Say they fought an immediate rubber match after the June draw, who wins & why? I see Hearns taking a close decision.
It would n't surprise me if Leonard squeezed out a close decision in a third fight. Coming into their rematch,Hearns had been knocked out by Iran Barkley,and was nearly stopped by James Kinchen. Consequently Leonard underestimated him. He would be fully prepared for a third encounter.
Both men were declining by this point, but Hearns seemed to maintain more of his abilities into older age, partially due to being the more active of the two. Going into a third bout, Hearns would have been riled up after getting the short end of the stick in match number two. Leonard might have been slightly more prepared as well, but frankly I don't think he beats Hearns anytime from 1989 onward.
leonard almost got to hearns at the end of II. but still he was getting battered at points of the fight. rays speed was there but not his agility, the right hands he took from that 2nd knockdown he clearly couldnt get out the way from it. hearns ud
I disagree with this assessment of their relative abilities at the time. Leonard was able to reach Hearns much more frequently in the rematch. Through 12 rounds, the second fight was a lot closer than the first fight. Hearns still won, but he was winning huge over 12 rounds in the first fight. Hearns always was the better boxer. I would always pick him to beat Leonard on points.
Leonard/Hearns II is one of my favourite fights of all time and I think that Hearns would beat him in a third fight
