Despite all the well deserved acclaim Hagler-Hearns gets for its tremendous 1st round, can't the same be said for the Mancini-Frias fight, which was just as exciting?
In my opinion yes. Marvelous Marvin Hagler and Tommy Hearns were superstars. Art Frias was the defending WBA Lightweight Champion, Ray Boom Boom Mancini's claim to fame was the story of his father not able to win a title and the heroic effort against WBC Lightweight Champion Alexis Arguello on Oct 3 1981, losing to Alexis by TKO 14. Both Frias and Mancini traded blows, knockdowns and Mancini was victorious in winning the WBA belt for his father. There was really no story line for Hagler vs Hearns on April 15 1985.
Mancini vs Frias was just as exciting as Hagler vs Hearns. But they were not on the same level as far as greatness is concerned. That was the key difference. It's unusual when two fighters considered ATG'S commit to such a violent class as they did. Usually when two ATG's fight each other it generally starts as a chess game. Hagler and Hearns tore into each other like two rabid pit bulls.
no. it was a good, fast paced club fight but this was between two lower class fighters. no offense you just KNEW Frias wasnt going to make it while Tommy still had enough guns to make it competitive
While Flash24 makes the most convincing case for Hagler-Hearns being the better, Hagler-Hearns round 1 is like a song on the radio that you like, but you've heard it so many times, you never need to hear it again. Just the same here. Give me Mancini-Frias any day.
What a first round it was, Ray had to earn his belt as well, Frias was not going to just hand it to him. I thought it was the best. Too bad that Mancini had that tragic fight against Kim, I really believe it finished him. Ray eventually lost his WBA title to Livingstone Bramble.
