Hagler vs. Hearns: When Fighters Were Fighters

Jack 1000 · Post by **Jack 1000** » 22 Apr 2008, 17:53

Hi All,

I would like to take this opportunity, providing readers with a recent article that I wrote which flashes back to April 1985, and examines the classic Hagler-Hearns match. I cannot provide a link to it per forum rules, but will copy the story for your consideration. Thank you and I hope it brings back the great memories to you who experianced it, as it created similar excitement for me to write it and share it with you.

Regards,

Jack

**************************************

Hagler vs. Hearns: A Retrospective Flashback

The year was 1985. This was my second year of college, and the date was April 15. Many fights are etched into a person’s memory that no matter what they do, the incredible amount of passion, pride, and fortitude stays with you forever. That is the best way that I can describe Hagler-Hearns.

The build-up to this match was unforgettable. Hagler was a dominant middleweight champion. His twice destructions of contenders such as Mustafa Hamsho and Fulgencio Obelmejias showed the word that Hagler was more than a recognized force in the boxing community. He was a man who sugar coated nothing. The animosity that Hagler had for his opponents was matched by an equally furious pressurized body attack. Few opponents survived to hear the final bell. Caveman Lee, who fought an electrifying seesaw battle against Johnny Locicero, one of the best cable wars of all time, was dispatched inside of one round.

Hagler needed a superstar opponent to make the word take notice. The legendary hands of stone Roberto Duran, one of the greatest lightweight champions, if not the greatest lightweight champion who ever lived, would achieve even greater acclaim with a 15-round decision brawl against Sugar Ray Leonard, the Olympic media darling and one of the slickest boxers who ever lived. It was not to be Ray’s night as Duran took the decision in a bruising 15-round war, and the WBC World Welterweight Title. Great fights, demand rematches, but when the pair would meet again just 5 months later, Duran turned away, after being befuddled and out-boxed by Leonard for most of the 7 ½ rounds and shouted “No Mas” No more boxing.

However, Duran would rebound, destroying Davey Moore in eight brutal rounds to win the WBA Jr. Middleweight Title in June of 1983. Duran wanted the Middleweight Title. On November 10, 1983, Hagler and Duran would meet. However, the fight was not the brawl that many anticipated. Duran however did better than expected, or Hagler gave Duran too much respect. However, Hagler was able to win the last three rounds of the 15-round bout to keep his title.

Although losing to Hagler, Duran shocked the boxing world in June of 1984 with a brutal second round KO of Tommy Hearns. While Leonard and Hearns had a masterful two-sided fight in 1981, ending with Leonard scoring a 14th round TKO, no one had destroyed Hearns in the manner that Duran did. Hagler would stay active with a tougher than expected fight in March of 1984 against top Argentinean contender Juan Roldan, stopping him in the 10th round. This led to Hagler’s rematch with Mustafa Hamsho. Hagler disposed of him in less than three rounds.

The stage was set for war. The hype was huge for its time, comparable to Frazier-Ali I back on March 8, 1971. Opinions were evenly divided about who would win. Comparisons were drawn to Hagler’s tough 15 round decision over Duran compared to Hearns’ two round butchering. Some agreed that Hagler was slipping a bit. Both fighters promised that there would be no feeling out process. Hagler hyped the fight by saying, “Hearns says I’m a confused man, well I am a confused man, because I don’t know if I am going to knock him out in the first round or third round. Hearns says he’s going to knock me out in the third round? Impossible, poor Tommy can’t count to three.” Hearns came back. “I just hope your handlers don’t put any more grease on your head because it’s too shiny as it is. I’ll start by coming out so fast, throwing punches so often, he won’t even have time to think about coming at me!”

On April 15, 1985 the world stopped. I viewed the fight on closed circuit and the incredible wall of sound was something that I have never experienced before. When the bell rang to start the first round, the world screamed in union. Both fighters took turns ripping each other apart throwing more bombs in one round than are often see in distance fights. Hearns heart Hagler badly about 30 seconds in with a right that bucked Hagler’s knees, but Marvin was not to be denied and came back to stun Hearns with punches of his own as the live crowd and millions watching around the world filled the air with a deafening roar. “Hagler hurt! Hearns comes back! Hagler is cut! Hagler is cut!” All both fighters did for those three minutes was exchange vicious power shots. At the bell, the world erupted into a screaming and standing ovation. Al Michaels, who along with Al Bernstein, doing closed circuit commentary said. “That was an entire fight accomplished in three minutes!”

