Quote Originally Posted by mikeeod View Post
I remember Ray saying that it was two things: 1) Marvin had slowed down enough that he fought that type of fight (people forget that Marvin was a very good boxer and fast earlier in his career). 2) The damage Marvin took n that fight would have a detrimental effect in his next.

Indeed. And Mayweather is doing the same thing in eyeing the same middleweight picture. History repeating itself. Ray got under Haglers skin before he even retired. He stayed there festering. Hagler as bad ass as he was also had a feeling of indestructibility. Ray worked on that with little press blurbs to the point where Hagler called him a little shrimp and that he's crush him like a bug. When Hagler was fighting Mugabi he was thinking about Leonard. By the time the opportunity came, Hagler was willing to do anything to land it which he did. 12 rounds instead of 15, 10 oz Reyes instead of 8 oz and the ring size of 20 feet. Hubris and the money sealed the deal. With added percentage for the gate Hagler made about 15 million or more cash then he made over his entire career. He was so over confident that he came out right handed and gave the fight away based on two of the cards. The guy with the 118/110 card was having an out of body experience.

Leonard decided to challenge Hagler after watching his fight with John Mugabi on March 10, 1986. "I was at ringside," Leonard said, "sitting with Michael J. Fox. We were sitting there having a few beers, and I'm watching John "The Beast" Mugabi outbox Hagler. Of all people, John "The Beast" Mugabi.