After the knockout of Roldan, and Thomas Hearns’s destruction of Duran in 2 rounds in June, Marvin and Hearns were on a collision course. It was pretty much decided that Hagler would fight the mandatory challenger Mustafo Hamsho in October, and would then sign to fight Hearns in early 1985.
The fight at Madison Square Garden was a rematch of their first fight three years earlier in Chicago. Hamsho battled Marvin for 11 rounds in the first bout, but this time Marvin ran right through him and knocked him out in the 3rd round. Hagler was now boxing’s biggest draw, and he fought up to and exceeded expectations.
Coupled with Hearns’ knockout of Fred Hutchings in September, nothing was in the way of the proposed mega-fight. Marvin would finally get the chance to prove that he was the best fighter on the planet.
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