Could Hearns have beaten Hagler if he didn't try to knock him out?

[Manju]

Did Hearn's try to KO Hagler?

Marvin initiated the brawl. That was smart b/c Hearns had the reach advantage and weak chin. So pressure him...don't let him outbox you from the outside. Make it an inside fight.

As for Hearns, he reacted not so much by trying to KO Hagler but by catching him with a big right as he came in. The result: probably the most we've ever seen Hagler in trouble. With that wobble, of course Hearns would throw some more bombs to see if he could finish him. But even then, he was doing this either against the ropes or as he backpedaled.

As Hagler kept bulling forward, Hearns indeed started to move and box, throwing big long rights while in a backward slash posture: /.

Then he's pinned against the ropes but that isn't exactly where someone who is looking for a KO wants to be, Ali v Foreman notwithstanding. The rest of the fight he backpedaled even more so I don't see trying to KO Hagler as the culprit.

Hagler's fury was the culprit.

[Dia bando]

Hagler would box when his opponent would brawl,and would brawl when they would try to box,Marvin had the lot chin punch power hell of a jab. Hearn's Punch power good jab good left hook, but not a great chin.
Tommy was a great fighter, but Marvin had his number over 12 or 15 round's

[greynotsoold]

Hearns didn't choose anything that night. Hagler MADE him fight, and, if he hadn't, he'd have been run out of the ring.
Hagler would always beat Hearns. He proved it in a slugfest, and he'd do it in a boxing match. Because Hagler was just as good a boxer, a harder puncher (punch after punch, rpund after round) and a much stronger more determined more durable man.

[Jody Lane]

I've always wondered what would have happened if Tommy had paced himself instead of trying to brawl with Marvin. There's no doubt in my mind that Tommy knocking out Duran had an influence on his approach in this fight. Would Hearns have had a shot at winning?

I think Tommy, with his size and reach, could have won a decision had he fought a stick and move fight. Problem was that was not his style. Seek and destroy was Tommy's game plan and well, we saw what that got him.

[Master]

Hearns went for the knock out and he should have used his boxing more. Manny Steward also said that Hearns legs were weak so he could not try to box, he also injured his right hand so circumstances were him. Hearns did nearly win because the fight was about to be stopped so his aggressive tactic nearly worked.

[Violent Demise]

I think Hearns breaking his hand in the first was the difference more than anything. Hearns showed everybody he had the power to hurt Hagler. And he did. But once he broke it, it was over. He couldn't hurt Hagler after that.

[zhubin]

Styles make fights...and Hagler certainly was a tough style for Hearns. That being said...Hearns had great reach and a great jab. He COULD fight a technically great fight...but as others have mentioned...that was not his style. He had dynamite in those hands and wanted to use them. But these guys where warriors...and neither of them was going to back down. In a weird way...it reminds me of Morales vs. Barrera. I always felt that Morales had the superior skills and physical tools (reach, jab, etc.) compared to Barrera. But when the bell rang...a technical game plan just flew out the window. He wanted to brawl against Marco...which I always felt was to his disadvantage. Part of it was their great disdain for each other...but it came down to them being two warriors who where going to leave all out in the ring.

[LobowolfXXX]

If he couldn't keep Leonard off of him, he wouldn't have been able to keep Hagler off of him. Yeah, if they fight 100 times, Hearns wins some of them...stays away for the whole fight, cut-eye TKO, etc. But by far the most common outcome, if Hearns goes into stick-and-move mode, is that it still ends with Hearns flat on his back; it just takes longer.

[Dia bando]

If he couldn't keep Leonard off of him, he wouldn't have been able to keep Hagler off of him. Yeah, if they fight 100 times, Hearns wins some of them...stays away for the whole fight, cut-eye TKO, etc. But by far the most common outcome, if Hearns goes into stick-and-move mode, is that it still ends with Hearns flat on his back; it just takes longer.

Yes I think you got it right, Hagler way to strong for Hearns.