Let's assume after losing to Leonard in 87 marvin he doesn't retire. He gets a couple of easy warm ups then challenges Tommy Hearns for his wbc belt, in place of Barkley.? Could Hearns gain revenge here on the ageing Hagler.. Or do we have a repeat of the war? Marvin had slowed down by the mugabi fight, so this could be Tommy's golden opportunity. Or does his chin let him down again here?
It's a hard call because Hearns fractured his hand in multiple places early in the fight nullifying the power in his right for the rest of the fight. The fantasy fight definitely goes longer with a healthy Hearns and Marvin slowing down a bit already. Marvin was a beast, a warrior, an ATG boxer with stamina and a granite chin .. Hearns would have to stay on the outside and outpoint Hagler ..Problem is Hearns likes to slug it out at times as seen in their first fight.. I see Hearns not being able to control himself again and slugging it out here too..Hagler KO 7
Hearns legs were weak and not developed enough for the middle division, they looked stronger in the Barkley fight maybe he could stay on the outside better but Hearns always had problems with guys that bull-rushed him, Ray tried to out box Hearns and couldn`t get by the jab so started charging in and Hearns began to struggle more so it could be the same outcome, I think a better fight would have been Sugar getting his rematch at middle vs Hearns at this time rather than at super middle where Hearns was much slower than at middle in the Barkley fight.
Hagler was past his prime by 88. The ring wars of the 70 's and the Mugabi slugfest meant there was nothing left in the tank. It wouldn't be the angry Hagler of 85 so Hearns would outbox Hagler via points.
If Barkley could knock Hearns out in '88, Hagler surely would. I just don't think Hearns had it in him to box Marvin for 12 rounds. Sooner or later, it would turn into a fight and that would suit Hagler at that stage of his career.
Barkley was a harder puncher than Hagler but Hagler might still win because his punches were far more accurate but by this time his hand speed was awful.
Saying Marvin would be completely shot is going too far I think ..Still in great shape, good stamina and would be 34 years old for the fight.. what fighter doesn't slow down a bit in mid 30's .. His chin and toughness is still going to be there .. I think Hagler knocks him out again
In 1988 Hearns was the one who was starting to get worn out a was Hagler, but I think Hearns fighting as lower paced fight and motivated he wins by TKO over Hagler. This fight was proposed after Hearns vs. Roldan. I remembered reading about it. Neither guy was the same as in 1985 by 1988. 3 years makes a big difference.
Fight goes longer than their first meeting and Tommy has more success for sure but at the end of the day as great as Hearns was he was always just too fragile against elite level fighters IMO especially when in with naturally bigger men like Hagler.
Hagler of 87 reminds me of GGG now. Still a force, chins still uncrackable but he's tired looking to what they were. Hagler retired at the right time. His last couple of fights he wasn't the same and if he carried on it wouldn't of took a great fighter to beat him imo ! Hearn's has a very good chance after the Leonard fight definitely !
I don't think so. I think Hagler knew he had to go at Hearns the way he did because had he sat back he couldn't win. look at the way he fought in the first fight. in the second fight he would have sat back more and it would have been a normal fight pace and Hearns would have cut him up. I think. It would have been grueling for Hearns, but I think Tommy hit him easily and swells him up.
