If Hearns had boxed Hagler...

Hagler's entire approach was to not give him that choice. He ate some big bombs from Hearns in order to make the war happen.

 

Hagler was up for this one, he gave Hearns no choice but to fight, like Duran in Montreal

 

Hearns tried to do that after the first round but Hagler didn't let him off the hook. Hagler would have eventually eaten Hearns up regardless if Hearns boxed from the get go.

 

IIRC there was some bad blood between Hagler and Hearns brewing prior to the fight--and I think Hagler went into that bout as locked in as I've ever seen him. He was on a seek and destroy mission that night and wasn't going to be denied!!

 

Was it really that close a fight though? Yeah Hearns in the 1st round was throwing power punches like there was no tomorrow but despite what people a the commentators was saying, I don’t think Hagler was really that hurt at any stage. Obviously he felt the power of the shots an it made him having to reset an then go back on the attack but I felt that Hagler was more wary of Roldan an mugabi’s punches than hearns even though I think Hearns had better one shot power than the other two.

 

This for me is why the fight is overrated.

And I'm saying this a younger guy watching the fight with hindsight.

The 1st round was incredible one of the greatest rounds of all time for sure.

The rest of the rounds ? Hearns had trouble with his legs his hand was broken. And Hagler was clearly winning from that point on Hearns was done after the 1st round.

If I would've watched it live ? I probably would've had a higher opinion of the fight.

But for me the fight had 1 amazing round and then it was all Hagler.

As for the thread ? If you watch the documentary "HBO Legendary Nights"

Hagler stated his gameplan was to jump on Hearns so he couldn't use his reach advantage and box.

So whether or not Hearns had it in his mind to box Hagler before the fight....

Hagler certainly didn't give him the opportunity to do so.

 

The story goes Steward walked into the dressing room and Hearns was getting his legs massaged by some pal which Steward says is a huge no-no and he knew at that moment Tommy would have no legs .. my question is why wouldn't a pro like Hearns know this and why would anyone but Steward be with Hearns before such a huge fight ?

 

Mostly because it didn't happen, would be my guess.

 

It wasn't close. Hagler murdered him. Sleeped him. Inside 3 rounds.
But Hearns did rock him with a great punch and cut him too.

If his name wasn't "Thomas Hearns" (with all the reputation that goes with it) no one would be talking about 'what if' and 'rematch'.

 

I remember reading in ‘four kings’ that the massage thing was the first Leonard fight ? But I might be mistaken

 

Hagler was buzzed by one hard right hand, probably the one where Hearns broke his hand, but Hagler despite one or two flaws was a guy you just couldn’t knock out in his prime, Hearns was always going to lose a slug fest

 

Agree 100%--Hagler in his prime was a friggin TANK!!