Hearns will always be remembered as one of the greatest boxers who ever lived. He lost to the marvelous one in an absolute war. I will call that a badge of honor not something to hang your head over. The motor city Cobra is a living legend. Rest In Peace Marvelous Marvin.
I don't care what many Ppl have said: "Thomas Hearns lost in his 2 Failed attempts for glory." Bullshit, Thomas Hearns will go down in history as a True Warrior who always showed up to Fight, & Fight he did. How many of us wish we could've had a career like Thomas, "The Motor City Cobra" Hearns. You were the BEST Sir Thomas Hearns.
To me he was the definition of determination ...Who without fail, fought to be the best. It always seemed to me that his motivation went far beyond escaping an exceptionally hard and impoverished life- it was to be the greatest, and he absolutely was of his time - And arguably of all time…to me, he was an amazing person in that respect and someone to be looked up to for those and more qualities he had.
Joe Frazier to Marvin Hagler, "You have 3 strikes against you: you're a southpaw, you're good, and you're black." Marvin Hagler to Tommy Hearns, "I didn't wanna fall; I was determined."
redhead5150 absolutely!I watched this live!unreal!!!both truly pound4pound I knew when hauler survived Tommy's right hand that was pretty much the end but what a fucking war
I was young when this fight happened. Like 7 years old. But even then I understood the intensity of this fight. A lot of people would feel ripped off to pay for 3 rounds of boxing. Not this fight. Worth every penny. Unbelieveable.
Still gives me chills every time I watch it.......Hagler was like a Terminator, you just couldn't hurt him substantially.......Hearns punched like he had axe handles attached to his shoulders and his fights were never boring, kill or be killed.......What an epic fight, from two of the best to ever lace em up, in their primes.
hagler was incredible, may be the best of ever, I remember this fight as one of the best fight of all time. hagler had the power and the resistance of rocky marciano, hearns such an amazing punch!
I brought my dad tickets to this fight. It was one of the most proudest moments in my life he enjoyed it and I did too once i saw it on espn. Hagler fought many great fights this was one of the best. Mugabi was the other one, they gave it all they had and it showed
Marvelous Marvin (my all-time favorite fighter) absolutely MURDERED the Hit Man in this one. The thing about Hagler's fighting style was that he seemingly mercilessly beat the shit outta you until you literally collapsed in the ring. Hagler is hands down the Greatest Middleweight of All-Time. These modern era fighters would want no parts of Hagler, Hearns, Duran, and even the Sugar man in their primes. By the way, Hagler was robbed when he fought Sugar Ray in 1987. Classic Las Vegas decision.
Yes sir. Tommy opened him up pretty good in that first round. The thing about Hagler was his chin and ability to absorb punishment was unparalleled. Hearns jab and ability to box from long range was thought to be the equalizer. Marvin obviously viewed this fight as a life or death sort of thing. MMH was ferocious this fight. I think after this win, he relaxed a little bit. He could finally exhale. Later, SRL came calling, but he wasn't the same man, he wasn't the killer he was before this one.
Yeah that Mogambi fight took alot out of him and Mogambi. That fight took place in November of 86. Apparently both men were urinating blood after the fight!!!
Hagler retired at 32 years old. Robinson came back from a two & half year layoff and won back the title at the age of 35 years old, He then lost his title to Gene Fulmer at the age of 37 years old (1957), and then a few months later won back the World Middleweight title from Gene Fulmer. It was that fight that he threw best left hook in boxing history (5th Round). 37 Years old against a rock like fight like Fulmer . It was the first time in his life (Fulmer) that he had ever been knocked down.
