Prime Hearns vs Hagler

Hearns liked to brawl too much, Hagler knew it and he also knew he wouldn't have been able to outbox Hearns.

 

This is the shortest and most accurate statement I have seen on the fight.

 

We already saw a prime hearns face a prime hagler... Hagler KO3

 

In retrospect it is obvious that had Hearns come out slower and got some range he could have hurt Hagler and stopped him, or at least hurt him enough to then use his jab and maybe TKO Marvin in about 8. That was the original plan. They didn't anticipate Hagler being so pumped up.

 

As Mag1965 says if Hearns came out and could have slowed the pace a bit... He might have a chance to give Hagler problems with cuts. However, I think the fight just gets replayed ... Hagler forces the type of fight that Hearns just can`t win... It`s always a tough fight for Tommy at middle ...

 

But Hearns didn't come out and establish distance and box behind his jab and it had nothing to do with being over trained or somebody rubbing his legs..It had a whole bunch to do with a very skilled, very determined Marvin hagler jumping all over him and trying (and ultimately succeeding) to beat him senseless.
And think about this...Hearns also wanted to come out and take his shot at getting Hagler early, or at least putting some serious shots on him, to make him think before coming in. Because Hearns had shown even then that he wore down as fights went on and that body punches really took his legs and hagler was at least as good to the body as Leonard.
Honestly, Hagler would win the fight, be it a shoot-out (which he proved), or a long drawn out affair. That cut was a fluke and, given where it was, should never have even been considered a fight ending cut.

 

huh? How is it OBVIOUS Hearns could've hurt Hagler.. LITERALLY nothing he threw even noticeably hurt Hagler.. The MOST anything ever did was give him a nano second of pause before proceeding to crush Hearns. I saw nothing in that fight that indicated Hearns could really hurt Hagler let alone KO him.

 

Good point. Every now and then someone says, `Hearns had Hagler hurt` . Caught with a shot yes, wobbled and staggered ? Not at all... Given the granite on Hagler`s chin, Hearns was never stopping Hagler...And it was no accident that Hagler came out flying, he and Goody trained to fight exactly that way against Hearns...

 

Hagler was hurt. It was when Hagler sort of pinned him to the ropes the first time, Tommy threw a right which sort of hit him high on the head, and then Tommy threw another punch which hit him in the temple and Marvin's right leg dipped and he backed up. But Hearns probably broke his hand then or coming up. Hagler just kept coming. But Hagler was hurt and actually after that punch, rubbed at the area where the punch landed, and then regrouped and kept coming. Had Hearns not broken his hand and been able to get some distance, I do think he would have kept hurting Hagler. But the fact was Hagler head was so hard and his neck so strong and Hearns punched so hard, that breaking the hand might not have been a fluke. It might happen a lot with these two. And the fact is Marvin being southpaw, Tommy would be hitting Marvin straight on and the force on Hearns hand would be greater than had Marvin fought orthodox. Had Tommy waited somehow for Marvin to fight orthodox like he did at the beginning of round 3, Tommy without a broken had would have hurt him. But a lot of would haves. Hagler won.

 

Oh that punch hurt Hagler. But it was not at a point where Marvin was out on his feet. But his right leg dipped and he got out of there. Hearns knew he hurt him and threw a wild left but Marvin was not hurt enough not to duck that punch. Hurt yes Hagler was. Almost out? Not close. Not for Marvin. The question will always be had Tommy not broken his hand, could he have kept hurting Marvin and stopped him or at least changed the outcome of the fight. My honest opinion on a first round knockout? Not early on. I think Marvin was so pumped up and took such a great punch, he would have taken it all, but it might have slowed him down and we might not have had that great round either. I think Hearns chance was to slow the fight, hurt Marvin and cut him and get a stoppage in about 7 or 8 on cuts and swelling.. Possible? Yes. Hagler was swelling before round one ended. Marvin's defense in this fight was terrible to be honest. But he won. Hearns defense was bad too, but when he moved he was not hit as clean. He just got exhausted in there with Marvin. Marvin was tired also. Look at him in round 3 and see how tired he looks. Had Tommy had some energy I think Marvin was not too fresh.

 

that cut was caused by Tommy's mouthpiece. I found the time it happened in round one.. I think 1:19 left in the round. They are both throwing rights to the body on the inside and Marvin's head accidently slides across Hearns face, who is tired and breathing out of the mouth which he did at times. Since Hearns is taller, his mouth is at the level of Marvin's forehead.

 

Prime Hagler stomping on a 154 lb Hearns basically.

 

Hagler knocks his block off at any stage of their careers.

 

Hearns would always bring the best out of Hagler.

 

I think each and very time they`d fight would be a crowd-pleasing war ! They brought out the best and the beast in each other.. That was a fight of a lifetime !!!