Forty Years Later, Hagler-Hearns Is Still The Greatest Fight In History

By: Sean Crose

Writing is rarely a completely objective endeavor. Although we writers find ourselves trying to stem the tide of our own biases, those biases have a way of sneaking in there nonetheless. The honor is more in the effort than it is the imperfect result. What makes the Marvelous Marvin Hagler-Thomas Hearns fight of 1985 unique to me is that I’m willing to write about it with little regard for objectivity. It’s the greatest fight in history, in my opinion, and that’s all there is to it. What’s more, to this day no one has ever convinced me that my assertion is incorrect.

As far as I’m concerned, Hagler-Hearns, which went down forty years ago this very night, is not only the pinnacle of boxing, it’s the premiere sporting event in history thus far. How’s that for showing your bias? Honestly, though, who could argue that there was ever a recorded sporting event that was so blistering on such a high stakes level and with so much on the line? There have no doubt been thrilling fights between legendary boxers with a whole lot at stake, but none have reached the level of intensity Hagler-Hearns did that night at Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas.

If you’ve never seen the three round war, check it out on YouTube now before reading further. If you’re one of those millions of fortunates who HAVE seen Hagler-Hearns then you remember how explosive the throwdown was from the opening bell. Hearns was a welterweight and junior middleweight legend, giving Ray Leonard the fight of his life and laying out the great Roberto Duran with a punch so thunderous it laid the legendary Panamanian icon out on his face. Hagler, on the other hand, was a tough, highly skilled grinder who came up with little fanfare and sweated out every penny made, accolade earned, and knockout delivered.

So confident was Hagler in his ability that as a younger fighter he legally changed his name from Marvin Hagler to Marvelous Marvin Hagler. As for Detroit’s Hearns, he went from being called the Motor City Cobra to simply “The Hit Man.” The name fit for all the menacingly right reasons. Theirs was a rare fight in that it lived up to – and went way beyond – it’s hype. To rewatch that first round, with each man zeroed in on destroying the other with lightning fast power, speed and skill is still as satisfying as every action movie. And the image of Hagler ending the night two rounds later by flattening a stumbling Hearns likely stays in the mind forever.

Just how good a fight was this bout? Good enough that Hearns, who was defeated, instantly saw his reputation soar to levels even higher than they had been beforehand. Here was a match that will likely still be remembered after all of us are long gone.

*Image: DAZN