The second round was much tamer compared to that bombs away 1st session. Hearn’s legs appeared hurt and he tried to box more, which his corner, especially trainer Manny Steward was pleading for him to do. “You’ve got to jab and box him. Just get a second wind and relax like you’ve got a new opponent now. Jab and than move out to one side or the other.” Tommy tried, but his legs were not there and Hagler was completely recovered from the first round war.

In round three, there was another twist to this drama. With Hagler in control, one of Hearns’ jabs widened the cut on Hagler’s forehead. Blood came pouring down the champion’s face. The cut had occurred from the first round. Time was called by Referee Richard Steele to allow the doctor to examine the wound. There was a shocking danger that this war would be stopped, but the doctor told Steele that “There’s nothing wrong with his sight, let him go.” Back Hagler went! About 30 seconds later, Hagler landed a solid right hand! Hearns turned his back moving away, Hagler landed another hard right! As Hagler was getting ready to throw again, Hearns slumped to the canvas, flat on his back. Amazingly, he got up at 9, But Richard Steele looked into his unresponsive eyes and limp body and decided, “The War was over.

What a fight and what a night! While I have seen longer fights of a greater intensity, it is hard pressed to remember a shorter fight where the combatants put so much give and take energy into that electrifying first round. There are perhaps four other fights with rounds like that:

The first round of Pryor-Arguello I, the 9th round of Ward-Gatti I, the 5th round of Lee-Locicero, and the 10th round of Corrales-Castillo I. But for classic short fights, where so much magic happened on that wonderful April night, few will ever forget that they witnessed something truly special. The world saw an unforgettable fight that they will remember forever, for their time, and for all time.

SKULLSPLITTER - The CEO · Post by **SKULLSPLITTER - The CEO** » 22 Apr 2008, 22:25

lol...hey, Jack...how ya doin'?

A solid History lesson for those who don't know...this was a monumental matchup....the classic, April War.

so much so...it is now common Knowledge that a person can NOT be considered a full fledged Boxing fan without seeing that fight in its entirety...

dajuggernaut · Post by **dajuggernaut** » 22 Apr 2008, 22:27

SKULLSPLITTER - The CEO wrote:lol...hey, Jack...how ya doin'?

A solid History lesson for those who don't know...this was a monumental matchup....the classic, April War.

so much so...it is now common Knowledge that a person can NOT be considered a full fledged Boxing fan without seeing that fight in its entirety...

What an interesting username.

SKULLSPLITTER - The CEO · Post by **SKULLSPLITTER - The CEO** » 22 Apr 2008, 22:29

Thank you, juggernaut....I've always liked your name as well...

locoxelbox · Post by **locoxelbox** » 22 Apr 2008, 23:37

Jack 1000 wrote:Although losing to Hagler, Duran shocked the boxing world in June of 1984 with a brutal second round KO of Tommy Hearns. While Leonard and Hearns had a masterful two-sided fight in 1981, ending with Leonard scoring a 14th round TKO, no one had destroyed Hearns in the manner that Duran did.

I thought it was the Hitman that destroyed Duran, not the other way around...

Iownthisforum · Post by **Iownthisforum** » 22 Apr 2008, 23:51

yeah...Hearns beat Duran...which prompts me to say....with all due respect.....

THREAD FAILED

lol i respect how your trying to drop history on us.... but make sure u come correct

SKULLSPLITTER - The CEO · Post by **SKULLSPLITTER - The CEO** » 22 Apr 2008, 23:57

I didn't notice the error in the article because I read it earlier today where it was published...and in Jack's defense...the names and facts are straight there...

Robinson · Post by **Robinson** » 23 Apr 2008, 03:33

Hearns KO'd Duran in one of the nastiest ways possible.

granberry · Post by **granberry** » 23 Apr 2008, 16:21

Emanuel Steward overtrained Hearns for this fight, just as he did for the first Leonard fight.

In this case Hearns could weight 160, but he still overtrained.

Most of the punches he threw in this fight were slaps rather than punches.

Hagler fought a poor fight, got all cut up.

If Hearns had been in better shape and lasted just a bit longer, the fight would have been stopped because of Hagler's cuts.

Smokin'Moe · Post by **Smokin'Moe** » 23 Apr 2008, 16:51

ive heard hearns broke his hand in this fight

was that after that right uppercut that caught hagler flush in the first round??

pundit · Post by **pundit** » 23 Apr 2008, 16:56

I guess 20 years down the road they will say the same about Pacman, Marquez, Barrera etc..

