Wlad was unbeaten in 10-15 years and barely touched. Tommy was from 10-15 years prior and four or five divisions lower, being knocked out a few times in the few years before. A true great, not some safety first robot who was hard to really respect.
What a surprise. Both Wlad and Hearns were at an advanced age, both were number 1 in their respective division. Both had been knocked out previously. Both offered fights to defend against young British Prospects. As dedicated an attempt as this is, I see through it now. Credit where it's due, you had me for a while, but I see it now. Well played Dino.
I don't think anyone really cared about Tommy Hearns being a WBO super-middleweight champion at the time, or even knew really. You have a very warped way of seeing things, it's like you're brainwashed or something. It would've been the first title defense of Eubank, who became middleweight champion beating Benn. Obviously Bob wanted the belt in America, and Eubank under his banner.
The title was only there for TV, to sell a match. Nobody cared what alphabet pairings were, it was about making the fights that made the money or getting hold of the fighters that could make you the most money. Boxing is a business, not a sport. The Olympic Games is sport. Charley Burley wasn't marketable so didn't get a shot or make a dime, as well as being too good for his own good.
To be honest, I didn't know anyone who knew what 'super-middleweight' even was at the time. A few years later it was household known of course.
Eubank said himself he didn't want the Hearns fight, the Nunn fight, the Jones fight, the Toney fight or any fight that would be 50/50
I personally don't think the Duran Barkley fight was contentious anyways, I thought Duran won it clear. I also thought Nunn won it even clearer. So I don't really see Benn being the heir to Hagler, as much as I liked Benn. Eubank would have really struggled with Hearns, but had he beaten him he'd have put himself right out there.
No no, firstly Barkley some how became lineal champion when he beat Hearns despite neither being 1 and 2 middleweights. Eubanks said those fights were contentious, so that means they don't count. So therefore Benn was lineal champion when Eubanks beat him. Making Chris MW champion of the Universe.
Those are the two standout messages from the OP. 1) Eubank was the legitimate MW champion. 2) Eubank would not engage in a fight that was close to 50/50.
I walked in Jerome Boxing Club on 1st December 1982 and Alex 'The Bronx Bomber' Ramos - who has a foundation set up for retired fighters - was punching his sparring partner through the ropes and exchanging punches that sounded like shotguns going off This content is protected The filth, Frank and Eddie, who have never taken a blow, don't want to know. Doesn't that resonate with you?
Hearns was 2 years off even turning pro 15 years earlier. He also never fought professionally at 135 or 140 pounds.
