In terms of Spar mates for the Hagler fight Hearns was working with Frank Tate Mark Breland Pernell Whittaker Steve McRory Mike McCallum John Collins Milton McRory Hilmer Kenty that would have been some amazing sparring
Amazing that Kenty was still involved in Boxing.I've heard that Michael Dokes and an amateur Tony Tubbs were in Ali's camp for the second Spinks fight.
Most Kronk gym fighters from that era had top of the line sparring. Ali had very good sparring in the late 60s and late 70s, sparring with guys like Jimmy Ellis and Tim Witherspoon.
Didn't do him any good. I know Hagler worked a lot with Buster Drayton. And of course his brother Robbie SIms. I have some footage of Hagler sparring but can't confirm who against.
Hagler always sparred with Johnny Walker Banks who was never much as a pro but was legendary in sparring according to the gym legends. Apparently Banks busted up Qawi and Mike Spinks in sparring and routinely got the better of Marvelous Marvin. But once the headgear was off and the bright lights were on he was ordinary.
Philadelphia in the old days although the sparring may have taken more out of the boxers than the actual pro fights.
Now when u brought it 2 my attention I wonder . I suppose he would have made less far than he did if they did .
Archie Moore, and Eddie Futch, in the 60's and 70's ran shark tanks, man. You needed to get some work against a particular style? You'd get rounds against a top 20 fighter in your division or the one right above or below. It wasn't just that top guys were working in those groups; The leaders had the connections, and were owed the favors, to get ahold of anybody, even for a weekend.
Hearns' main sparring partner for the Hagler fight was Don Lee. Almost exclusively. Lee put him down a few times.
Interesting thread -- tangent coming -- What is the goal of the sparring partner? Is he supposed to mimic a particular style, or just box like he knows how? They often talk about a fighter that has a sparring-partner mentality, which is where they mostly just let the other fighter lead and aren't interested in anything but surviving. Is that really the case?