Quote Originally Posted by X
Quote Originally Posted by eugepang
Sugar Ray Leonard would've beat Hagler in a rematch and Hagler knew he couldn't beat him and that's the reason why he retired. He looked so slow against Leonard, it was embarrassing.
Sorry, I don't agree.

Leonard's whole game plan was predicated on fooling the judges into seeing a prime Leonard who was long gone, he did this by posing and showboating and by tossing in eye-catching flurries at the end of the rounds. It was a natural progression from the tactice that he used to beat Duran, and for sheer nerve, I think it stands up there with Ali's rope-a-dope against Foreman.

BUT - I don't think that an objective viewing of the fight justifies the decision (look at Collazo/Hatton where aggression really seemed to count).

Moreover, if it had been a 15 round fight, Leonard would have been stopped (and he admitted it himself). It was a great con trick and Leonard would have given Hagler a rematch about as much as Ali would have given Foreman one!!!
"People don't realize, I didn't want a rematch" - George Foreman