Marvelous Marvin Hagler called it his most memorable fight and the “highlight of his career.” Hagler knocked out Thomas Hearns in the third round in eight frenetic minutes of action dubbed “The War”. Hagler has never been close with Hearns before or to this day, but respects him greatly.
“It takes two to make a great fight. Tommy came to fight. I look at the great wars of Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier. Those are the types of fights that can bring back boxing.”
Hagler is in Shanghai, China as an ambassador for the Laureus World Sports Awards. He is hopeful boxing can make a comeback and is excited to watch Manny Pacquiao versus Floyd Mayweather. Hagler was unsure about making a prediction, but believes the duration of the fight will be a key factor.
“It’s too early right now. None of these guys are really showing their teeth. Mayweather is a very crafty, slick, intelligent type of fighter. Pacquiao has been stopped before so it all depends if he can get that shot. Rounds 1-6 I go Pacquiao, after that Mayweather.”
Hagler is 60 years old now and is living in Milan, Italy. If he was forced to turn back time and face Mayweather in his prime he would stick to what he knows best.
“If I was fighting Mayweather I would do the same thing I did with Tommy Hearns and put the pressure on his right from the start. Basically not giving him time to think. That is the way we trained. You know that Mayweather is going to try and box and try and outsmart him.”
Hagler called Floyd Patterson his boxing hero growing up. He believes boxing needs to get back to having “one champion” to make it more relevant, but doesn’t think it will happen for money reasons. He also would like to see Pacquiao challenge Mayweather.
“Mayweather has never really been tested yet. You have to see if he gets hit with a great shot can he shake it off. Nobody had been able to catch him more than once. He is so fast that he can move away. I think you have to be able to take a punch and walk in there just like a Hagler and Hearns fight. Don’t even think and just go to war.”
Hagler has been working with Laureus raising money to help underprivileged youth benefit from sport.
