If Duran had fought Hearns again

Ahhhh, someone who gets it

 

If Duran had actually put forward a credible effort when he did fight Hearns,then the argument for him not being completely and utterly destroyed may be a reasonable one.But unfortunately for the Duran apologists,DOO-RAN was beaten about as decisively as could possibly be and wasn't even remotely competitive.Couldn't even last the full two rounds.



Hearns was too good and too classy for the third world sewer child.Duran wasn't the imposing physical force that he was as a Lightweight,and his boxing skills alone were never going to be enough against a man that no fighter over six weight classes was capable of outboxing.

 

There's no way Duran would have beaten Hearns, ever. Say what you want, but Tommy dropped Roberto thrice in two rounds and brutally knocked him out. He unleashed vicious, unyielding combinations that sent one of the grittiest men of all time to the ropes.

Hearns had Duran's number, and would of won over and over again. If they had 50 fights, Hearns would of won 50 times. If they had 100 fights, Hearns would of won 100 times. This isn't debatable. It looks like an elite level versus some lower class bum.

 

Bob Arum applied similar reasoning after Hagler-Hearns against considering a rematch between Marv and Tommy. Granted Hearns did land that one big bomb which broke his hand, then nearly stole it on a cut (Richard Steele would not have gotten out of the ring alive if that had happened), but it was such a conclusive outcome that SRL said he expected Tommy to retire. ("Hey, the man got BEAT!")

 

Did you know?

At the time of the Hearns fight Duran's face was displayed on Panama's postage stamps. On his return to Panama after the fight Duran was briefly imprisoned by the military, apparently for his poor performance.

Hearns always beats Duran, one way or the other.

 

It wasn't a matter of being a bigger name. Duran had lost his professionalism by this point, 16 years into his career. He had had lapses even during his prime in the 70's, but by this time he was a hit or miss proposition and would continue to be for the rest of his career.

According to everything I have read, he was woefully under-prepared for Hearns, a fighter due to his size and excellent boxing ability would always pose problems for him. Partying, lack of work ethic and a great sense of entitlement from non-stop adulation among his ranks had taken their toll.

 

does duran not need a poo this time??

 

He did when he saw Tommy, who clearly scared him shitless. Duran shat himself so much he came in bang on the weight limit.

Duran, as we know, took te fight so he didn't have to defend against Mike McCallum, which he and his camp had labelled with the codename- Operation: Certain Defeat.

 

The thing Tommy had over Duran was speed and reach.. That would never change. Tommy would always beat Duran from Welt to any weight. Duran might have lasted a few more rounds and not been knocked out as cleanly, but Tommy would always win.

 

Steward actually said similar coming into the fight. He claimed something like Duran being extremely meek whenever he was in the vincinity of Hearns.

 

Hearns had enough moments and put forth enough action for the fight be be called one of the greatest.

Hearns KO of Duran was considered one of the greatest KO's ever. Duran barely landed a punch, it was a terribly one sided thrashing.

Ray may have applied his own logic after losing one sidedly to Norris.

 

Tommy had Durans number, it's that simple. If Duran had provided any sort of test to Hearns then the excuse that he was fully prepared might be viable, but as it was he was utterly destoryed. There's no shame in it, Hearns is an ATG and a nightmare for many fighters, Duran just happened to be one of them.

 

I remember when talking about the fight Duran said something about going to check Hearns chin early to test it as he thought he was chinny. He only really landed a shot after he'd been stunned. Then he seemed happy to engage with Hearns - which ofcourse is usually his strength but he was actually laughing and mocking Hearns when Hearns knocked him down. If he'd boxed a bit smarter and lost the machisimo he may have got out the first few rounds. No I'm not convinced Duran was 'scared', he was too cocky for his own

 

By the time they could rematch. Durans beard would have grown much longer since their first outing, this would have given his chin extra protection. I reckon he could have pulled it off.