Tommy Hearns vs Roberto Duran

Hagler said it best that Duran was too upright and should have tucked down and work the body as opposed to trying to outbox Hearns.

 

Yeah, there was never anything wrong with Duran's heart.

 

Duran could never beat Hearns. Hearns was just too fast and long reach. To beat Hearns you have to take his right hand, and if you can't you will not win. Duran did not take it well.

 

Probably true. i remembered the quotes but not the exact dates of the issues. 30 yrs ago and I don't have the issues at hand. But, it was certainly the destruction of Duran by Hearns that made a Hagler fight so attractive and had many thinking maybe Hearns could beat Hagler. Hagler had somewhat struggled with Duran while Hearns easily destroyed him. Of course, as we know, styles make fights and Hagler subsequently had little trouble destroying Hearns.

 

Soooooo true friend

 

I wouldn't say he had little trouble. I think the punches Hearns landed on him were hard enough where Hagler never really wanted to fight again. Sounds crazy, but he was never in shape and sharp again after Hearns.

 

Hearns did give Hagler a good fight and hit him with some big shots. But, Hagler walked through him.

As for the highlighted part - LOL, no.

Hagler did fade a bit after Hearns. But was it the affects of their fight, age, rust, or a combination. He slowed, but he came in for Mugabi and Leonard in shape.

Your posting history shows a bit of a subjectivity when it comes to Hearns.

 

If you really want to look at the Hagler Hearns fight objectively .. Hearns did wobble Hagler and then he fractured his right in multiple places which is simply factual.. The fight is over right then and there imo .. No doubt Hagler landed big shots too.. And I'm not saying Hearns goes on and wins that fight at all, just saying it ends differently then it did , imo

 

Come to think of it, hop one was ever quite the same after fighting Hearns. Even if they won.

 

Hearns height and reach forced Duran to fight pretty much standing straight up as opposed to out of a crouch. That jab kept Duran even more off balance, setting up one of the most viscous straight right hands ever thrown in a BOXING ring . Esp when one considers that both fighters are A.T.G's and both would have considerable success after this fight. Short, aggressive fighters were tailor made for Hearns. It's funny to me when some think A.Pryor would've had a chance because of his amateur success.

 

I followed Hearns and Hagler a lot in the 1980s. Two of my favorites. Hagler wanted the big Leonard fight and didn't get it and when Hearns came up he knew he had to put his all out, so he trained in Palm Springs and was mentally and physically prepared to put his all out and he did. He got rocked and cut but he won. After that he got the endorsements he wanted. He was a quiet man so I think appreciation is what Marvin wanted more than anything. I don't think he loved publicity as much as appreciation. And he got it. Then he was hurt in sparring getting ready for Mugabi and the fight was postponed. He just didn't look as motivated. He was going to fight Hearns in a rematch, and then Ray came out and announced he wanted to fight him. I remember specifically. Hagler had a press conference a day after that triple hitter card with Hearns/Medal and Duran/Sims and said he might just retire. He sounded like he might not fight Ray or take the offer, that he might retire, but he knew he had to take it.. I just thought Ray knew when to fight him and he won, but Marvin sort of left it all mentally and physically on April 15, 1985. I always thought that .. He really got what he wanted. Appreciation.. Regardless of how Hearns did. Now when Ray beat Marvin, that was Marvin's fault for underestimating Ray, which is what Ray counted on.. And Marvin's rust.

 

Fantastic post! First time since the Hagler reign I have heard anyone get to the basics of Marvin's demise so accurately. Kudos Pea! I agree 100%.

 

Thank you.. I always thought Hagler wanted that big fight with Ray and he put his all on Hearns. Sad for Hearns that he got the most motivated Marvin he could get. But Marvin deserved it.. I think Marvin knew that after Hearns he would have a hard time to get up for fights once he got the endorsement. He was a really sensitive guy and very private.

 

I also suspect Duran was not at peak form for this one. He lacked any fire in his eyes, in his demeanor, before the opening bell. And Hearns mugged him early, no question. The height and reach differential is key here. It was a bridge too far for Duran at this weight and at his age.

 

Hearns handspeed was crucial too, people forget how fast his hands were. Between Hearns speed, aggression and Stewards red hot gameplan Duran had great trouble seeing what was coming his way, an absolute rarity.