‘Marvellous’ Marvin Hagler vs Thomas ‘The Hitman’ Hearns; ‘The Fight’, April 15th 1985

Significance

The fight was greatly anticipated by the boxing world

The bout was simply billed as ‘The Fight’. In hindsight, it turned out to be possibly the best contender for ‘The Fight of the Century’, trumping all the others with its violence, drama and primitive brutality. The mere eight minutes of action in Hagler vs Hearns was so spectacular, that the combination of words ‘Hagler-Hearns’, to this day is used as the definitional replacement of ‘exciting fight.’

Hagler vs Hearns Build up

Hagler vs Hearns started off with a 21-city, 2-week promotional tour to alert to the world that the fight between the tenacious middlweight champion, Marvellous Marvin Hagler, and the light middlewight champion, The Hitman Hearns, was to take place in the 15 April 1985. It was originally intended to take place a couple years. It was called off however, after Hearns suffered a finger injury, to which a disappointed Hagler said: ‘For a million dollars, do you know how many people would cut that little thing off?!.’

Hearns and Hagler were the best of the best facing off

Hagler for years had been desperately in pursuit of a fight against a big name and a big pay-day, and it was clearly evident in his demeanour approaching the fight. He donned a hat with the words ‘WAR’ because ‘that’s what’s on my mind. Meanwhile Tommy  seemed much more relaxed, taunting Hagler for his ‘funny looking’ bald head. Hearns at this point, had only been beaten by Sugar Ray Leonard, and had previously destroyed Roberto Duran in two rounds,  earning him the tag as the favourite going into the fight with Hagler. Hagler was guaranteed $5.6 million, and Hearns with $5.4 million, with the fight being shown on closed circuit television in over 600 locations.

The Fight

The prophetical words that were on Hagler’s hat were to come true within the first few seconds of the fight. Immediately Hagler jumped on Hearns, launching a vicious assault against Tommy on the ropes. But Hearns was all too happy to comply, and it was Hagler that was actually the one initially hurt, suffering a cut in this forehead. The two engaged in violent exchanges until the end of the round, providing the action of 15 rounds in all of 3 minutes.

The first round was one of the most intense in boxing history

The second round followed the way of the first, to the delight of the frantic crowd of 15,000 stuffed into Caesar’s Palace. Despite the fact only one round had gone by, the two men were already physically suffering. Hearns had broken his right hand and was feeling unusually fatigued in the legs, a feeling Steward blamed on one of the entourage members rubbing down Hearns legs in the dressing room. This is possibly why Hearns was so easily dragged into a dog fight. Hagler on the other hand, had blooding streaming from his forehead, prompting the ref to ask him, ‘can you see alright?’, to which Hagler replied ‘well I’m not missing him am I?’.

Hagler became more accurate as the rounds went by

Hagler certainly didn’t miss him when, a minute into the third round, he connected with a savage right hand that caused Hearns to groggily shift across the ring. Hagler chased him down, switching between southpaw and orthodox stances seamlessly, and finished him with another right. Hearns was in no shape to beat the count, and the ref waved it off, prompting Marvin to celebrate and proclaim that he had now proved: I am the greatest!’.

Marvin eventually struck down Hearns by the third rd.

Aftermath

Marvin felt ecstatic and accomplished after defeating the massive test

The crowd erupted in ecstasy, already aware that they had witnessed an event that would never be forgotten. The victory was the greatest of Marvellous Marvin’s career. The Ring magazine named Hagler-Hearns the 1985 Fight of the Year, and round one was named The Round of the Year. To this day, modern day boxing promoters use the words ‘Hagler-Hearns’, when trying to evoke excitement in the public to see their upcoming fighters compete. But in truth, never again will there be a war quite like the one boxing saw in 1985.

Thomas and Marvin’s war left a lifetime of respect between the two