Would Tommy Have Fared Better If He Didn't Allow His Fight With Marvin To Turn Into A War?

He did try to box after the first round. To no avail.

 

True, but he clearly used up all his energy and broke his hand trying to brawl with Marvin in the first. He had no one to blame but himself for that game plan, thus he got worse punishment for it.

 

This is a tricky issue, as many posters have noticed.

Tommy literally fought Hagler's fight doing exactly the opposite of what common sense and mere survival instint adviced.

But again, ironically going to war from the very begining was maybe the best chance Tommy had to win: download all your firepower early on Hagler and hope you hurt him enough before he starts dismantling you methodically.

When I was younger I saw Tommy's choice to brawl like foolhardy; but now I have the impression that, suicidal as it looked, it was the right move.