Hagler v Hearns?

Yeah, but see, perhaps the biggest part of the legend of Hagler’s toughness revolves around how he took point-blank cannon fire from Hearns. That, coupled with how Hearns destroyed the previously indestructible chin of Duran, could easily have convinced him he could take him out.

Plus, Hagler didn’t really give him a lot of say in the matter. He had to fight to keep him off him.

 

Hagler was the one that initiated the exchanges, not Hearns. Hearns had good success in the early exchange and basically obliged from then on.

 

This is it!

 

I think it was the opposite.

Hagler was the one who uncharacteristically came out very aggressively and engaged Hearns in a war right off the bat not allowing Hearns to use his height and reach.

So it's not like Hearns had much of a choice he had a whirling dervish coming at him at 100mph willing to walkthrough his right hand which not many fighters could do.

 

As I recall there's was some bad blood brewing between Hagler and Hearns prior to the fight--so I think they both came out wanting to show everyone who the real bad-a$$ was LMAO!!

 

Pretty much this. Tommy hurt Hagler during that first exchange and one thing about Tommy that was consistent throughout his career was when he hurt someone, he went for the kill. Tommy was one of the best finishers ever. Once he staggered Hagler, he punched himself out and broke his hand trying to end it. He was cooked after the 2nd round.

 

Hearns wasn't fighting Hagler. He was fighting Hagler off of him.

 

Hearns had to, as Hagler was all over him.

He got some distance midway through the first round, but Hagler closed the distance and got him on the ropes.

From the 2nd round on, Hearns kept trying to box more on the backfoot, but Hagler kept getting to him.

 

Bang on mate.

 

How do you think Hagler’s proactively aggressive approach vs Hearns would’ve served him against Leonard? -

I guess that’s also subject to Marv likely not having the same vitality 2 years down the track from Apr 85 to Apr 87.

Marv wore the WAR baseball cap for the Hearns fight. With the benefit of hindsight, we know he meant it.

For Leonard, Hags could just as easily have worn a cap reading “Box orthodox and give away the first 4 rounds”. - that’s if you could fit all that on a cap - it’s a tad too wordy at any rate.

Perhaps better still for the Leonard fight, Marv could’ve worn a cap that read “WAR - what is it good for?”

 

Nobody knows per sure, but IMO (and it seems like the whole universe agrees) and aggressive approach would have been way more useful than the ridiculous "Lets just go easy and give away the first rounds" strategy.

Why Marvin started slow? Probably there is a mixture of reasons, such as his physical decline and being naturally cautious while "feeling" Leonard.

But I also think arrogance was a factor.

I suspect Marvin wanted not just to beat Leonard but also prove he was the superior fighter in every sense. Thus, he decided to do the opposite of what he did versus Hearns, just to show how versatile he was.
Marvin was so sure he was going to beat Leonard with a boxing clinic, than he lost any sense of urgency and took his sweet time to get into business.

I fully remember my old man yelling at the TV screen and going nuts due to Marvin's procrastination.

Not taking anything away from Sugar who carried a smart focused fight; but Marvin literally beat himself that night.