How lucky we were to have had these great fighters. The most brutal fight Hagler had was against John The Beast Mugabe. It is certainly one of my favourites. I don't suppose we'll ever see the like of them again Hagler, Hearns and Leonard 3 of the best pound for pound fighters in History
Marvin Hagler is my favorite boxer ever. I'm not saying he is the "greatest," but he is my favorite. The way he approached the sport, with true blue-collar grit was unmatched. Watching Hagler, as a young kid, shaped the way I played all sports. I wanted play to be physical, and aggressive...non-stop, relentless...keep pounding away at your opponent and break their spirit and will along with their body. Marvin Hagler was the man!
Had the pleasure as a young kid to meet the Marvelous one in downtown Brockton at Continental Cablevision. My dad was returning our cable box for a new one and Hagler was doing a promo. I remember him giving me a fake jab with a smile and singing an autograph for my dad.
@@erikjon8432 as a Duran fan I'll be first to admit that he has no one to blame but himself for that. You stop taking this sport seriously and you get what's coming. Same thing happened to Tyson, and many great fighters.
@@peelslowly28 for sure...at the same time we're talking about Duran who was voted as the top lightweight of the 70's too...by the time he got to Leonard,Hesrns,Hagler etc he wasn't truly in his prime anymore in my opinion...and that's a testament as to how great he was...as for Tyson we know the story
Eddie Futch (Trainer of Joe Frazier and Ken Norton) told Borges( in HBO World Championship Boxing), "He had marvelous balance and speed and superb reflexes. He was just as dangerous with either hand when going backwards and he knew almost everything there was to know about how to box." (This is about Ray Robinson)
Manny Steward also said that Hagler was the best middleweight he ever saw and so did Don Dunfee going back to the 1920s. Hagler is generally aclaimed as the #1 middleweight of all time. It used to be Robinson until Hagler came along.
Here is his record: Robinson was 85-0 as an amateur with 69 of those victories coming by way of knockout, 40 in the first round. He turned professional in 1940 at the age of 19 and by 1951 had a professional record of 128-1-2 with 84 knockouts. Some of these 15 rounders. What made him so dangerous was his reflexes & he could knock you out going backwards with either hand. Remember that left hook that he threw against Gene Fuller going slightly backwards? Muhammed Ali modelled his style on him.
i loved hagler....i was a streetfighter from a bad hood growing up but it wasnt till i was in the navy that i boxed..but hagler in my opinion was the best....he was awesome and congrats on turning your life around
I remember this fight as if it took place yesterday. Neither man took a step back for the entire 3 rounds. I still remember the HBO microphones picking up the voices of a few of Hearns' entourage bailing out on him even he lay prone on the canvas. Talk about "rats leaving a sinking ship." That was disgraceful. Even though I was rooting for Hagler, I really felt bad for Tommy Hearns. That said, IMHO, Marvin Hagler was a great champion and a great person, both inside and outside the ring.
They don't talk about how Hearn's hurt Hagler with that big right hand in the first 10 seconds of the fight,that was big because in his whole carreer I do not remember ever seeing Hagler hurt,but he showed the champion he was to come back & do what he did.
Wow. It was really good to see some history of two of the greatest boxers in history. I liked this video. Hard to believe how much Hagler went through to get the title. I knew about the riot when he got the belt, but I didn't realise how much he went through in his career prior to that point. I understand that "The War" was what this video was about but I feel that Hagler had some pretty big fights along with this one that really cemented him as one of the greatest, not this fight alone.
He returned back to the ring in two half years later & regained the middleweight title in 1955, because of the training that I mentioned below. Robinson states that in the weeks leading up to his debut for a dancing engagement in France, he ran five miles (8 km) every morning, and then danced for five hours each night. Robinson even stated that the training he did in his attempts to establish a career as a dancer were harder than any he undertook during his boxing career.
~If ever there was a Golden time these four fighters Duran, Hearns, Hagler and Leonard gave it to us. They just set a standard that was so high. We all have our favourites but we all have respect for the other guys. The best of sport.
