Now this one interests me, assuming Hearns learned his lesson about standing toe to toe early, I'd go with Hagler by late rounds stoppage, unless he got cut badly again.
Although he had tremendous heart, I always felt that Hearns was missing one aspect of mental strength, a certain coolness or cool confidence. I do believe that Hagler would be able to get Hearns into a brawl again. I really feel that the first fight with Leonard was decided by this one factor, both great fighters, great heart, but Leonard had this cool confidence to do what he needed to do to win the fight even when he was behind. I think once Hearns would get hurt against Hagler, he would probably be thrown off his strategy.
Even the Hagler who seemed to sleepwalk through the Leonard fight? Couldn't Tommy execute a better game plan against an older, slower Marvin?
That's the point, how capable was Tommy to excecute a gameplan when he absolutely needed to in order to win? His skills, height, reach, power and desire earned him many wins but against Leonard, Hagler or Barkley he would have needed to stay cool and excecute a gameplan perfectly, like Leonard did in the rematch with Duran or against Hagler. I don't think that was one of Tommy's strengths, especially with the memory of the first loss in his mind.
Pretty much. Just a poor match up for Tommy. Whilst he proved he could stun and hurt Hagler, he just couldn't take as many of Marv's shots in return for a sustained spell.
I think Marvin was slower and there was some snap missing from his punches in 87. He can catch up with Tommy but I think it's a much closer thing. No way could he set that pace again. I'd see this fight as having tipped slightly in Hearns' favour BUT like some people say Tommy could not deviate from the plan if he is going to win. If Hearns doesn't break his right hand maybe he can follow up after stunning Hagler???
The Hearns that fought Hagler the first time would have a good shot against this shopworn Hagler. The reality is though that the KO defeat at the hands of Marvin took away any punch resistance that Tommy had. If you look at the first fight Hearns took some solid shots, especially in the first round, and took 'em. The brutal way he got KO'd would have been a career ender for lesser fighters. The way he got KD by Barkley and Kinchen showed that his resistance had been stripped away by the Hagler defeat. That alone would mean another KO loss in a rematch with Hagler, who would probably not be nearly as motivated as the first fight, but would struggle through to late rounds win.
The question is...would Hearns get horsey with Hagler and try to stop him, or cut him, and would Hagler then jump on him again like a hungry junkyard dog on a steak bone? I f not, then the iron chinned Hag breaks Tommy down and stops him a few rounds later, like 8 or 9. Not as dramatically, but a stoppage for sure.
I think a rematch could prove very different if Hearns had his legs and therefore could execute a better game plan. It doesn't help that he broke his hand during the first too. I'd say Tommy makes it to a decision in a rematch. Not sure if he gets the W tho.
Love Hearns, But Hagler's intangibles are too much for "The Hitman". I Say Hearns last's longer the second time out, But same result. Hagler by K.O. Now Hearns Vs. Duran II, That would have been interesting.
It was planned, they both fought on the same card, Hagler v Mugabe Hearns v I think Shuler, which were meant to be warm ups for the big re-match, then Leonard announced he was coming out of retirement for Hagler. Hagler opted for Leonard instead.