The battle between Marvelous Marvin Hagler and Thomas Hearns is
remembered as one of the greatest fights of all time. But in the months
before the two finally collided on April 15, 1985, there was a feeling
in the air that boxing was in trouble. The biggest name in the business,
Sugar Ray Leonard, was retired with no logical replacement in sight,
while the American Medical Association was calling for a ban on the
sport.
With Hagler-Hearns looking like boxing's last hurrah, promoter Bob Arum
embarked on one the most audacious publicity campaigns in history,
hyping the bout until the entire country was captivated. Arum's task was
difficult. He'd spent years trying and failing to make Hagler a star,
while Hearns was a gifted but inconsistent performer. Could Arum
possibly get a memorable fight out of these two moody, unpredictable
warriors?
The Hagler-Hearns fight is now part of history, but The War by Don
Stradley explores the many factors behind the event, and how it helped
establish what many feel was boxing's greatest era. With additional
commentary from many who were there, Stradley shows the unlikely path
taken by two fighters searching for greatness. They didn't care how many
punches they endured, as long as it led to stardom. When the fight was
over, however, each learned that fame inflicted its own kind of damage.
