Heavyweight great Lennox Lewis once predicted the outcome of a fantasy match-up between Gennady Golovkin and Marvin Hagler.
Golovkin and Hagler both enjoyed considerable success throughout the course of their respective professional careers, both reigning as unified middleweight champion for a number of years.
Hagler held the undisputed middleweight championship for seven years between 1980 and 1987, making no less than twelve successful defences of his crown before he was eventually dethroned by Sugar Ray Leonard.
As for Golovkin, the Kazakh icon dominated at 160lbs throughout the 2010s, reigning as the champion on two separate occasions between 2014 and 2023 where he racked up victories over the likes of Kell Brook, Danny Jacobs and Ryota Murata.
Speaking to Boxing Scene, former undisputed heavyweight king Lewis shared his thoughts on what he believes would have happened had Golovkin faced a prime version of Hagler.
“You know Hagler’s my man. He’s got too much [for Golovkin]. He boxes on the inside and the out. And let me tell you, you see a fight like the [one Lemieux had with Golovkin], Hagler wouldn’t be getting hit by no jabs.”
Hagler claimed victories over a number of legendary fighters during his seven-year reign as the undisputed champion at 160lbs, including fighters such as John Mugabi, Thomas Hearns and Roberto Duran.
His 1987 defeat to Leonard, which was declared a split decision in favour of ‘Sugar Ray’, would go on to be Hagler’s 67th and final ring appearance of his decorated professional career.
