Do you think Duran knew he was going to get blown up by Hearns?

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by tinman, Jul 13, 2016.


Page 1 of 8
  1. tinman

    tinman Loyal Member Full Member

    38,869
    31,479
    Feb 25, 2015
    The way the staredown looked with how big and how imposing Hearns looked. Makes me wonder if Duran in that moment thought to himself I'm going to get blasted.

    Maybe Duran thought he could outlast Hearns into the championship rounds and crack his chin like Leonard did. But this was a different Hearns. He just had that look of a fighter in his prime that was absent a few years earlier. Hearns was older, bigger, stronger at the top of his game in 1984. Like he was ready for that signature performance.

    We saw the fight and it was a complete destruction. Shocking really how thorough and fast it was. Makes you wonder how did anyone give Duran a chance in retrospect.

    How did Duran even give himself a chance?
     
    tinman, Jul 13, 2016
    tinman, Jul 13, 2016
    #1
  2. mr. magoo

    mr. magoo VIP Member Full Member

    52,232
    27,743
    Jan 3, 2007
    I don't think Roberto Duran ever went into a fight that he didn't think he could win or at least have a chance of winning. The man had a type of confidence and ego that only comes around once in a lifetime. He was one of the more courageous personalities the sport has ever seen. He had also once beaten a man who had previously beaten Hearns and I'm sure that was lingering in the back of his mind. Why did the fight turn out to be such a mismatch? Who knows? Could have been any number of factors. Maybe Hearns showed up in the very best form of his career while Duran had a horribly off evening. Maybe there was just the right combination of styles and physical attributes which all favored Hearns and might have led to the same or similar outcome every time. Duran was definitely past it by 1984 though, and Hearns was definitely at his best or darn near close to it.
     
    mr. magoo, Jul 13, 2016
    mr. magoo, Jul 13, 2016
    #2
  3. foreman&dempsey

    foreman&dempsey Boxing Addict banned

    4,805
    149
    Dec 7, 2015
    the worst version of hearns destroys the best version of duran
     
    foreman&dempsey, Jul 13, 2016
    foreman&dempsey, Jul 13, 2016
    #3
  4. tinman

    tinman Loyal Member Full Member

    38,869
    31,479
    Feb 25, 2015
    I'd give Montreal Duran a miniscule punchers chance to beat Hearns at 147. Since that wasn't the best Hearns and that at the very least darn near the best Duran.

    But at 154 Hearns was just too big, fast, powerful and long. That really was the best Hearns you could ever imagine. He lost that frail appearance he had at 147 and took on a more wiry composition.
     
    tinman, Jul 13, 2016
    tinman, Jul 13, 2016
    #4
  5. mrkoolkevin

    mrkoolkevin Never wrestle with pigs or argue with fools Full Member

    18,440
    9,605
    Jan 30, 2014
    Sounds harsh but it's hard to disagree. Unless you're including the green 19-yo version of Hearns, maybe.
     
    mrkoolkevin, Jul 13, 2016
    mrkoolkevin, Jul 13, 2016
    #5
  6. mrkoolkevin

    mrkoolkevin Never wrestle with pigs or argue with fools Full Member

    18,440
    9,605
    Jan 30, 2014
    But at 147 Hearns also was just too big, fast, powerful and long.
     
    mrkoolkevin, Jul 13, 2016
    mrkoolkevin, Jul 13, 2016
    #6
  7. foreman&dempsey

    foreman&dempsey Boxing Addict banned

    4,805
    149
    Dec 7, 2015
    [url]http://i.imgur.com/i98RQVV.gif[/url]
     
    foreman&dempsey, Jul 13, 2016
    foreman&dempsey, Jul 13, 2016
    #7
  8. tinman

    tinman Loyal Member Full Member

    38,869
    31,479
    Feb 25, 2015
    How is a 147 Hearns just as big, fast and powerful as 154 Hearns? Anybody who's seen Hearns and followed his career knew he changed and the extra weight made him better. Essentially, everybody knows he's a better 154 pounder than 147 pounder.
     
    tinman, Jul 13, 2016
    tinman, Jul 13, 2016
    #8
  9. mrkoolkevin

    mrkoolkevin Never wrestle with pigs or argue with fools Full Member

    18,440
    9,605
    Jan 30, 2014
    Did I say he was just as big and powerful as 154 Hearns? :think
     
    mrkoolkevin, Jul 13, 2016
    mrkoolkevin, Jul 13, 2016
    #9
  10. tinman

    tinman Loyal Member Full Member

    38,869
    31,479
    Feb 25, 2015
    Ok. I get what you're saying now. You think Hearns could KO Duran with ease even without the extra 7 pounds.
     
    tinman, Jul 13, 2016
    tinman, Jul 13, 2016
    #10
  11. mrkoolkevin

    mrkoolkevin Never wrestle with pigs or argue with fools Full Member

    18,440
    9,605
    Jan 30, 2014
    Yes sir!
     
    mrkoolkevin, Jul 13, 2016
    mrkoolkevin, Jul 13, 2016
    #11
  12. LittleRed

    LittleRed Boxing Junkie Full Member

    8,850
    246
    Feb 19, 2012
    He was just too big and long and fast for Duran. I don't think it was power; Barkeley was the same height but he had four inches less reach. Duran would be giving up a half foot of height and nearly a foot of reach against a faster opponent. I don't think Duran could ever get in the range he needs for to win that fight.
     
    LittleRed, Jul 13, 2016
    LittleRed, Jul 13, 2016
    #12
  13. mrkoolkevin

    mrkoolkevin Never wrestle with pigs or argue with fools Full Member

    18,440
    9,605
    Jan 30, 2014
    :deal I agree with this.
     
    mrkoolkevin, Jul 13, 2016
    mrkoolkevin, Jul 13, 2016
    #13
  14. mr. magoo

    mr. magoo VIP Member Full Member

    52,232
    27,743
    Jan 3, 2007
    Very true. When we combine the physical disparities with the styles, its just a nasty gauntlet of problems for Duran to overcome.
     
    mr. magoo, Jul 13, 2016
    mr. magoo, Jul 13, 2016
    #14
  15. Longhhorn71

    Longhhorn71 Boxing Junkie Full Member

    12,714
    3,475
    Jan 6, 2007
    Duran had been stripped of his version of the SWW title before they had ever stepped in the ring. Plus, Hearns, who is not the braggadocios type, stated on tape several years later, that Duran was very quiet and respectful to him at boxing events and dinners, before they ever fought,....like Duran knew they would have to fight one day...and maybe Duran knew he might not have the guns to win the fight.
     
    Longhhorn71, Jul 13, 2016
    Longhhorn71, Jul 13, 2016
    #15
Page 1 of 8