The Hearns Massage

[bigfatjourneyman]

Just read rather bizarrely the April??? 2004 Edition of KO magazine. Manny Steward yet again blames Tommy Hearns' defeat by Hagler on the fact that Tommy got a massage just before the fight which severely weakened him. I wish Steward would lose this excuse he has come out with ever since Hagler KO'd Hearns and just admit the best guy won!

[bennie]

Just read rather bizarrely the April??? 2004 Edition of KO magazine. Manny Steward yet again blames Tommy Hearns' defeat by Hagler on the fact that Tommy got a massage just before the fight which severely weakened him. I wish Steward would lose this excuse he has come out with ever since Hagler KO'd Hearns and just admit the best guy won!

Steward originally claimed that Hearns weakened his legs by running in sand for the Hagler fight. Then over the years, it's developed into this massage story. I once saw Neil Back getting a massage on his legs prior to a British Lions match with South Africa. It certainly didn't stop him running around for 80 minutes.

[knockout artist]

Just read rather bizarrely the April??? 2004 Edition of KO magazine. Manny Steward yet again blames Tommy Hearns' defeat by Hagler on the fact that Tommy got a massage just before the fight which severely weakened him. I wish Steward would lose this excuse he has come out with ever since Hagler KO'd Hearns and just admit the best guy won!

Just more ES bullshit.

[bennie]

The trouble with Emanuel is, he's too nice a guy. When a journalist comes to him hoping for a story, Steward obliges, whether the story is true or not. He doesn't do it out of maliciousness, but simply because he wants to please everyone.
I can recall the weigh-in for the Jeff Fenech-Steve McCrory IBF title clash back in 1986, and Fenech, who was killing himself to get down to bantam, jumped on the scales and was three pounds over! Steward didn't want to kick up a fuss and allowed Fenech to get away with it. Fenech then pounded on McCrory for 14 rounds and stopped him.
But there's no doubt Steward is a great trainer, and a great cornerman. Who remembers the first Colin Jones-Milton McCrory classic back in 1983! McCrory dominated the early rounds, but Jones got back into it on sheer Welsh grit and nearly stopped Milt in the ninth. The fight was desperately close going into the 12th and last round and McCrory was clearly feeling sorry for himself in the corner. Steward suddenly left the corner, walked over to Don King sitting at ringside and had a quick chat with him. Next thing, King is standing behind McCrory in the corner (outside the ring) giving his unique speel and looking extremely agitated. It was clear Steward had asked King to pump up McCrory. It worked. McCrory came out, won the round, and scraped a draw.
Brilliant cornerwork.

[MightyWarrior]

Hearns legs were certainly gone after that wild first round..

Speaking of Steve McCrory - anyone know why he died so young? It was all a bit mysterious and I've often wondered what happened to the poor guy.

[bennie]

Hearns legs were certainly gone after that wild first round..

Speaking of Steve McCrory - anyone know why he died so young? It was all a bit mysterious and I've often wondered what happened to the poor guy.

Drugs.

[stujones]

From my limited experience you do need to time it right if you want a massage prior to a show, I think it can benefit you to get rid of all of the knots 2 days before your fight. Do it an hour or so before the shot begins and you do feel tired and lack bounce.