BERNSTEIN ON HAGLER VS. HEARNS
Forty Years Ago, The Nobility Of Boxing Was Reconfirmed On A Perfect Night Under The Stars In Las Vegas By Al Bernstein • Illustrations by KronkAAArt
On Monday, April 15, 1985, Marvelous Marvin Hagler and Thomas Hearns indelibly stamped their names in the history books with one of the most action-packed and dramatic fights in history. Held on the day when Americans pay their income taxes, both of these men paid a heavy toll in the ring during eight hellacious minutes of warfare. Leading up to the fight, Hagler wore a hat that simply said “WAR” on it, and that is what he and Hearns delivered that night. Hagler got the win, but you can say without fear of contradiction that Hearns was no loser. Neither was the sport of boxing. I was only five years into my television career when I got the dream assignment of being the analyst on this closed- circuit telecast. I was literally starstruck as I sat in the production meeting for the show alongside Curt Gowdy (who would host) and Al Michaels (who would sit ringside and announce the fight with me). I could barely believe
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