Did Hagler really want to rematch Hearns in 86/87?

watch the interview at the end. his enthusiasm doesnt seem there. There was none of the 'Ill cut my finger off for $$$$' attitude

Link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tes2ed6o99Q

 

It's strange for me to commonly see in articles that "Marvin abruptly chose to retire"

This is very strange because these same writers who cover the sport seemt to forget that both the Leonard and Hearns matches were meant to have come off around 1982. Twice Hearns backed out of the fight-May and June while Leonard showed no interest whatsoever in fighting Marvin at the absolute peak of his powers. What fighter "abruptly" retires after holding a title for 6 years?

To answer your question, Marvin showed no interest because he didnt want to continue boxing.

 

Hagler never retired after the Mugabi fight. That is a stonewall certainty. He ruled out any fight in the coming months after the gruelling fight. I'm sure the Hagler-Hearns rematch was set for the summer of 1986. And with Hagler putting things on hold Arum made the 'Triple Hitter' bill with Hearns-Medal, Duran-Simms, and McGuigan-Cruz.

Hagler IMO made the right move in taking on Leonard, which proved to be the wrong one after the final bell sounded and the scorecards were read out. It was an easier fight on paper, supposedly with less risk involved, and it was the fight the public wanted. It was a new fresh challenge with Hagler recieving his biggest purse of $12 million. Hearns rematch? Been there, done it.

 

.................I actually remember there being quite a lot of interest in a rematch. That was the whole reason Hearns fought Shuler on the Hagler-Mugabi undercard, to spur interest in such a fight.

I think part of the reason it wasn't set in stone or hugely hyped right then was because by this time, Hagler was only really fighting about once a year, and he had Leonard in his sights first, putting the Hearns rematch quite a ways in the distance.

 

Good vid. Thank you very much !

 

I couldn't understand everything at the end of the interview. What did Hearns say after Hagler gave his credits to Mugabi?

 

He had the Hearns rematch in his sights first. Only when Hagler had the tough fight with Mugabi were things put on hold. I would would go out in a nutshell and come to the conlusion that if Hagler looked sparkling against Mugabi and knocked him out early he would not have taken a long break and went into the unknown on what he was doing next. Hearns would have been accommodated first. And Leonard only began beating the drum through the media for Hagler two months after the Mugabi fight and part of the reason Leonard called him out was because he looked 'beatable' in his opinion.

 

It is Doubtful the Hearns wanted anything to do with Hagler again anyway. Hearns was destroyed that night. Another devistating knock out would have finished Hearns' career then and there. Sure Hagler was slipping, But he would have a huge mental advantage over Hearns. It would be difficult for Hearns to shake off that Knock out and face Hagler again.

 

It's not doubtful, it's a 'fact' that he wanted a lot to do with Hagler again.

 

Damn it, guys.

 

I agree. that fight took more out of Hagler than Hearns

 

He was literally begging for it.


As Sal said, the Hagler - Mugabi card with Hearns - Schuler under it was to build interest in a rematch. Arum i think it was actually offered Hearns sizable money incentives - the earlier he took out Schuler the more money he got. Arum wanted Hearns to look devastating and therefore maximize interest in the rematch.

My memory is the fight was all but signed and Leonard abruptly came out of the woodwork and Hearns was of course cast aside.

 

you can see why Hearn is rather bitter towards leonard

 

How would a Hagler-Hearns rematch have played out? Repeat of the first or could Hearns have pulled it off? On a side note-This was my 1,000 Post. I really have been having a great time at ESB.

 

Well looking at Hagler's speed, reflexes, and general performance against Leonard I'd take Hearns to beat him. Lets not forget that Hearns was re-engergized after the Hagler defeat, although he did fall flat on his face against Barkley three years later. IMO he would have learned his lesson and kept things strictly at long range.