Marvin Hagler and Thomas Hearns shared three thrilling rounds together for the undisputed middleweight world championship.
The two rivals provided some of the most entertaining exchanges in the sport’s history, starting off from the first bell at a blistering pace until one man – on that night, Hearns – was finally overwhelmed.
Though Hagler secured the victory that night, ‘The Hitman’ Hearns certainly left a lasting impression – particularly with one big right hand in the opening round that rocked the champ and put him in danger.
That punch, and those that followed, led Hagler to name Hearns as the hardest puncher he faced when speaking to the Ring Magazine years later, however he did include another man as well.
“John Mugabi and Hearns [hit me hardest.] Because they came to fight. They came to take my title from me. Mugabi hit me with an uppercut. It didn’t hurt, but it was a hard punch, and I learned something from that. I had to regroup and come up with a different strategy.
“Also, with Tommy Hearns, he hit me with one good right hand, a good shot. I knew then that was his hardest punch, and I wanted more. I got more aggressive. I realised I had to keep the pressure on him, make him move and make him throw that right hand so he would leave an opening for me.”
John Mugabi – the Ugandan powerhouse known as ‘The Beast’ – had won all 25 of his fights by stoppage before facing Hagler in 1986 when he lost by eleventh round knockout.
After losing to Hagler, Mugabi was stopped by Duane Thomas in his very next fight but later put together another run of knockout victories before being halted by Terry Norris and Gerald McClellan among others.
The former WBC World Champion at 154lbs hung up the gloves with a record of 42 wins, 39 of which came inside the distance, seven defeats and one draw. He is remember by hardcore fans as a key part of that golden era of super-welter and middleweights, though perhaps overshadowed due to the likes of Hagler, Hearns and Sugar Ray Leonard competing alongside him.
