F or most Americans, April 15 means that taxes are due. For many boxing fans across the world, that particular day is celebrated for what happened in 1985, when Marvelous Marvin Hagler and Thomas Hearns staged their memorable three-round war at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. It has been dubbed “Eight Minutes of Fury,” a fight so ferocious that it is probably a good thing that it didn’t last any longer. It was Hagler who came out victorious, but Hearns’ stature wasn’t damaged all that much in defeat. This was the kind of sporting event for which everyone remembers where they were when it took place. For me, as a 13-year-old in Valencia, California, I was at batting practice on that Monday evening (yes, big fights in that era took place on weekdays and relied on closed-circuit theater viewing). The William S. Hart Pony League was a serious one: If you played on a team, going to practice was mandatory – even when it took place at the batting cages. I distinctly recall getting an update on the fight from a parent who had gone out to his car to listen on the radio. I remember the particular thrill I got a few days later when I pulled the Sports Illustrated out of my mailbox: Hagler hitting Hearns while up along the ropes, with “MARVELOUS!” written boldly across the cover. It wasn’t until a few weeks later that I got to actually see the full fight as it was eventually ONE, TWO, THREE, FOREVER By Steve Kim STEVE’S SOAPBOX
“... when the fight happened, these guys didn’t want to box or anything; they just wanted to tear each other’s heads off.”
a big fight in St. Louis,” recalled the veteran promoter. “So when the fight happened, these guys didn’t want to box or anything; they just wanted to tear each other’s heads off.” Which is precisely what happened as Hagler came out blazing and Hearns, immediately under attack from “The Marvelous One,” had no choice but to enact his own style of violent self- defense. Many pundits have labeled this the greatest first round in big- fight history. It never fails, right around this time of year: Arum will do myriad interviews about the fight. But he never gets Hagler-Hearns fatigue. “No, because as a matter of fact, remembering it is a pleasant experience,” he stated. Then you have Larry Merchant, who perhaps had the best seat to witness the sanctioned violence. He was part of the broadcast crew that called the action for HBO Sports. In his view, the fight irrevocably changed in one particular moment.
Merchant recalled: “Hearns hit Hagler with a wicked shot, and Hagler just shook it off and kept coming forward. I remember saying something like ‘this fight is over,’ because of that punch he was able to shake off.’’ Most great fights are longer in length, but the 94-year-old Merchant pointed out, “It was only three rounds, so it’s easy to remember everything. But it’s one of those fights that a generation of boxing fans and sports fans were moved by the sincerity of what Hagler was doing.” Then there’s Doug Krikorian, who covered many of the era’s big bouts as a newspaper man of note in Los Angeles for over four decades. For Krikorian, this night on press row was both memorable and costly. “Hagler-Hearns for three rounds would rank among the very best, but it
didn’t last very long,” said the 81-year- old Krikorian, who was at most of the superfights in the ’80s, seeing Hagler and Hearns as well as the other members of the “Four Kings,” Sugar Ray Leonard and Roberto Duran. In his view, the best fight involving these legends was the initial battle between Leonard and Hearns in 1981. “But for three rounds, [Hagler-Hearns] was the greatest fight I ever saw.” Coming into the contest, Krikorian felt that for as good as Hagler was, he could be outboxed. He also believed Hearns had the boxing acumen to outpoint Hagler over 12 rounds. With that, he put a $13,000 wager on Hearns. (Seriously, what was the Los Angeles Herald Examiner paying back then?) Despite the furious onslaught from Hearns in the first 90 seconds of the
A 20-city press tour stoked the Hagler- Hearns rivalry.
fight, it was evident when the bell sounded to end that memorable opening stanza that Hagler had weathered the storm. This fight was only headed in one direction. At that point, Allan Malamud – another newspaper columnist of note from L.A. – turned to Krikorian and told him, “You’re going to lose your bet.” All Krikorian could say was, “I know.” But there are no hard feelings from him, just admiration. “Marvin Hagler was a great fighter and a great guy.” Forty years have now passed since that special night. It won’t ever be forgotten.
replayed on one of the networks. But it’s one thing to have memories of when that legendary bout took place; there are those who were fortunate to have been there in person. Not to get morbid, but as the years go on, the number of those who witnessed it live is dwindling. The perspectives of those who played various roles surrounding Hagler-Hearns are more valued than ever. There is Bob Arum, now 93, who promoted this battle between two iconic boxers he had close associations with. He recalls that making the fight “was very easy. I had great relationships with Emanuel (Steward,
“The Fight” was easy to make, according to its promoter, Bob Arum.
Hearns’ trainer) and even better with the Petronellis (Goody and Pat, Hagler’s trainer and co-managers) and Hagler. It was very easy to negotiate.” Arum believes that the heated nature of this fight began as he took the fighters on a media tour that went to over 20 cities in two weeks to promote what was simply billed as “The Fight.” “That’s when it went off the rails a little bit, because Tommy got under Marvin’s skin and they almost had
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