Hagler v Hearns

I have nothing but respect for any boxer that steps into the ring ... one on one ... with another fighter - any era.

But yes the mid 80's were sensational.

Hagler was a leftie & rightie (but) southpaw who never took a step backwards

One of my favourite rounds was Round 2 Hagler vs Mugabi.

John Mugabi was a beast but he was stepping up a half division ... out of his own ... into Hagler's realm in this fight and he was all courage also.

I was fortunate enough to meet John just under 20 years later when he came to Australia.   I went out from Brisbane to Toowoomba where some friends out there had shouted me a birthday night at the local fights.    Guy Waters (brother of Troy RIP) was the main fight but in between the early fights the broadcaster announced John Mugabi was in the house to watch at ringside.    There was hardly a murmur from the locals but I couldn't contain my excitement so got up and walked around the ring till I found John at the broadcast desk and went and introduced myself with a handshake.   John got up and shook my hand ... what a gentleman as I reminisced with him of his heroic feat in moving up to fight Marvin.   A great night for me.

The Hagler v Mugabi fight where I still like to watch again the two duke it out in Round 2 ...  both had "finish it" intentions.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ttRrZZAwAZ0

I always thought the Mugabi fight was a bigger factor in Hagler's retirement than the Leonard one.

If contenders coming out of nowhere could give you a war like that you'd want to be thinking of retirement plans.

Looks more like a bar room brawl than a boxing match

Always remember when the hit man knocked our Roberto Duran...as perfect a punch as you could ever imagine

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q1X3gof2Sao

Cheers geordie

I yearn for the halcyon days of boxing.

The '4 kings' Hagler, Hearns, Leonard, Duran.....doubt I will be so lucky to see such a rich seam of talent again.

That Hagler/Hearns bout is my favourite of all time. That KO punch of Hearns v Duran is my favourite KO of all time. Hagler is my favourite fighter of all time (granite chin, fought everyone, fearsome man and punnishing bouts).


Now you have about 6 'champions' for each weight class, fighters avoiding each other to keep the gravy train running, profiteers like Hearn only interested in lining his own pockets providing a feast of one sided matches and hometwon judging, pay per view for bog average fighters...........no wonder mixed martial arts has rocketed in popularity.

Yes, it was a great era for boxing. As well as the "4 kings", there were a lot of great fighters in other divisions: Wifredo Benitez, Aaron Pryor, Ray Mancini and Alexis Arguello, as well as some very good middleweights and light heavyweights such as Hill, Nunn, McCallum and Jones Jnr later in the decade.

Aaron Pryor was a machine shame about his demise probably the most enjoyable boxer to watch had the lot.

Pryor v Hearns 1976 Golden Gloves
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j6VYKnM-OeA

Some Pryor highlights
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6sQkdcJW5FY

I think if Hagler or Hearns would have fought the way they did against each other against the likes of Mayweather or Golovkin they'd have been schooled like watching a playground fight with not a lot of finesse or defensive work.

Take Leonard v Duran for example, first fight Leonard went to war with Duran which was completely playing into Duran's hands, second fight he didn't make the same mistake and reverted to boxing, not letting him close and keeping him at arms length the whole time before he quit, Mayweather's defensive skill set would have frustrated the life out of the old school boxers, Golovkin would have been too technically sound for most of them as well if not all, a good boxer beats a good fighter. Fighters however are usually more lauded hence Floyd's lack of popularity in comparison to the likes of De La Hoya.

darren loved to have seen hagler v mayweather. would have had my bollocs on hagler. hagler been schooled by mayweather

Tommy Hearns would've sparked any middleweight fighting now, not even a debate. Speed, power combined with a freakish reach. Not consensus but he was the best of the 4 imo.

Ran out of steam vs Leonard when well ahead on the cards late on over 15 rounds, was robbed v Leonard in 2nd fight draw. Almost stopped Hagler in 2 but fought totally the wrong right fight and got dragged into Hagler's brawl, and flattened Duran in 2.

It used to be hagler as a kid, but the more i read Hearns is now definitely my favourite fighter of that era.

great fighter hearns.almost stopped hagler in 2? not having that one.lets get it right cj they went to war and hagler done a job on him.

DenzilPenberthy
Date Joined:    14 Dec 17
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01 Aug 18 03:34 Joined: 14 Dec 17 | Topic/replies: 4,804 | Blogger: DenzilPenberthy's blog
Aaron Pryor was a machine shame about his demise probably the most enjoyable boxer to watch had the lot.

Pryor v Hearns 1976 Golden Gloves
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j6VYKnM-OeA

Some Pryor highlights
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6sQkdcJW5FY

word is that leonard moved up to welterweight to avoid pryor in the olympic trials

That is the most exiting Fight in have ever seen.

Hagler V Hearns,i have seen a Million Fights but that one is my all time Fav.

The Hitman a great boxer to Watch  So near on so many Occasions

Nov 10, 2018 -- 12:19PM, Charlton2005 wrote:

DenzilPenberthyDate Joined:    14 Dec 17Add contact | Send message01 Aug 18 03:34 Joined: 14 Dec 17 | Topic/replies: 4,804 | Blogger: DenzilPenberthy's blogAaron Pryor was a machine shame about his demise probably the most enjoyable boxer to watch had the lot.Pryor v Hearns 1976 Golden Gloveshttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j6VYKnM-OeASome Pryor highlightshttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6sQkdcJW5FYword is that leonard moved up to welterweight to avoid pryor in the olympic trials

Aye I found that out on his life story documentary which is believable,it's on YouTube not best quality and in several bits but watchable.

I think if Hagler or Hearns would have fought the way they did against each other against the likes of Mayweather or Golovkin they'd have been schooledShocked like watching a playground fight with not a lot of finesse or defensive work.


In all the years that the internet has been around I doubt I have ever read anything so ludicrous in all my life