Hearns out-boxed Benitez and out-boxed Leonard until getting caught, he had an amazing long jab, at his best he was the greatest box/puncher of all-time.
Yes and I feel Tommy won the 1st, he hurt Hagler and got hurt himself but he landed a slew of devastating right hands, but Marvin just walked through them, amazing.
The first round was amazing in-fighting damadging punches landed by both both guys, botyh of them rocked and Tommy landed several thundderous right hands with M\arvin just walking throug them, name me one other fight that featured action of this quality, these two were killers.
Of course. In this match-up I just think Hagler would always have this song running through Hearns' mind: This content is protected
And you know his jab is brilliant because there's classical music. The proof is in the pudding, folks.
They were rated #1  pfp at the time, Hagler being #1. Imagine if Floyd and Pac did something like that , nobody would be complaining about that fight like they do today.
To be honest, I thought the last one was him flexing his yoga skills. This one is probably his deep routed frustration. Edit: oh no, this new one represents him and his 'loyal customer' bonus on Quora.
I am not sure. I think there is a chance had Hearns picked his shots more he could have really rocked Marvin over and over and maybe stopped him. Maybe but a small maybe, but Hagler was so motivated and he switched so well. This fight did show Marvin's greatness. It was a showcase for what made him great. As for Hearns- He was too eager to land that punch instead of taking his time. Both guys just swung for the fences. It was reckless, but it showed the heart both guys had. The fact that Hearns rocked Hagler early shows that had he picked his shots and calmed down a bit he could have landed and hurt Hagler again had his hand not broken. Probably not enough to stop a guy like Marvin, but it would have changed things. Hearns had the ability to win, he just might not have had the patience for someone of Marvin's style. Hagler relied on the fact that Hearns liked to brawl and get guy out of there. Sure had Hearns held in the clinch and used his jab Marvin might have been swelled up, that is when Hearns should have dropped his right hand in. Hagler fought great. That punch Hearns landed on him might have knocked out most guys it was so clean and so quick and Marvin was rocked, but he hung in there. Had Hearns not broken his hand and calmed down a bit he could have hurt Hagler again for sure, but I don't know if he could have stopped Marvin. But it would have calmed the pace and made it more possible for Hearns to jab Marvin and swell up his face, which would set up Marvin for a right hand later on. This fight really did show Marvin's greatness and determination. He put his all out.. So did Hearns.
I remember this fight so well and have seen it several times..And lo and behold it has its own 35th anniversary and for good reason.Two great champions that fought in a way they normally wouldn't have fought..Hagler was a real beast that night and Hearns not only broke his hand but came close to stopping Hagler in the third with Haglers eye bleeding but he just did'nt have anything left.Marvin went into his Great Champion mode and walked Hearns down.So sad a rematch never happened.Leonard stepped in and Hagler pursued him..I thought the Detroit Free Press said it well afterward.."Hagler may or may not be the better fighter but he is the better Middleweight".Nothing was added to or taken away from that big event 35 years ago..
Hearns weakness is that he didn't have the best of legs. His stamina and legs were shaky. If you had a good enough chin where you could take some good shots in order to get inside Hearns punching zone, he could be had. Leonard, Hagler, as well as Barkley showed that. I wouldn't call what Hearns liked to do in setting up his right hand to unload it as brawling. He took out Duran in two, but he didn't do it by employing brawling tactics. He used that quick strong jab to set up that right hand but he didn't do it in brawling fashion as to going right after his opponent. When Hearns sensed you were shook that's when he'd go after you as he did in unloading on Duran, but otherwise he'd try to stay at a distance that was comfortable for him which was on the outside. Hearns never allowed Duran to get inside his reach, by that time Duran was to slow of foot and he simply didn't have the strenghth, agility, or power of Marvin Hagler.