An unbelieveable fight. There two warriors stood toe-to-toe and gave it everything they had. I gave Tommy the first round due to the fact that his punches were more accurate and he caught Marvin with a right hand that would have floored a heavyweight. I could not believe, to this day, how Marvin took that shot, shrugged it off and came back at Hearns. I think by round 3 Tommy dropped through a mixture of Hagler's devastating punches and exhaustion. A classic example of a truly, great fight.
This is one of the great fights of the 80’s. The two best at the time fighting in their primes and going right at it. No running, no boxing really just slugging it out. The first round lived up to all the hype. It was incredible. Nobody hit Hagler like that and Tommy was taking a beating also. Hagler was full of blood but was more focused on winning. Tommy could’ve put up an even better fight had he prepared like Hagler. Both Hagler and Leonard’s greatest triumphs were against Tommy Hearns. That’s how great Hearns was. Iran Barkley would say the same thing. That night it was the two best fighting and it was memorable for only being a 3 rounder.
boxers today would loose against old boxers with old rules 15 rounds harder gloves 30 second break this was hard stuff! these guys are both true legends!
this is in my opinion,was one of the best boxing matches ive ever seen...because both fighters went for it...you dont see that much...i have nothing but respect for tommy hearns...its just that hagler was never ever knocked out..or knocked down...and fought everyone...you have to give the man credit...and he knew when to retire,,,
What can you say but what a battle. How many people before a fight who knew it was going to be over in the third would imagine they were going to see a battle for the ages.
This was an incredible classic between Marvin and Thomas, between Marvin was in trouble in the first and that was Thomas Hearns downfall, when Hagler made him paid in the third round with that knockout.
In my opinion and for alot more learned people than myself (who actually worked as trainers, journalists or boxers themselves within the game) - Sugar Ray Robinson was the greatest boxer/fighter within the sport. He fought more champions then any other fighter in the history of the sport. He fought until he was 44 years old......
Cont4: In that fight which I have mentioned below - Gene Fulmer was 26 years old (And World Middleweight champion) against Sugar Ray Robinson - was was 37 years old. Robinson knocked out Gene Fulmer with what has been describled as the best ever left hook thrown in boxing. Such was the power of the punch and the timing of it. To make it more special he did going slighty backwards at the time against a forward pressing Gene Fulmer.
He won landed better punches and way better combos! He had marvin backing up every round! And when Marvin did come forward he couldnt touch Ray because of his speed! So you stupid watch it from a coach or a fighters point of view
Shawn Muldowney It's well known that Sugar Ray had a pussy strategy for that fight to only make it APPEAR that he was winning as he knew he could never take on Hagler in a head on fight. IF you actually look up information on the fight you'll know that Sugar Ray was waiting for Hagler to get old and slower before he struck, even still, Sugar Ray's strategy was to avoid Hagler at all costs and then in the last minute his corner team would give him a signal so that Sugar Ray could throw weak flurry punches at Hagler that looked flashy but really caused no damage simply to impress the judges. Lord knows if even the HITMAN's punches didn't slow Hagler down, Leonard's weak pitty pat punches weren't going to do shit to stonehead. The judges had a bias for SRL and the whole fight was skewed because even with all those pussy tactics, SRL demanded a 24x24 ring so he could run away. The only non bias'd judge gave the fight to Hagler "Hagler was doing all the work. The referee, Richard Steele, warned Leonard at least once every round about holding. Leonard fought in spurts. Leonard would run in and grab and hold. He did what he had to do. But I can't see a guy holding that much and getting points for it." Simply put Leonard was not FIGHTING, just running.
