Calzaghe-Hagler?

[Taeth]

First of all, moving up wasn't much of an option for Hagler since 168 didn't exist then and Spinks, a top 5 ATG LHW and a MUCH bigger man, was champion at 175. You've obviously never seen Hagler in his prime, 1978-1981. Hagler was past in by the Mugabi fight, and his style had degenerated at that point. As for his power, he KO'd everybody he defended against except Leonard and Duran.

That being said, Hagler had problems with movers and Calzaghe would present a stylistic problem for Hagler. I might favor Calzaghe in 12 rounds, but if you gave a prime Hagler 15 rounds to pound on Calzaghe, Marvin would break him down eventually.

I don't get your logic why would Hagler be able to break down a guy who gets stronger as the fight progresses? If anything Calzaghe is one of the few champions who would be WAY better if fights were still 15 rounds long.

I hear you, and it's a good point, but my reasoning is different. Against most fighters, you are right that Calzaghe would be an even better 15 round fighter. He's my thinking, but I could be wrong.

Both Hagler and Calzaghe get stronger as the fight goes on, but Hagler would be putting more punishment on Calzaghe than Calzaghe could put on Hagler. Calzaghe would be able to steal rounds, much like Leonard did, but the cumulative affect would take it's toll eventually. Leonard was a great 15 round fighter, too, but if the fight with Hagler had been 15, Hagler certainly would have stopped him. It was Calzaghe's EARLY lead that carried him through against Reid, and IMHO, if Hagler had hitting Calzaghe like Reid hit Calzaghe, Calzaghe might not have energy for a strong finish.

For the record, and old Joe Calzaghe beats an old Marvin Hagler. Joe aged much better than Marvin. The version of Hagler that fought Leonard and Mugabi would get outboxed by Joe C.

That's valid, I am not sure I would see a younger Hagler putting that type of punishment on Calzaghe though. I think Calzaghe is better now than in his physical prime because he has improved as a boxer, I am not sure Hagler would find it super easy to hit him, I mean both Hopkins and Roy are old, they are still very quick and still amazingly accurate, and even Bernard had some difficulties finding Calzaghe as the night progressed because Joe doesn't slow down.

And like Rozzysean said, I don't think prime Hagler would be so eager to just pressure Calzaghe, and I don't think he is fast enough to catch Calzaghe coming in, consistently. Kessler was able to because he was orthodox, and Bernard was able to because he is an amazing counter puncher, but both gradually landed less, and less punches as Calzaghe maintained or increased the tempo, and got more into a rhythm.

As for Leonard, he hadn't fought in three years, so you can't really use him being good before in 15 round fights as evidence for the Hagler fight, especially against a guy so much bigger (Hagler's head probably weighed as much as Ray). I am looking back at Hagler's record and I honestly see a punch of pylons for him to walk over Minter, Watts, Hamani . I think a lot of what people see of Hagler is him fighting guys WAY worse than him, and if you remember when Foreman came back he was able to dominate guys and outbox them because they were so much below him. The guys on Hagler's list don't rate highly to me, and him not being able to stop Leonard even in 12 rounds or Duran in 15 makes me think HAgler wouldn't be too much for Calzaghe.