Thread: Hagler vs McCallum

Thanks to MCC for bringing up McCallum. Consider this a related thread.

Was a Hagler/McCallum fight ever seriously considered? I remember I read a smart-ass comment from the Bodysnatcher implying that Hagler that he would leave the WW's for Marvin and fight the MW's himself. I know his rise came right at Hagler's decline. McCallum became a name by sparking Julian Jackson a few months after the Hagler/Mugabi fight. I believe Mugabi was Hagler's mandatory when that fight happened. If a fight were going to happen between the two, I would think that 1986-1987 after the McCallum fought Jackson and Hagler fought Mugabi.

I don't think anybody would blame Hagler for making the Leonard fight instead of a fight with a much less known McCallum. It was Hagler's turn for the huge payday, and honestly, I think he would have lost. Mugabi was a damn good fighter, but McCallum was on another level, even at that point in his career. He had a granite chin and think he would have outworked Marvin to a close decision.

Looking back, shows the kind of punk Leonard was to vacate the MW belt belt to make that fight with LaLonde when there were much better fights to be made a MW with McCallum, Barclay, or Kalambay.

It's too bad they didn't get a chance to fight, and it's too bad that the MW division was getting better just as Marvin was getting long in the tooth. I would have loved to see a prime Marvin in with McCallum. It's a little like Calzaghe's era of SMW's. He fought pretty much everybody out there, and the division got better when his was at the end of his road.

Originally Posted by RozzySean

Thanks to MCC for bringing up McCallum. Consider this a related thread.

Was a Hagler/McCallum fight ever seriously considered? I remember I read a smart-ass comment from the Bodysnatcher implying that Hagler that he would leave the WW's for Marvin and fight the MW's himself. I know his rise came right at Hagler's decline. McCallum became a name by sparking Julian Jackson a few months after the Hagler/Mugabi fight. I believe Mugabi was Hagler's mandatory when that fight happened. If a fight were going to happen between the two, I would think that 1986-1987 after the McCallum fought Jackson and Hagler fought Mugabi.

I don't think anybody would blame Hagler for making the Leonard fight instead of a fight with a much less known McCallum. It was Hagler's turn for the huge payday, and honestly, I think he would have lost. Mugabi was a damn good fighter, but McCallum was on another level, even at that point in his career. He had a granite chin and think he would have outworked Marvin to a close decision.

Looking back, shows the kind of punk Leonard was to vacate the MW belt belt to make that fight with LaLonde when there were much better fights to be made a MW with McCallum, Barclay, or Kalambay.

It's too bad they didn't get a chance to fight, and it's too bad that the MW division was getting better just as Marvin was getting long in the tooth. I would have loved to see a prime Marvin in with McCallum. It's a little like Calzaghe's era of SMW's. He fought pretty much everybody out there, and the division got better when his was at the end of his road.

Mike McCallum is one of my favorites but i'll take Marvin Hagler, he has the straighter punches. His jab is better and i think he just does everything, a little bit better than Mike McCallum except for body punching obviously.

It would be a mixture of great boxing and great exchanges, but overall Marvin Hagler's jab and straighter punches would be the key. And whether or not its over 12 rounds or 15 rounds, Marvin Hagler would win a close decision.

While I agree that Haglar over all is the better fight you have to remember by this time Haglar was past his prime. Since the Hearns fight he was only fighting once a year (Hamsho in 84, Hearns in 85, Mugabi in 86 and then Leonard in 87). Remember Sugar was sitting ringside at the Mugabi fight and decided that Marvin had slipped just enough that he wanted to fight him. Mugabi gave Marvin a very tuff scrap and Leonard outworked him to get the decision. If they fight in 87/88 I could see the Body Snatcher pulling the upset.

Originally Posted by jdonaher1

While I agree that Haglar over all is the better fight you have to remember by this time Haglar was past his prime. Since the Hearns fight he was only fighting once a year (Hamsho in 84, Hearns in 85, Mugabi in 86 and then Leonard in 87). Remember Sugar was sitting ringside at the Mugabi fight and decided that Marvin had slipped just enough that he wanted to fight him. Mugabi gave Marvin a very tuff scrap and Leonard outworked him to get the decision. If they fight in 87/88 I could see the Body Snatcher pulling the upset.

I agree that Mike McCallum may of beaten the 1987 version of Marvin Hagler, but i thought he meant prime for prime. But whatever i agree with your comment.