Jack 1000 · Post by **Jack 1000** » 23 Apr 2008, 18:03

Just to clarify,

This mistake was in my original document and somehow the Hearns-Duran name mix up was overlooked by me when editing this version. I DEEPLY regret the obvious error of the name switch. This was corrected by our web-master at the site. All credit in the world to him. But I feel bad for such an obvious oversight! When I went back to the original Word Doc, (because BoxRec doesn't like linking to other sites.) when this had been called to my attention, I was like: " OH *HIT!!"

Yes, I messed up the names in that instance. Everyone knows that it was HEARNS who annihilated DURAN in two rounds. In fact, I am going to change that mistake in my original document right now.

Thank you!

Jack

elmersalsa · Post by **elmersalsa** » 24 Apr 2008, 12:35

Robinson wrote:Hearns KO'd Duran in one of the nastiest ways possible.

no excuses, it was one of the greatest one-punch KOs of all-time.

granberry · Post by **granberry** » 24 Apr 2008, 13:35

elmersalsa wrote:
Robinson wrote:Hearns KO'd Duran in one of the nastiest ways possible.
no excuses, it was one of the greatest one-punch KOs of all-time.

To me a ONE-PUNCH KO, is just that---A ONE punch KO.

Hearns hit Duran MANY times--(had ALREADY knocked him down earlier)

so as far as I am concerned there was no ONE punch KO.

Rocky Balboa · Post by **Rocky Balboa** » 24 Apr 2008, 16:26

granberry wrote:Emanuel Steward overtrained Hearns for this fight, just as he did for the first Leonard fight.

In this case Hearns could weight 160, but he still overtrained.

Most of the punches he threw in this fight were slaps rather than punches.

Hagler fought a poor fight, got all cut up.

If Hearns had been in better shape and lasted just a bit longer, the fight would have been stopped because of Hagler's cuts.

I'm not 100% what happened during Hearns' training camp for Hagler, but I've read some quotes for Emanuel Steward where he states it was Tommy who overtrained, not him overtraining Hearns.

Manny claimed he tried to get Hearns to rest up, calm it down a little, but Tommy would not have none of it. Manny says Tommy would be trainign two, three times a day, hardly any rest, running twice a day, etc.

raylawpc · Post by **raylawpc** » 24 Apr 2008, 16:44

granberry wrote:
elmersalsa wrote:
Robinson wrote:Hearns KO'd Duran in one of the nastiest ways possible.
no excuses, it was one of the greatest one-punch KOs of all-time.
To me a ONE-PUNCH KO, is just that---A ONE punch KO.

Hearns hit Duran MANY times--(had ALREADY knocked him down earlier)

so as far as I am concerned there was no ONE punch KO.

By your definition, then, if a fighter doesn't knock out his opponent with the first punch landed solidly, its not a one-punch knockout. Is that what you really mean?

Ambling Alp · Post by **Ambling Alp** » 24 Apr 2008, 23:41

Rocky Balboa wrote:
granberry wrote:Emanuel Steward overtrained Hearns for this fight, just as he did for the first Leonard fight.

In this case Hearns could weight 160, but he still overtrained.

Most of the punches he threw in this fight were slaps rather than punches.

Hagler fought a poor fight, got all cut up.

If Hearns had been in better shape and lasted just a bit longer, the fight would have been stopped because of Hagler's cuts.
I'm not 100% what happened during Hearns' training camp for Hagler, but I've read some quotes for Emanuel Steward where he states it was Tommy who overtrained, not him overtraining Hearns.

Manny claimed he tried to get Hearns to rest up, calm it down a little, but Tommy would not have none of it. Manny says Tommy would be trainign two, three times a day, hardly any rest, running twice a day, etc.

I'm not sure about the training, and we will never really know. What really hurt Hearns was his tactics. He should have tried to use his reach and outbox Hagler instead of going toe to toe. Hagler eventually probably would have got to him, but that was really the only real chance that Hearns had to win.
You wonder if Hearns KO of Duran made him think that he could also KO Hagler.

granberry · Post by **granberry** » 24 Apr 2008, 23:56

Ambling Alp wrote:
Rocky Balboa wrote:
granberry wrote:Emanuel Steward overtrained Hearns for this fight, just as he did for the first Leonard fight.

In this case Hearns could weight 160, but he still overtrained.

Most of the punches he threw in this fight were slaps rather than punches.

Hagler fought a poor fight, got all cut up.

If Hearns had been in better shape and lasted just a bit longer, the fight would have been stopped because of Hagler's cuts.
I'm not 100% what happened during Hearns' training camp for Hagler, but I've read some quotes for Emanuel Steward where he states it was Tommy who overtrained, not him overtraining Hearns.

