Which were the thoughts of Thomas Hearns after the dead of James Shuler?

Only know that Tommy donated the NABF Middleweight belt he had won vs Shuler to the family for James to be buried with. Made some nice comment about JS being a champion too. Classy stuff. Shouldn't be too hard to find something. There aren't all that many articles on Shuler's death.

 

Hearns' win over Shuler might be Tommy's most underappreciated win.

During the Olympic Trials (which Shuler won), James was described as the next Sugar Ray Robinson. He was considered a better prospect than his teammate Donald Curry. But he signed with Butch Lewis after the Olympic boycott, and Lewis was fully focused on Michael Spinks, who was Lewis' meal ticket at the time.

Regardless, Shuler beat everyone he faced as a pro, included top-rated middleweight James "The Heat" Kinchen.

Hearns was knocked out by Hagler in his last fight. He'd already been stopped by Leonard. Middleweight didn't seem to be Tommy's division at the time. People were wondering if he still had a punch against BIGGER fighters - since he was going the distance with people like Murray Sutherland and Luigi Minchillo, and Hagler walked thru him.

Hearns-Shuler looked like it would be a changing-of-the-guard type bout, with Shuler, the undefeated top contender, moving on to a middleweight shot against Hagler and Hearns sort of hitting a wall and retreating back to junior middle.

But Tommy destroyed Shuler with one shot. Hearns was so excited afterward because that ending was completely unexpected. People don't give that fight much thought these days, because Shuler died and you never heard about him again. But that was a big win.

I also remember Hearns giving the belt he won from Shuler back to Shuler's family to place in the casket with him. But I don't recall him making a public statement.

 

Hearns attended the funeral obviously and gave up the belt citing it belonged to Sames as he had it longer. Also spoke of life being full of up's and down's and this was a down.

 

The Kinchen one is the fight to watch. It was a good win.

 

James "The Heat" Kinchen, was an all-round athlete who played linebacker on a State Championship grade HSchool football team in a city just north of me. When he retired from pro boxing, he became a minister out in California. I think he may be a minister in a church in Houston, TX now.

 

Just know that Hearns and Shuler were boys in the amateurs, so that probably, in part had something to do with him giving the belt back.

 

Your claim, "Hagler walked thru him" is far from the truth. Thomas Hearns broke his famous right hand, in the opening round against Hagler. Hearns had to fight rounds 2 & 3 virtually one-handed. Hearns had Hagler cut so badly, the ringside doctor had to take a look at Marvin. However it was a hopeless task for him with only the one hand. Hearns knocked out James Shuler on a co-main event card in Las Vegas, which featured Hagler vs Mugabi. Hearns was gunning for a rematch with Hagler, but Marvin wanted nothing to do with any rematch.

 

That fight is the definition of one fighter walking through another. So what if he was cut? The fact that Hearns broke his hand on Marvin`s actually hurts your argument. He walked right through him. Nothing against Hearns, Hagler had a once in a lifetime chin and determination. Just don`t waste your time arguing the obvious. Might as well say the sun isn`t hot.

 

hey, who's arguing?.. if you take away Hearns broken right-hand victory, from Hagler's resume, what's left? a one-point points victory over an old former lightweight champion, and a landslide points defeat to a fighter having his first fight in years.. Hagler was vastly overrated and does not make The Top 10 All time 160lbs Fighters.

 

Hearns went to the funeral and placed the belt (NABF or USTA) belt in the coffin. Classy move.

 

Frankel:

Hagler destroyed Hearns. Hearns hit Hagler with his best shot and nothing happened. Deal with it.

 

Nobody clamored for Hagler/Hearns II. The first fight had as a definitive ending and You'll see.

Shuler was a good fighter, but not the most durable. He was wobbled badly in the Kinchen fight.

Styles make fights and Hearns destroying Shuler has no bearing on what would happen in a Hagler rematch.

Obviously, you are lacking objectivity.