‘The Fight’, as it was named, was set for April 15, 1985 at Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas. Marvin Hagler and Tommy Hearns went on a press tour in early 1985 to promote their bout, with Tommy predicting a third round knockout of Hagler. As much as I admired and respected Hearns, there was no way in the world he was going to knock Marvin out. Hagler had never been off his feet as a pro, and Hearns wasn’t going to be the first to put him on the canvas. Even though I was going to be rooting hard for Tommy when the fight happened, I gave him little or no chance of winning, mostly because he had a lousy chin.
On Monday April 15, I drove my 1980 Mercury Marquis to the Spectrum in South Philadelphia. I had purchased my ticket over the phone for the huge bout, and when I got to the arena, bought a program and a soda, and settled into my seat on the floor. It was a thrill to see my favorite all-time announcer Curt Gowdy as the host of the evening, and as the first round approached, the usual butterflies filled my stomach.
Tommy had been planning to box Hagler, but Marvin rushed him from the start, throwing punches in bunches. On the way in, Hearns nailed Marvin with his best right hand shot, but it only buzzed Hagler for an instant. Both men traded blows in at an alarming rate, and you wondered how long they could keep it up. The first round finished with my head spinning, also knowing that Tommy was already in trouble.
Hearns had landed his best shots repeatedly, and Marvin just kept coming forward. The pace slowed considerably in the second round, but Marvin was the fresher fighter, and Tommy’s legs looked shot already. To me it was a matter of time for Hearns, and with Hagler his opponent, it wouldn’t be long before he was counted out.
In the third, referee Richard Steele stopped the bout to have the doctor look at a cut on Hagler’s forehead, but it was insignificant. Not long after, a series of odd looking punches put Tommy down and out for the 10 count. Marvin had won the biggest fight of his professional career, in what’s still called the “8 greatest minutes in boxing history.” In many ways, it still may be true.
I drove home disappointed that Tommy had lost, but not at all surprised. Hagler was just too strong for him, and the better overall fighter. With the huge victory under his belt, “Marvelous” Marvin Hagler, was now the face of boxing.
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