Quote Originally Posted by nfkzb
Quote Originally Posted by Bilbo
Quote Originally Posted by El Gamo
Quote Originally Posted by Memphis
Quote Originally Posted by Bilbo


A great fighter can win in more than one division. If you can only succeed in a single division then you are not a great fighter
So by that logic you must rate Hatton as a great fighter no? At least better than say Marvin Hagler

I dont think Rick is half as good as some people make out. Im not going to pretend that he lost fights he won to baulster my case though.

HAHAHAH,how are you going to get out of that 1 Bil! Poor statement imo. A fighter does not need to be a multi weight champ to solidify themselves as a legend. Hagler is the perfect point in case.Excellent analysis Memph.
Actually I don't meed to get out of anything. Middleweight is and always has been the most glamourous division in boxing after the heavyweights, there was never any need for Hagler to move up.

If you think junior welterweight is or ever has been one of boxings glamour divisions and can be compared with the 80's middleweight scene then I give up trying to debate.

When Hagler fought the super middleweight division didn't even exist or was in its infancy. Do you really think if Hagler fought now he'd remain at middleweight once Taylor and Pavlik moved up?

Hell no he'd be where the action was, right up at 168 or 175 with Calzaghe, Hopkins, Jones Jr etc.

Anyone HONESTLY going to disagree with that?
Well yeah, because you said and I quote "A great fighter can win in more than one division. If you can only succeed in a single division then you are not a great fighter" Hagler proved you don't. It's a real variable. I would say if any of the welters cleaned up that division right now they'd never need to move up. You did make the point to diss Hatton.
How can you disagree though? Hagler fought in a great middleweight era. All the action was at middleweight. There was no super middleweight division to speak of. Hagler fought the best of his era in the best division.

Hatton has NOT been competitive in the division where all the action is. He fights in the JUNIOR welterweight division which compared to the welterweights is a virtual wasteland devoid of talent and competition.

It's a completely different scenario. Look at Calzaghe as a case in point. He's reigned undefeated as the 168 lb king for 10 years. Yet because of the lack of competition it has taken him until his fight with Kessler to finally get the worldwide recognition and respect he deserves.

Furthermore for Calzaghe to be considered on a par with Hagler he will have to fight and beat either Hopkins, Pavlik, Taylor etc in fights that will most likely necessitate a move up in weight class.

Halger fought in a different era where not only was his weight class the most competitive to be in but also where the junior weight divisions carried less emphasis.

Therefore it was right and proper that his career was at middlewight where all the great fighters were.

In Hatton's case all the great fighters are at 147 and as we have seen twice now Hatton simply can't mix in the company of the elite at welterweight.

He's NOT an elite fighter.