Originally Posted by jdonaher1

While I agree that Haglar over all is the better fight you have to remember by this time Haglar was past his prime. Since the Hearns fight he was only fighting once a year (Hamsho in 84, Hearns in 85, Mugabi in 86 and then Leonard in 87). Remember Sugar was sitting ringside at the Mugabi fight and decided that Marvin had slipped just enough that he wanted to fight him. Mugabi gave Marvin a very tuff scrap and Leonard outworked him to get the decision. If they fight in 87/88 I could see the Body Snatcher pulling the upset.

Yeah, that's what I was talking about. Prime for Prime, I'd take Hagler, but by 87, he had fallen off. A prime Marvin Hagler would have made short work of John Mugabi, and on top of that, the Mugabi fight took a lot out of Hagler. Hagler might have had enough left in the talk, but McCallum would be have been a very live underdog.

Originally Posted by ICB

Originally Posted by RozzySean

Thanks to MCC for bringing up McCallum. Consider this a related thread.

Was a Hagler/McCallum fight ever seriously considered? I remember I read a smart-ass comment from the Bodysnatcher implying that Hagler that he would leave the WW's for Marvin and fight the MW's himself. I know his rise came right at Hagler's decline. McCallum became a name by sparking Julian Jackson a few months after the Hagler/Mugabi fight. I believe Mugabi was Hagler's mandatory when that fight happened. If a fight were going to happen between the two, I would think that 1986-1987 after the McCallum fought Jackson and Hagler fought Mugabi.

I don't think anybody would blame Hagler for making the Leonard fight instead of a fight with a much less known McCallum. It was Hagler's turn for the huge payday, and honestly, I think he would have lost. Mugabi was a damn good fighter, but McCallum was on another level, even at that point in his career. He had a granite chin and think he would have outworked Marvin to a close decision.

Looking back, shows the kind of punk Leonard was to vacate the MW belt belt to make that fight with LaLonde when there were much better fights to be made a MW with McCallum, Barclay, or Kalambay.

It's too bad they didn't get a chance to fight, and it's too bad that the MW division was getting better just as Marvin was getting long in the tooth. I would have loved to see a prime Marvin in with McCallum. It's a little like Calzaghe's era of SMW's. He fought pretty much everybody out there, and the division got better when his was at the end of his road.

Mike McCallum is one of my favorites but i'll take Marvin Hagler, he has the straighter punches. His jab is better and i think he just does everything, a little bit better than Mike McCallum except for body punching obviously.

It would be a mixture of great boxing and great exchanges, but overall Marvin Hagler's jab and straighter punches would be the key. And whether or not its over 12 rounds or 15 rounds, Marvin Hagler would win a close decision.

Awww, I thought you were gonna try and spin some McCallum points win, that would've been a great fight. I think Hagler would take him somehow he just is too solid and crafty, he would probably do something you wouldnt expect like out body shot him or put alot of pressure on him. McCallum's downfall imo would be he is too agressive, and Hagler is patient and will wait for him to make a mistake.

Originally Posted by No Contest

Originally Posted by ICB

Originally Posted by RozzySean

Thanks to MCC for bringing up McCallum. Consider this a related thread.

Was a Hagler/McCallum fight ever seriously considered? I remember I read a smart-ass comment from the Bodysnatcher implying that Hagler that he would leave the WW's for Marvin and fight the MW's himself. I know his rise came right at Hagler's decline. McCallum became a name by sparking Julian Jackson a few months after the Hagler/Mugabi fight. I believe Mugabi was Hagler's mandatory when that fight happened. If a fight were going to happen between the two, I would think that 1986-1987 after the McCallum fought Jackson and Hagler fought Mugabi.

I don't think anybody would blame Hagler for making the Leonard fight instead of a fight with a much less known McCallum. It was Hagler's turn for the huge payday, and honestly, I think he would have lost. Mugabi was a damn good fighter, but McCallum was on another level, even at that point in his career. He had a granite chin and think he would have outworked Marvin to a close decision.

Looking back, shows the kind of punk Leonard was to vacate the MW belt belt to make that fight with LaLonde when there were much better fights to be made a MW with McCallum, Barclay, or Kalambay.

It's too bad they didn't get a chance to fight, and it's too bad that the MW division was getting better just as Marvin was getting long in the tooth. I would have loved to see a prime Marvin in with McCallum. It's a little like Calzaghe's era of SMW's. He fought pretty much everybody out there, and the division got better when his was at the end of his road.

Mike McCallum is one of my favorites but i'll take Marvin Hagler, he has the straighter punches. His jab is better and i think he just does everything, a little bit better than Mike McCallum except for body punching obviously.

