The Fab 4 and how we rank them.......Leonard, Hargler, Duran and Hearns?

this....

although i'd swap hagler for leonard.

totally agree with ur last statement and with benitez being the fifth beatle.

 

The fact that Duran was a career lightweight before any of this fab 4 talk came about with fighters 1 and 2 weight classes higher than he, tells you all you need to know about who numero uno was.

 

duran
hagler
leonard
hearns

 

All time:

Leonard
Duran
Hearns
Hagler

Within the Fab Four

Leonard
Hagler
Hearns
Duran


I rank Hearns higher than Hagler all time because he was won titles in 5 different divisions, and won legit titles in 3 different weight divisions (WW, JMW and LHW) and he won belts at MW and SMW. Marvin did dominate the MW division with an iron fist for years, but he never stepped up and tested himself against bigger men like Tommy did. Marvin's best wins come over fighters who were stepping up in weight to face him, he never stepped up in weight to face a top opponent. Tommy also did better against common opponents.

Also, Tommy beat Ray in the rematch, even Ray admits it, so I don't see why he doesn't deserve credit for that?

 

My thoughts are this is very well thought out post and the order works for me. Those to think only about how Duran did against the other three, miss his 71-1 history prior to these fights taking place, and they also miss the fact he was significantly smaller than the other 3. Had Leonard fought more, though he could have been a top 5 ATG fighter.

 

The guy above beat me to it but this is a very insightful and well put-together post Bronx.
I make no attempt to hide my bias towards Ray but the fact is,he beat em all.
Sometimes you think there's nothing to add to this but I like the way Bronx put his list together.
Hagler and Hearns are real ****ers to decide upon,but I'll plump for Marvin by a pubic hair.
Well done.

 

I've never tried to make a claim that Ray is the #1 of all time,but I'll always proudly shout that he's MY all time #1,and at the end of the day,that's the boxer who matters most to each fan.
And I was perhaps wrong about Marvin at #3,but I'll toss this around all night because that's the beauty of the Four Kings.

 

1.SRL
2.Hearns
3.Duran
4.Hagler

 

its absolutely mad how a GREAT champion as hagler was can be ranked fourth amongst 4 fighters fighting each other in the same era. it just shows how great it was and the current state of boxing is rather sad in comparison.

 

i think i would rate them 1. duran 2. leonard 3. hagler. 4. hearns

 

I rank them;

Duran
Leonard
Hagler
Hearns

It feels harsh to have Hearns in fourth place considering he won titles across 5 weight classes and is undoubtedly an ATG but I think Hagler just edges him out. There's something to be said for dominating a weight class over an extended period of time and defeating all comers.

Duran is my #1. For me, the greatest Lightweight ever. At that weight, he was an almost-perfect fighting machine. Tremendous skills, speed, power, defence combined with a controlled fury that I haven't seen since. His progression through his title reign was noteable. From the somewhat raw fighter who beat Buchanan, to the complete all-rounder who took de Jesus apart in style.

His win over Leonard is one of the greatest ever. Moved up in weight to defeat the, imo, second-best Welterweight ever in his prime. An amazing achievement. Although he was inconsistent from that point on, he could still recapture some of the old magic when he felt like it. The performances against Moore and Barkley were inspiring.

As for Leonard, no fighter will ever have as many great wins in under 40 fights. Duran, Hagler, Hearns and Benitez is as good a "top 4" as anyone in history has. Kalule wasn't bad either. He had it all - sublime skills, fast-hands, combinations and toughness. I'd also say he was the best finisher since Joe Louis.

Hagler and Hearns are difficult to seperate. I think Hagler is one of the top 3 Middleweights ever, which is no mean feat considering how many great fighters have fought there. When two guys are so closely ranked, I think it's fair to take their fight against each other into account. Hagler's dominance, and his win over Hearns, is enough for me ro rank him at #3.