***** There is a argument to that but I see where you are coming from. Hagler's style was made for leonard and there is no way Ray leonard can fight with haggler. He has to box Hagler or get smashed. Sugar Ray Leonard is a extremely clever fighter. He knows how to overcome his enemies and beat them. No matter how it looks Sugar Ray will steal it if he has to, and that's what he did, cleverly stealing Hagler's Tittle. A Matador does not collide with a bull he deceives the Bull until the bull get's clumsy and slow, and that's what Sugar Ray did to Hagler. And of course Sugar Ray waited until Hagler was past his best. The John Magabi fight wore Hagler out. Hagler was even talking about retirement after that fight and Ray spoted flaws in Hagler's style so took the fight. They are both great fighters but haggler the meanest Baddest Middle weight champion of all time. Sugar ray is A Legendary champion and a very smart one too
10:18, great feint and after that right hand boom landed on Duran chin - man landed on a floor cleaner than Hearn right hand landed on Duran. And I am huge Duran fan- I wish sometimes I closed my eyes but that wouldn’t make it disappear lol.
In Hagler's 67 pro fight career this is the only time i ever saw him get hurt & it happened in the first 10 second's when Hearn's hit him with a big right hand.Once Hagler started to warm up though he started to shake those right hand's off,although Hearn's did break his right hand I don't think it would have mattered.Next to Robinson Hagler is the greatest middle weight of all time.
man these were the days REAL BOXING putting their heart on the line if there were fights like these nowadays then we wouldn't be hearing about the mma menace
Cont2: 2 Fights later Sugar Ray Robinson did the same thing and the whole crowd was silent. They thought he had killed again in the ring with another left hook. 5 Minutes later his opponent came around. He is rated the best fighter for all time because he could box like Shane Mosley, Ray Leonard, Meldrick Taylor, and yet had the power like Hearns in BOTH HANDS. Also in over 250 fights he was never knocked out. He had such a great chin and could take great shots.....
I remember watching this fight and at the time thought WOW and watching it again 23 years later i feel the same just a fantastic 3 rounds of fighting not just boxing
Also remember Ray Robinson was best friends with Joe Louis and Henry Armstrong who gave him tips in regards to helping him improve his boxing. In which in the end they all came to watch him and learn something from Ray Robinson. Joe Louis and Henry Armstrong watching the master at work. That's how good he was.
Robinson lifted people out there seats many many times. Even in training he did the same (As I have told you before in regards to him just skipping rope). Also he was involved in the fight night known as the St.Valetine day fight in which led to the film being made around it called "Raging bull". He also was involved in the best knock out even seen in a boxing ring which is still show today and still wows after over 52 years after it first happened.
The single greatest fight in my lifetime and maybe of all time. I remember this fight well and mention it to people all the time as an example of what a real life Rocky fight would look like.
I love Lampley's opening statement, possibly the most excited fight in the 30 years of boxing. No it was the most exciting and as I said being from Detroit, I wanted Hearns to win, I was 12 when the fight took place, but Hearns lost to a great fighter in Hagler and there is no shame in that. Especially the the way they fought. I love both men as boxer. Styles make fights, look at the fight Duran gave Hagler and look at the non-fight Hearns had against Duran.
+Brian Kerrin Hopkins would have had to sneak an anvil into the ring under his trunks in order to beat Hagler at his prime. And, knowing Hopkins' reputation for massaging the rules, I wouldn't have been at all surprised if he had done it. It would have been one heck of a fight.
I will agree to this. the 40s were beyond a doubt a more competitive era than the 80s. Robinson's schedule and competition rivals that of even the 1920's. Still, Hagler was a breed of athlete we may never see again in dozens of generations, maybe more.
Its cool looking back at this through the eyes of HBO cause I didn't know anybody, any of my friends or me that thought Hearns could beat Marvin. I had watched Marvin since his Antifermo fights when he was robbed of the win and he was a force. Cool show though.
Bad match-up for Hearns. Tommy was an exceptional fighter but his inability to hurt Hagler, and to absorb punishment on his own would have been his demise.
His training and how became so good (Ray Robinson) reminds me of how today fighters from Cuba are so good at amateur boxing. Their Boxing training camps are not a patch on the Americans or Europeans but they go back to old fashioned boxing values and sheer hard work and determination and going over things time and time after time.