It would be a mixture of great boxing and great exchanges, but overall Marvin Hagler's jab and straighter punches would be the key. And whether or not its over 12 rounds or 15 rounds, Marvin Hagler would win a close decision.

Awww, I thought you were gonna try and spin some McCallum points win, that would've been a great fight. I think Hagler would take him somehow he just is too solid and crafty, he would probably do something you wouldnt expect like out body shot him or put alot of pressure on him. McCallum's downfall imo would be he is too agressive, and Hagler is patient and will wait for him to make a mistake.

Amazingly enough i think Marvin Hagler may of been the boxer/counter puncher. in this one and he could do it very well in his early career.

Agree that timing was never going to be right for this one, Hagler was getting to the end of his career and as correctly stated Leonard picked his moment. That fight happened because Hagler had always wanted it and as stated it was a big pay day for both.

If we are talking prime for prime then I would take Hagler by a decision, he was a very versatile fighter who could box very well which is often overlooked. he also had a great ability to switch between orthadox and southpaw which could be off putting.

Also good to see that when the names of Leonard and Hagler come up there only ever seems to be one mentioned in relation to cherry picking and moving weights to avoid people....and it aint Marvin !!
That said I still admire Leonard for some of his fights but think he was a sneaky shit at times.

I think even 87, Hagler might have had enough to just outwork McCallum to a narrow points win, although if it was 12 rounds I would be less sure. The fact is whilst I felt Leonard just did enough to edge the Hagler fight, no way if that's 15 rounds does SRL come away with the win, I also felt Hagler struggled initially with the speed of SRL, a problem he wouldn't have had with McCallum

Originally Posted by jamiebhoy

Agree that timing was never going to be right for this one, Hagler was getting to the end of his career and as correctly stated Leonard picked his moment. That fight happened because Hagler had always wanted it and as stated it was a big pay day for both.

If we are talking prime for prime then I would take Hagler by a decision, he was a very versatile fighter who could box very well which is often overlooked. he also had a great ability to switch between orthadox and southpaw which could be off putting.

Also good to see that when the names of Leonard and Hagler come up there only ever seems to be one mentioned in relation to cherry picking and moving weights to avoid people....and it aint Marvin !!
That said I still admire Leonard for some of his fights but think he was a sneaky shit at times.

Only at times?

He gave Floyd Mayweather the blueprint.

Originally Posted by RozzySean

Thanks to MCC for bringing up McCallum. Consider this a related thread.

Was a Hagler/McCallum fight ever seriously considered? I remember I read a smart-ass comment from the Bodysnatcher implying that Hagler that he would leave the WW's for Marvin and fight the MW's himself. I know his rise came right at Hagler's decline. McCallum became a name by sparking Julian Jackson a few months after the Hagler/Mugabi fight. I believe Mugabi was Hagler's mandatory when that fight happened. If a fight were going to happen between the two, I would think that 1986-1987 after the McCallum fought Jackson and Hagler fought Mugabi.

I don't think anybody would blame Hagler for making the Leonard fight instead of a fight with a much less known McCallum. It was Hagler's turn for the huge payday, and honestly, I think he would have lost. Mugabi was a damn good fighter, but McCallum was on another level, even at that point in his career. He had a granite chin and think he would have outworked Marvin to a close decision.

Looking back, shows the kind of punk Leonard was to vacate the MW belt belt to make that fight with LaLonde when there were much better fights to be made a MW with McCallum, Barclay, or Kalambay.

It's too bad they didn't get a chance to fight, and it's too bad that the MW division was getting better just as Marvin was getting long in the tooth. I would have loved to see a prime Marvin in with McCallum. It's a little like Calzaghe's era of SMW's. He fought pretty much everybody out there, and the division got better when his was at the end of his road.

Fully agree with what I have Bolded, I have been saying this for a while, very clever outside of the ring, Leonard actaully avoided Pryor like the plague, FACT!

Herol Graham was the number 1 middleweight and next in line but Hagler chose SRL. I have always been convinced Herol would have won, bur Herol did have the habit to pull defeat from the jaws of victory. However Herol would have boxed circles around this old version of Hagler but did he have the clout and support of get a decision against the great Hagler. SRL sure did.

To my knowledge Hagler/McCallum was never a goer. Post Mugabi; Herol Graham and Michael Olijade were considered, then Ray Leonard came along.....

As for a potential match up in 87. I see it being a struggle for the Marvelous one, but I do not see him losing, as like the Kalambay fight, the occasion gets to the Bodysnatcher.

Hagler WU12 (7-5) in my book.