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Marvin Hagler Autograph v Hearns
Superb Leroy Neiman boxing poster from one
of the best fights ever! This wonderful item comes complete
with our Certificate of Authenticity and a large 8x10 photograph
of Marvin Hagler signing the poster so you can be rest assured
you are buying a genuine autograph.
Marvin Hagler
SOLD
HAGLER VS. HEARNS
APRIL 15, 1985
MARVIN HAGLER KOS TOMMY HEARNS IN 3 ROUNDS - CONSIDERED
THE GREATEST SHORT FIGHT IN BOXING HISTORY.
It took just eight minutes—three rounds—for
this fight to be indelibly etched into the history books.
It was billed simply as "The Fight" in 1985. Today,
many boxing historians have changed that slightly, to "THE
Fight." "Marvelous" Marvin Hagler (60-2-2,
50 KOs) was the defending World Middleweight Champion. Tommy
"The Hit Man" Hearns (40-1, 36KOs) was the reigning
Junior Middleweight Champion, moving up a weight class.
Both fighters had built their reputations on punching power.
So this head-on collision had the potential to be a slugfest.
Although Hearns was moving up, no one questioned
his power. For instance, Hagler had gone 15 grueling rounds
with the legendary Roberto Duran, while Hearns KO’d
Duran in two rounds. The strategic wild cards in the fight
were Hagler being a southpaw—always a difficult proposition
for a traditional right hander and Hagler’s almost
superhuman ability to take a punch. No matter what tactics
the fighters employed, people were prepared for an outstanding
bout.
But no one was prepared for what they saw
in Round One. This was the infamous non-stop slugging round
that has been nominated as the best single round in boxing
history. It was like a full-scale brawl in a phone booth.
Hearns caught Hagler with a right cross, then a follow-up
flurry that instantly buckled the champ’s knees. Hagler
came back with a vengeance, staggering Hearns. Hearns unleashed
bone-rattling shots to drive Hagler back. Hagler responded
with neck-snapping power of his own. By the end of the round,
Hagler was cut, Hearns was dazed, and the crowd was delirious.
In the second, Hagler began to take control,
but Hearns managed to open two severe cuts, one on Hagler’s
forehead, another beneath his right eye. Referee Richard
Steele, hesitant to stop this epic war, asked Hagler if
he could see. Hagler replied, "I ain’t missin’
him, am I?" Still, Hagler was in trouble. If the cuts
worsened, the fight would have to be stopped.
The blistering pace of the first round picked
up again in the third. Hearns hit Hagler with a shot, a
demolishing right, that split the cut wider. But Hagler,
reknowned for the strength of his chin, didn’t move.
He shook it off, and kept on coming. Hagler found Hearns
with a savage right hook, wobbling "The Hit Man".
Hearns was staggering, Hagler chasing. He caught Hearns
again with a final right hook to drive Hearns to the canvas.
Hearns beat the count but was unable to defend himself.
This time, Richard Steele stopped the bout, ending eight
minutes of the most titanic action the boxing world has
ever witnessed.
The epic battle may have had a larger effect
on the winner. Marvin Hagler would only fight twice more
in his career, losing his last career bout two years later
in a controversial split decision against Sugar Ray Leonard.
When Leonard refused to give him a rematch, Hagler hung
up the gloves. Hearns continued to fight well into the ‘90’s,
winning titles as a middleweight, light heavyweight, and
cruiserweight. Both Hearns and Hagler had re-vitalized boxing
that night, when they proved to the world that a middleweight
fight could generate the power surge of a heavyweight event.
