Marvin Hagler vs Nigel Benn

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by X

I loved Nigel Benn, and have had the pleasure of meeting him a few times. He was one of the most aggressive fighters I've ever seen in a ring, big heart, great power and as behave as they come. Never in a bad fight. He would have a punchers chance against anyone, in my opinion.

Now here's the problem ..... Marvin was a genuine bona fide BEAST. He could do everything, he could box, he could punch, very underrated skills, one of the best chins of all time.

There are three deciding points in this fight for me:

- Benn did tend to run out of steam in the second half of a fight if he hadn't blasted his opponent out of there. We know Marvin could go at a hard pace for fifteen rounds, never mind twelve
- Marvin was a truly intimidating fighter. Many people were frightened by Benn before they even got in the ring. That would not be th case here and I would argue that Nigel might find himself being intimidated in this one. Once Benn gives Hagler any respect inside the ropes, the fight is over
- I can only see Nigel winning this fight by stoppage. He is not going to out point Hagler over 12, never mind 15. But Marvin had a granite chin and was never legitimately knocked down in his entire career, and he faced some guys who hit every bit as hard as Benn.

---

I agree with Al, great breakdown however I don't think Hagler saw anyone as compact with the torque of Nigel or that really came as close on the power meter. Hearns could punch but he lost a good portion of the concussive pop he carried at 47 and 54. Marvins prime was most likely in the early 80's and he never faced a shadow of Benn in those years. Same goes for Benn I suppose and most of his notable scraps were 168 but one can include the two weight classes for the purpose of this debate as both could have fought in either and Marvin never had a 168 division. Marvin gets far to much credit imo for beating x welters that were longer in the tooth then he was. I think Nigels power could be a real game changer and this matchup would have made a great trilogy.

Benn ended up a better super middle than middleweight because he had better head movement and was at his peak by the time he fought Eubanks 2 and G Man.

Marvin would have moved up after he cleared the division if there was a super middleweight division in his day.

Nigel Benn would have committed the fatal error of trying to knock Hagler out & he would have paid the price by getting stopped in about 8.

As powerful as Benn was, he would not have been able to budge Hagler & he did not have the stamina to outlast Hagler.

Benn did become a better boxer after his second defeat at the hands of Eubank, but he was still easy to outbox, as Malinga proved on two occasions (he was robbed the first time around) & Hagler could box very well, as well as punch pretty hard, so I don't can't see what Nigel had could have done to beat Marvin.

Benn beat Malinga the first time, it was close and Benn used body shots to turn the fight around.

Malinga is nothing like Hagler either as a fighter.

Remember Benn beat Haglers step brother Simms. :)

Mmh would struggle with Benn's head movement for 7 full rounds then.......DESTRUCTION