Which fight did you like more: Hearns/Haggler or Arguello/Pryor

After recently rewatching both of these fights, I can't help but notice the similarities. Where one guy is a tall excellent boxer-puncher with a great jab and a booming right hand. Going up in weight to face the champion in a higher division who's relentless with their pressure. And even though both of my favorite fighters got stopped, these were still undoubtedly some of the greatest fights of all time. Which one did you like more though?

For me I liked Arguello/Pryor more

 

I’d say Hagler-Hearns. Hagler was my guy back then, and that was his finest moment.

 

In terms of action and drama, Pryor vs Arguello 1 is one of the greatest fights of all time. Hagler-Hearns had an amazing opening round then petered out in the following rounds as Hagler took control and Hearns was forced to jab him off of him due to his broken right hand.

 

Not watching the fights live it's clearly Arguello/Pryor 1.

Hagler/Hearns had 1 great round but then after Hagler bossed the fight despite the cut.

Arguello/Pryor 1 was much more back and forth in regards to two way action it also lasted alot longer.

 

Agreed and if it wasn't for that fourteenth round, you'd think that Arguello was winning the fight with those flush straight right hands he was landing on Pryor.

 

Not taking away anything from Hagler as I think he would always win the fight regardless of the circumstance. But how much do you think the fight would have gone differently if Tommy's right hand wasn't broken?

 

Hagler Vs Hearns for me.
It was literally heart in mouth watching it.

 

Nah Hagler was on a mission that night he uncharacteristically come out like a whirling dervish he had it in his mind he was going to walkthrough anything Hearns threw to get the W.

 

I know I am in a minority, but I never quite understood why Hagler vs. Hearns is even considered among the very top of the greatest fights. It was a great round (or half a round), but a round doesn't make a fight. Once Hearns broke his knuckes early in the first round, all he did was throw those weird palm slaps with his right. The fight was over effectively from thereon, and Hagler knew it, when he realized Hearns' right no longer had the same steam and just sneered after one of those wussy rights. Yes, there was semi-drama about Hagler's cut, but did anyone really think Steele was gonna stop a fight of this magnitude to a cut on a guy who is walloping the other guy?

This is one of the two fights often touted that do not actually deserve to be among the "greatest fights" of all-time. (The other is Ward vs. Gatti; news flash - you need "great fighters" to have "great fights.")

 

I liked Arguello/Pryor more. In my opinion, Hager-Hearns is a tad overrated, especially after round 1. Once Hearns broke his right hand, he didn't have anything to "keep Hagler off of him. The jab wasn't going to get it done that night!

 

Pryor vs Arguello, 100% for mine.

One writer described that fight as being a kind of “Mini” Thrilla in Manilla - similar attributes to the famed Ali-Frazier rubber but with sized down players.

I liked that description but that fight has always been a hard watch for me due to Alexis being ultimately KO’d in such brutal fashion - a scary KO for sure.

 

Probably Pryor-Arguello 1

One thing I have a hard time deciding is the best fight of the last couple months of 82’

Pryor-Arguello 1
Gomez-Pintor
Chacon-Limon 4

 

Agreed, especially knowing that the two losses in both their first and second fight marked the start of Alexis's drug problems

 

You hit the nail on the head. Watching Hagler Hearns live with my dad was one of the craziest fights I ever saw but AA/Pryor definitely has way more replay value.

I will never forget my dad's reaction when Hearns shook Hagler seconds into the fight. At that time, Hagler was seen as unhurtable but so was Duran and Hearns had just brutally iced him. Looking back on it, that opening 30 seconds lost the fight for Hearns. Not only did he break his right hand, but once Hagler took that shot and stayed upright, It gave Hagler the confidence to continue to pressure Hearns.

I truly believe had Hearns stayed on the outside and boxed, he would have won that fight easily but Hearns was a warrior and he never could back down when he was challenged with physicality. Same thing happened to him against Barkley.

 

Were you born or old enough to be a true boxing fan when it happened?