Tommy Hearns

Andyw · Mar 18, 2009

sweetscientist said: ↑

What is obvious watching any highlight reel or bio segment on hearns is that he was one of the most destructive knockout punchers in the recent memory of the welterweight division. He threw punches from those long spindly arms that seemed as if they came from outer space and crashed down on his opponents. However, what gets lost is that the only reason the string-bean welterweight champion was able to fight at a world class level at junior-middle and middleweight was that he was deceptively awkward despite his relatively porous defense and sometimes looping, wide shots that opened him up--not exactly Carlos Maussa or anything, but I hope you get the point. Tommy recovered well when he got tapped and knew how to preserve himself under heavy fire. He was a terrific boxer that befuddled opponents and made them make mistakes by alternating between a crisp, quick, assertive jab and a deliberately lazy jab that set up the straight right or the right hook. To illustrate these points see his fights with Pipino Cuevas and Wilfred Benitez at 154 and his fights with Roldan and Doug Dewitt at 160. Most often Hearns success above 147 is credited to his remarkable toughness and determination, but I think it was his deceptively clever style that made the difference at 154 and 160. Above 160, I'll admit, the aging and threadbare Hearns fought as high as contender level, for a while, on the weight of pure brass balls and heart. I would rank him as a top 20 all-time welterweight and, maybe, top 50 all time junior middle. He was a pure fighter, a superior example of what happens when talent and athleticism meets training and rock hard toughness. The Hitman could have skated by behind a jab and quick feet, but he chose to lay it on the line and do something extraordinary. Paul Williams, with whom he is so often compared, should weep tears of shame and be humbled by any such comparison. Williams and Hearns have one thing in common, they were both tall welters, but aside from that, they occupy two different planets.
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Hearns is a legend all right, and one of the bigger punchers in history p4p. Couple of points though scientist;

You rate Tommy higher at WW than JMW? Despite the divisions longer more illustrious history? Seriously if you can name 40 odd better fighters in the history of junior middle I will be impressed.

Hearns is not the kind of guy I would normally associate with "rock hard toughness". I mean, I ain't gonna call him a ***** but he wasn't blessed with the greatest chin in the world.

Pimp C · Mar 18, 2009

Top 35 ATG and one of the most exciting boxers in history.

FromWithin · Mar 18, 2009

sweetscientist said: ↑

What is obvious watching any highlight reel or bio segment on hearns is that he was one of the most destructive knockout punchers in the recent memory of the welterweight division. He threw punches from those long spindly arms that seemed as if they came from outer space and crashed down on his opponents. However, what gets lost is that the only reason the string-bean welterweight champion was able to fight at a world class level at junior-middle and middleweight was that he was deceptively awkward despite his relatively porous defense and sometimes looping, wide shots that opened him up--not exactly Carlos Maussa or anything, but I hope you get the point. Tommy recovered well when he got tapped and knew how to preserve himself under heavy fire. He was a terrific boxer that befuddled opponents and made them make mistakes by alternating between a crisp, quick, assertive jab and a deliberately lazy jab that set up the straight right or the right hook. To illustrate these points see his fights with Pipino Cuevas and Wilfred Benitez at 154 and his fights with Roldan and Doug Dewitt at 160. Most often Hearns success above 147 is credited to his remarkable toughness and determination, but I think it was his deceptively clever style that made the difference at 154 and 160. Above 160, I'll admit, the aging and threadbare Hearns fought as high as contender level, for a while, on the weight of pure brass balls and heart. I would rank him as a top 20 all-time welterweight and, maybe, top 50 all time junior middle. He was a pure fighter, a superior example of what happens when talent and athleticism meets training and rock hard toughness. The Hitman could have skated by behind a jab and quick feet, but he chose to lay it on the line and do something extraordinary. Paul Williams, with whom he is so often compared, should weep tears of shame and be humbled by any such comparison. Williams and Hearns have one thing in common, they were both tall welters, but aside from that, they occupy two different planets.
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top 50 all-time junior middleweight? Most people have him #1 :huh

The Wanderer · Mar 18, 2009

Sweet Pea said: ↑

Just have him watch:

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Hearns' eyes must have lit up when he realized Cuevas just wasn't going to be able to take his power... a good mark for Hearns that even in his first title bout he didn't let himself get carried away by that realization and become reckless or leave himself open to any returns bombs from Cuevas.

Richard Mancini, tell him that Hearns was one of the most devastating combinations of speed, power, and boxing ability that there ever was, and is also a tremendously genuine, generous, and decent man. And then have him watch a couple of fights on youtube, like those mentioned, plus a couple of worthwhile highlight videos like the following:

[yt]<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/9VCcxfzHxGQ&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/9VCcxfzHxGQ&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>[/yt]

[yt]<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/kZdLJAYzV9M&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/kZdLJAYzV9M&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>[/yt]

Clinton · Mar 18, 2009

Top 10 great welterweight easy. Fought just about everyone from welter to lightheavy-except maybe McCallum-and won titles at several weights. One off the hardest p4p punchers ever, was a very good boxer and was brave as hell.

MRBILL · Mar 18, 2009

**** it.... Hearns is 50, but looks physically pretty healthy..... 8 weeks of training, he'll be tight and toned real good, despite them 50 yrs... Hearns doesn't have a physique that allows him to be a slob......

As for the speech issue.... Look, Hearns has either mumbled or slurred his words eversince I can recall listening to him back in the 80s.... Hearns never was a polished talker......

MR.BILL

MRBILL · Mar 18, 2009

I'd still pay 25 bucks (reduced PPV) for a 2009 PPV fight with Tommy Hearns and Virgil Hill at 185 to 190 pounds..... I'd go for that...

MR.BILL

lv lurker · Mar 18, 2009

MRBILL said: ↑

**** it.... Hearns is 50, but looks physically pretty healthy..... 8 weeks of training, he'll be tight and toned real good, despite them 50 yrs... Hearns doesn't have a physique that allows him to be a slob......

As for the speech issue.... Look, Hearns has either mumbled or slurred his words eversince I can recall listening to him back in the 80s.... Hearns never was a polished talker......

MR.BILL
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add to that hes a monster of a man. also, about the stuttering, i think he was just painfully shy in front of the camera. in person he is much more eloquent, relaxed, and can articulate himself very well. when i saw the legendary nights of him and leonard, it was hard to believe it was the same guy.

heehoo · Mar 19, 2009

One of the hardest punchers in the long, colorful history of boxing. Legit one punch KO power, and was one who could carry his power as he moved up in weight.

MAG1965 · Mar 20, 2009

MRBILL said: ↑

I'd still pay 25 bucks (reduced PPV) for a 2009 PPV fight with Tommy Hearns and Virgil Hill at 185 to 190 pounds..... I'd go for that...

MR.BILL
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I am a great fan of Tommy, but maybe he should stay retired. I just worry about his health. He is 51 in October.

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Tommy Hearns

Andyw Active Member Full Member

Pimp C Too Much Motion Full Member

FromWithin Living for the city Full Member

The Wanderer Boxing Addict Full Member

Clinton Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

MRBILL Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

MRBILL Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

lv lurker fly on the wall Full Member

heehoo TIMEXICAH! Full Member

MAG1965 Loyal Member banned