Hearns fought the wrong fight

Mmmh, i disagree. Mugabi hurt hagler more clearly imo.

 

Hearns had no excuses, even though it was revealed years later he broke his hand in round one, he didn't want to take from Hagler's victory. So i think if Hearns was happy then we should be.

 

I'd say that's a pretty decent excuse. true, Tommy was a gent about it, because he's a great fella, but fighting with a broke hand meant he was at a disadvantage, obviously.

 

Clearly it's a disadvantage. Doesn't everyone just think that fight should be left alone though, it is what it is, it's unique. Hearns was far from disgraced from his showing, it's not like he needed a rematch to regain dignity or anything. The broken hand thing's just unfortunate on the night, Hagler never cheated or anything, so i would refrain from detracting from his victory.

 

I am not sure. Hagler fought a great fight, but Hearns did wobble him and stun him badly enough in the beginning of the fight, yet Marvin was running in so recklessly Tommy landed a nice punch to Marvin's forehead/temple area which in a slower fight might not have been easy to land. Marvin was a little careless there, as was Tommy. Really a careless fight for both but it made for the best round ever, and probably best 3 round fight ever

Do I think Hearns could land a punch to knock down Hagler in a rematch? I am not sure really. Hagler took a great punch and he was a guy who concentrated so well in fights, but I know in the rematch the fight would have been slower and that would have meant Hearns might not have landed as clean a punch early as he did in the first fight, but he might have been able to land the right with leverage in round 3 or so if he could score with his jab.

When they fought the first fight, they were just swinging wildly. I am surprised neither guy went down in the first round. But to answer the question. Hearns had a chance two ways. Either he boxed and used his jab and would not get involved at all in a punchout with Marvin at anytime and box and box, and if the opportunity comes for the right land it, or the other way Tommy lands that right hand early and stops Marvin.

A brawl with Hagler in any round would not be Tommy's fight. Stylewise it favored Marvin. Tommy had the skills to beat anyone. But this I know-if Tommy were beating Marvin easily with his jab, and he started landing his right clean, Tommy might go for broke and find himself in a brawl. He could not help going for it when he was landing and he left himself open doing it-I am not sure why he liked brawling so much. When he had a guy hurt he went for it in spite of the risk. He was not a safety first fighter.

 

I think he was happy also with his career. He figures he gave it his all. Funny thing about Hearns is that he doesn't gloat over the wins he had. He will mention them if asked, but he doesn't brag about fights in interviews much. Tommy is the opposite of someone like Floyd Mayweather who always brags about who he beat and how great he is.

 

After Hagler , Hearns was never the same fighter really. He was so great before that he still had great skills, but Tommy post 1985 would get in more brawls and have those nail biting fights. The fight changed both of them a little. Hearns brawled more and Hagler seemed to peak with Hearns, and post Hearns he looked like he lacked motivation a little for Mugabi and Leonard.

Marvin took a year off after Hearns and then came back and looked soft against Mugabi. Marvin's body looked so good with Hearns, yet for Mugabi he looked soft I remember thinking. He weighed in at the weight, but he looked like was weighing 168 or 170. For Leonard he looked toned more, but his body looked overtrained. He looked flat. Hearns was the last time he looked really pumped mentally and in fighting shape.