Manny claimed he tried to get Hearns to rest up, calm it down a little, but Tommy would not have none of it. Manny says Tommy would be trainign two, three times a day, hardly any rest, running twice a day, etc.
I'm not sure about the training, and we will never really know. What really hurt Hearns was his tactics. He should have tried to use his reach and outbox Hagler instead of going toe to toe. Hagler eventually probably would have got to him, but that was really the only real chance that Hearns had to win.
You wonder if Hearns KO of Duran made him think that he could also KO Hagler.

Idiot Steward had Hearns sparring 12 rounds daily in training.

granberry · Post by **granberry** » 24 Apr 2008, 23:57

raylawpc wrote:
granberry wrote:
elmersalsa wrote: no excuses, it was one of the greatest one-punch KOs of all-time.
To me a ONE-PUNCH KO, is just that---A ONE punch KO.

Hearns hit Duran MANY times--(had ALREADY knocked him down earlier)

so as far as I am concerned there was no ONE punch KO.
By your definition, then, if a fighter doesn't knock out his opponent with the first punch landed solidly, its not a one-punch knockout. Is that what you really mean?

You obviously will never know what I mean, ray.

p4p1 · Post by **p4p1** » 24 Apr 2008, 23:58

granberry wrote:
elmersalsa wrote:
Robinson wrote:Hearns KO'd Duran in one of the nastiest ways possible.
no excuses, it was one of the greatest one-punch KOs of all-time.
To me a ONE-PUNCH KO, is just that---A ONE punch KO.

Hearns hit Duran MANY times--(had ALREADY knocked him down earlier)

so as far as I am concerned there was no ONE punch KO.

thats a fair point but it was a scary looking punch

raylawpc · Post by **raylawpc** » 25 Apr 2008, 09:04

granberry wrote:
raylawpc wrote:
granberry wrote: To me a ONE-PUNCH KO, is just that---A ONE punch KO.

Hearns hit Duran MANY times--(had ALREADY knocked him down earlier)

so as far as I am concerned there was no ONE punch KO.
By your definition, then, if a fighter doesn't knock out his opponent with the first punch landed solidly, its not a one-punch knockout. Is that what you really mean?
You obviously will never know what I mean, ray.

I suspect that I join a growing number of posters on this board in that regard.

granberry · Post by **granberry** » 25 Apr 2008, 09:23

raylawpc wrote:
granberry wrote:
raylawpc wrote: By your definition, then, if a fighter doesn't knock out his opponent with the first punch landed solidly, its not a one-punch knockout. Is that what you really mean?
You obviously will never know what I mean, ray.
I suspect that I join a growing number of posters on this board in that regard.

kikibalt brought ray over from cyberboxing to add his sourness to boxrec

ray's posting history on boxrec consists of following me around boxrec and offering his sour 'comments' on my posts

Not much of an existence, ray.

LOL

raylawpc · Post by **raylawpc** » 25 Apr 2008, 12:08

Yeah, I haven't posted anything of substance . . .

My sole reason for being here is to torment you.

But, even with what I have posted, I cite to my sources so that people can check it out for themselves . . . unlike you.

You need to get over yourself, and get a life.

raylawpc · Post by **raylawpc** » 25 Apr 2008, 13:04

I have good news for you Granberry: Effective treatments now exist for paranoia.

Here's a link:

http://psychologytoday.com/conditions/p ... #Treatment

Treatment consists of psychotherapy and medications. Given the number of people on this board that you think are out to get you, I fear you will have to start with the drugs.

Please consult your physician. I am sure all the other posters here at boxrec.com wish you all the best in your treatment of this unfortunate mental illness.

granberry · Post by **granberry** » 25 Apr 2008, 17:04

raylawpc wrote:I have good news for you Granberry: Effective treatments now exist for paranoia.

Here's a link:

http://psychologytoday.com/conditions/p ... #Treatment

Treatment consists of psychotherapy and medications. Given the number of people on this board that you think are out to get you, I fear you will have to start with the drugs.

Please consult your physician. I am sure all the other posters here at boxrec.com wish you all the best in your treatment of this unfortunate mental illness.

ray,

Unfortunately for you there is no cure for stupidity.

As is obvious and has already been said:

kikibalt brought ray over from cyberboxing to add his sourness to boxrec

ray's posting history on boxrec consists of following me around boxrec and offering his sour 'comments' on my posts

Not much of an existence, ray.

LOL

Hagler vs. Hearns: When Fighters Were Fighters

Hagler vs. Hearns: When Fighters Were Fighters

Re: Hagler vs. Hearns: When Fighters Were Fighters