Has it really been 4 decades?
This week will mark 40 years since Marvelous Marvin Hagler and Thomas “Hitman” Hearns waged war in what has often been called the most savage 8 minutes in middleweight boxing.
Hagler and Hearns met in a celebrated age of 160-pound fighters with the 4 from that era referred to as “The Four Kings” – Hagler and Hearns along with Roberto “Hands of Stone” Duran and “Sugar” Ray Leonard.
In truth, Hagler was the only authentic, natural middleweight as Hearns was a welterweight and junior middle, Duran was a (ferocious and feared) lightweight when he went professional, and Leonard was also his best south of 160 pounds.
Despite Hearns and Hagler spending less than 3 rounds together in the ring, for action and excitement, it stands as one of the all-time great middleweight bouts.
Hagler brought an impressive resume at 61-2-2 (52 KOs) as a long-reigning middleweight champion. He sported excellent boxing skills, good power, and an iron chin.
For Hearns, his best bet in the fight was to box from long range, use his piston-like jab, and try to catch Hagler with hard shots coming in. If Hearns landed his vaunted right hand on anyone’s chin, they were going to sleep. Anyone but Marvin Hagler, that is.
Hagler wanted to goad Tommy into a war early, and he did just that, engaging his Detroit-based foe from the opening bell. Hagler attacked from bell 1 and went hard to the head and body.
While Hearns did catch Hagler’s attention with a vicious right hand early in the first round, Hagler’s legendary chin brushed it off, and from then on, he was in pursuit mode. Hearns indeed landed some hard counters and cut Hagler badly. Hagler’s offense was non-stop, sending the outdoor crowd at Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas into a frenzy from the opening bell.
In the 3rd round, an overhand right caught Hearns on the Temple, and an on-rushing Hagler caught him one more time, sending him crashing to the canvas.
While Hearns did beat the count, he got up and fell into referee Richard Steele’s arms, virtually out on his feet.
Hagler kept his title, Hearns got accolades for a brave performance, and fans stood in awe at the violence they had witnessed. Hagler went from boxing star to media star with appearances on The Tonight Show and ads for Pizza Hut and Diet Coke showing a fun, easy-going side to Hagler. This was in stark contrast to his boxing image, which was that of a no-nonsense, angry fighter. His new profile vaulted him to media superstar status.
After the Hearns fight, Hagler would KO John Mugabi a year later in another middleweight slugfest. Then he would close out his career with a record payday and a disputed loss against rival Ray Leonard.
Bitter and frustrated at the outcome of the Leonard fight, he never fought again.
In retirement, Hagler relocated to Italy to pursue an acting career. Marvin, sadly, passed unexpectedly 36 years after his classic fight with Hearns at age 66, in 2021.
Hearns would return to the ring a year later and continue his career for another 15 years and 25 fights, going all the way up to cruiserweight. Tommy retired with a record of 61-5-1 (48 KOs) and a reputation as an all-time great. Hearns, 66, retired 20 years ago and is still living in Detroit, Michigan, where he is a revered sports hero.
Promo posters referred to it as “The Fight”, “The War,” and “The Battle of the Baddest”. Call it whatever you want, it was an all-time classic.
Despite Hagler and Hearns engaging in many classic bouts throughout their careers against the best of their era, nothing will top their epic battle in April 1985.
