This highly anticipated fight between pound-for-pound monarch and longtime middleweight champion Marvelous Marvin Hagler and the "Hit Man" Thomas Hearns exceeded even the most optimistic hype as the duo produced perhaps the greatest first round in boxing history in terms of two-way action between elite fighters (56 of 83 for Hagler- all of his punches were power shots to 50 of 82 for Hearns.
They combined to land a CompuBox middleweight record that still stands 95 power shots in round one. The two-way action continued until Hagler scored the fight's only knockdown in round 3.
Hearns, who broke his right hand in round one, somehow regained his feet, but referee Richard Steele deemed him unfit to continue. Hagler out-landed Hearns by only 96-94 overall but also by 90-67 in power punches. Both landed with frightening frequency as Hearns led 55.6%-55.5% overall and 62%-56% power.
Hearns' 56 total & 45 power landed in round 1 were most by a Hagler opponent. A magnificent two-way battle that will forever stand the test of time as well as of sheer ring brutality.
