What if Duran and Hearns had tried to unify at Welterweight in 1980?

Roberto Duran won the WBC title against Sugar Ray Leonard with arguably his finest career performance in June 1980 and Tommy Hearns destroyed the feared Pipino Cuevas in 2 rounds a couple of months later to win the WBA title. What if instead of giving Leonard a title rematch at the end of 1980, Duran and Hearns decided to unify the Welterweight title instead? Would Duran at this stage been too savvy and battle hardened for the still relatively inexperienced Hearns or would the result be the same as their actual meeting at Junior Middleweight four years later in 1984?

 

Duran loses to Hearns at any time. He had the reach, the speed and the footwork, Not to mention the power to take Duran out.

 

I agree.

 

Think it's still a blast out for Tommy. Duran coming forward and hearns speed and power would put Roberto down any time they meet.

 

Roberto duran is my favorite fighter but i dont think he would have beaten hearns at any time

 

Because of styles Tommy does indeed beat Roberto at any stage of their careers but it would have been a lot more competitive than their 1984 bout. Maybe even go the distance.

 

Tommy Hearns would have become the unified welterweight champion.

 

Is it possible be that when they did actually meet in 84 at Junior Middleweight that Duran had underestimated Hearns and wasn't as prepared as he should have been? Afterall Duran in his previous fight had gone the 15 rounds distance with middleweight king Marvin Hagler, who at that time was widely accepted as the best P4P fighter in the world. Hearns on the only hand before the Duran fight, hadn't scored a knockout in 2 years and seemed more Motor City Cobra than Hitman. Maybe Duran, like every else, thought that the least likely result would be a shocking early knockout by Hearns? He definitely looked shocked by the super fast first knockdown right in the first round that effectively ended the contest as Duran never really recovered from the effects of it.

Anyway, just putting out there the possibility that Duran was just surprised by how fast and offensive minded Hearns was, rather than Tommy had the style that would always be too much for Duran.

 

Hearns and his manager said Duran was always kinda quiet and respectful around Tommy when they would cross paths at fights and Boxing Hall of Fame events. They said Duran knew he and Tommy would fight sometime in their futures.

 

It would be a lot more competitive then their bout 4 years later. Duran might get to him

 

Duran would have a better chance at Welter but the styles still favor Hearns.

 

Tommy always lands that big right. At any weight at any time.

Interesting that a full circle can be made by this logic.. Leonard beats Hagler, who beats Hearns, who beats Duran who beats Leonard.

 

This content is protected

 

That's kind of my problem with the above statement and not giving Duran a chance. SRL also had these same physical advantages over Duran. He was taller, longer, bigger and faster... That didn't stop Duran from beating him

 

This content is protected