Duran was great but I just thought they were so evenly matched and the way they fought between each other back and forth was special....and yes Ali was maybe the greatest ever but he only had Frazier as competition. Their 3 fights were mythic.
It was an absolute crime when they awarded Leonard that decision when they fought. It crushed Hagler because he never felt like he got the respect that a great champion like him deserved (he was right) and he knew in his heart that he won that fight.
Besides Hearns, I still think one of his best fights ever was against John 'The Beast' Mugabi, who was getting tons of press because he was destroying everyone he fought. He was 25-0 with 25 KOs when he got his title shot leading up to the Hagler fight and once it started, he took it to Hagler. He won the first few rounds, but then Hagler figured him out and took him apart the rest of the way, eventually knocking him out in the 11th. And that was the last anyone really ever heard of John Mugabi.
I always had a dislike for Leonard because not only did Hagler beat his ass but Hearne did as well and the crooked ass judges would never take the title away from Sugar Ray.
All flash, no substance against Hagler and the suck ass judges rewarded him for that bullshit. No way a champion like Hagler should ever lose to someone who fights like that.
When Larry Holmes was 48-0 I bet on him against Michael Spinks. Holmes clay won the fight but the judges gave the title to Spinks. I should have known better. No way the mob was going to get a black man equal the record of Italian homeboy Rocky Marciano.
No dancing, no lollygagging, just two men beating the snot out of each other. That is what boxing should be. None of this bullshit Mayweather bullshit of running around and hiding for 12 rounds. Get in there and fight!
