FIGHT OF THE WEEK 16- Thomas The Hitman Hearns vs Sugar Ray Leonard II

I would score the last round 10-8 Leonard because he punished Hearns extensively with little reply. Hearns showed a lot of Heart to make it to the end of the fight. Leonard seemed to know he was losing and went for the ko.

 

You're right that most thought Hearns was shot. Barkley had stopped him and Kitchen had him on the verge and Tommy barely scraped by. It was a pleasant surprise that he performed so we'll against Leonard.

 

Hearns was easily winning the final round up until about the 45 second mark before the tide turned. He did some good work in the first part of the round. Leonard belted him cleanly on the break close to the end of the fight too. He was pretty desperate at that point. If not for Hearns early work i would have given it 10-8 but for me it keeps it at 10-9.

 

This was a very good, competitive contest and, despite the bigger weight, not too dissimilar from the first, in terms of the back and forth.

Key differences this time, of course, were the KD's scored by Hearns, as well as the fight being over 12, rather than 15 rounds:

1 Hearns
2 Hearns
3 Hearns 10-8
4 Leonard
5 Leonard
6 Hearns
7 Hearns
8 Hearns
9 Leonard
10 Leonard
11 Hearns 10-8
12 Leonard

Hearns wins - 115-111

I'd say Hearns was more than just a little unlucky in this one having, in reality, only been awarded the Draw.
The 10-8 rounds for Leonard were strange and undeserved, in my view.

 

I'll admit I haven't watched it in years. I really should have watched it again before posting. Thanks for not letting me get away with BSing

 

Mate there wouldn't be much you'd forget or don't know from the 80's that for sure!

 

Although not a classic like their first bout,it was still a great battle between two warriors. I scored it as a Hearns win but not by the runaway score as some would have it. On the strength of the knockdowns I have The Hitman edging Sugar out by a two point margin.

 

I'd say it was still a classic fight, just not with the same gravity of the first meeting due to both men being in the third act of their careers.

 

Tommy Hearns v Sugar Ray Leonard II

Round 1: 10-10 Even
Round 2: 10-9 Hearns
Round 3: 10-8 Hearns (scores a knockdown)
Round 4: 10-9 Leonard
Round 5: 10-8 Leonard (very dominant round IMO)
Round 6: 10-9 Hearns
Round 7: 10-9 Hearns
Round 8: 10-9 Hearns
Round 9: 10-10 Even
Round 10: 10-9 Leonard
Round 11: 10-8 Hearns (scores a knockdown)
Round 12: 10-9 Leonard

Total: 115-112 Hearns (actual scores: 113-112 Hearns, 113-112 Leonard and a 112-112 Even for a Draw. Also, Harold Lederman scored it 115-111 for Hearns)

Damn good fight. Two rounds that were really up to the beholder - I felt - was rounds 5 and 9. I rewatched round 5 after question-marking it and felt it should be a 2 point round for SRL for a very dominant round. However, round 9 I did not just give that to Leonard for stunning Tommy, because I felt Tommy was having a good round until then. Scoring that Even felt accurate to me. Anyways, again, good fight and an enjoyable FOTW. Thanks, @PhillyPhan69

 

Per my scoring (posted on the first page of this thread) I had Leonard 10-8 in the fifth and 10-9 in the ninth, which I thought was close until Ray turned it up in the final 30 seconds (a tactic he mastered maybe better than any other fighter) to separate himself and earn the nod.

I had Hearns by one point on my card. It’s a good fight, a competitive fight and while I think most everyone (including Leonard) agrees Thomas deserved the nod, it was, indeed, a close fight.

 

This fight was JUST as big for Tommy as the first , make no mistake about that!!.. Ray made Hearns wait 8 years for it, waited for Hearns to become shopworn .. PERIOD.. and Ray lost the fight

 

I really enjoyed watching it.