am a HUGE Hagler fan but I wouldn't say he was the physically biggest or strongest of the 'great' Middleweights.

For instance look at his fight with Minter who looked much bigger than Hagler. Also an old Briscoe looked stronger than a peak Hagler althought to be fair Briscoe was one serious tough and strong fighter.

I would say the likes of Dick Tiger and Jake LaMotta were physically stronger than Hagler, although I would 9 times out of 10 pick Hagler to beat them both. One thing Hagler did have in his physical structure was a very good reach for his height.

I suppose its the way you look at it. I think Hagler was big, tough and strong but Benn, who had one of the best one punch ko's, was not big and strong, tough yes! I think Eubank is a good example of a boxer who was very big at middle and super middle. I will say that Hagler was, for me, the best middleweight of all time. Holmes, maybe top 25 heavyweights of all time but he dominated in the worse era of heavyweight boxing. I don't think he was that good personally.

I'm happy for Hagler's legacy that a fight with Michael Spinks never happened. Because his weight was around 160 at all times even into his 30's, I doubt that added weight would have helped Marvin here. All time I rate Hagler above Spinks, but at LHW Michael would have demolished him in short order.

Seamus wrote:I'm happy for Hagler's legacy that a fight with Michael Spinks never happened. Because his weight was around 160 at all times even into his 30's, I doubt that added weight would have helped Marvin here. All time I rate Hagler above Spinks, but at LHW Michael would have demolished him in short order.

That'd be because Hagler was a middleweight and would have had too many disadvantages at 175. He was Captain Marvel, not Superman

bollox wrote:

Seamus wrote:I'm happy for Hagler's legacy that a fight with Michael Spinks never happened. Because his weight was around 160 at all times even into his 30's, I doubt that added weight would have helped Marvin here. All time I rate Hagler above Spinks, but at LHW Michael would have demolished him in short order.

That'd be because Hagler was a middleweight and would have had too many disadvantages at 175. He was Captain Marvel, not Superman

Well said!

Never heard of this before, sounds absurd.