I was rewatching the fights this evening. Just interested to see what people’s thoughts are on this. Apologies if this narrative has been overplayed or there is a similar thread. In my opinion it’s out of SRL Hearns 1, Duran SRL 1 and Hagler Hearns. I probably think I would give it to SRL Hearns 1. I was watching the early rounds and the leather that was being thrown - You’d never see that amount of action now. In terms of best fight from a resume point of view, Duran taking Leonard’s 0 definitely gets my vote there.
I don' t think you can overstate the greatness of their combined rivalries. They were many of the best of the 80s. I will rank mine, although the top 3 could go in any order.
1. Duran-Leonard I 2. Leonard-Hearns I 3. Hagler-Hearns-I love the brutality of this fight, but rank it lower because of its repetitiveness. 4. Hagler-Duran-Just a pet peeve of mine. One of the most action-packed the 4 Kings had. 5. Leonard-Duran II-Not a great fight, but SRL was in top form, and I would say it was one of his finest performances. 6. Leonard-Hagler 7. Hearns-Leonard II 8. Hearns-Duran-Obviously the only other disappointing match, but it was a terrific knockout, and Hearns never looked better imo. Definitely his best win. 9. Leonard-Duran III-The only disappointing fight among the 4 Kings. Simply awful.
I absolutely loved the 4 Kings! Chacon, Limon, Boza Edwards and Navarrete! So many great fights but I really enjoyed Navarrete vs Boza Edwards
It is hard to pick.. Hagler vs. Hearns Leonard vs. Hearns Leonard vs. Duran 1 there are the best.. My favorites are Hagler vs. Hearns, Hearns vs. Duran, Leonard vs. Hagler.
Hagler-Hearns has been the one I’ve revisited most for many reasons. He’s short, it’s incredible and Hagler is one of my favorites ever and certainly my favorite among the Fab Four. Leonard-Hearns I and Duran-Leonard I are incredible fights. That’s probably the best three of the fights between these guys. I’m partial to Hagler-Duran too. It’s a beautiful display of skill. I think that’s the best of the rest.
What if you went that route and added Benitez vs Duran, Leonard and Hearns to the list. And then asked not for excitement but for best performances in winning or losing. Like Leonard of the Montreal fight I rate his performance over the Leonard of Hagler or Hearns..something like this: 1. Duran Montreal 2. Hagler -hearns fight 3. Leonard Montreal 4 Hearns- duran fight 5. Benitez-duran 6. Leonard-benitez 7. Leonard-hearns 8. Duran-hagler 9. Hearns-hagler 10. Hearns-leonard 2 11. Leonard New ORLEANS 12. Hagler-duran 13. Benitez-leonard 14. Leonard-hagler 15. Hearns-benitez 16. Benitez-hearns