Ray Leonard's win over prime Thomas Hearns is the Greatest Win in History

Discussion in 'World Boxing Forum' started by RJJFan, Aug 21, 2023.

  1. RJJFan

    RJJFan Boxing Junkie banned Full Member

    Joined:
    Sep 5, 2010
    Messages:
    14,002
    Likes Received:
    6,960
    Admittedly, I was a child of the 80s so I am biased but IMHO, I think Leonard's win over prime Hearns is better than any in history. A close 2nd would be Ali-Foreman.

    Where would you rate Leonard and Hearns in history?
     
    dougingb likes this.
  2. Guerra

    Guerra Well-Known Member Full Member

    Joined:
    May 23, 2020
    Messages:
    2,380
    Likes Received:
    4,314
    Its a great win but its not the best win in history.
    Montreal Duran, Frazier in fotc, louis vs Schmelling 2 or Ali in Zaire come to mind.

    The fight shows what I rate highly about SRL even though I dislike him he has great resiliance, plan b, c, great skills and has heart in the ring.
    Tommy outboxed him but got stopped late, second fight he outboxed him again but was robbed. But if it went 15 he would have been stopped again.
    If its 12 round fight Hearns wins, if its 15 SRL wins!
     
  3. Takeover

    Takeover New Member Full Member

    Joined:
    Aug 2, 2023
    Messages:
    73
    Likes Received:
    113
    Hard to call it the greatest win when he was getting thoroughly out-boxed until Hearns inexplicably stopped moving in the 13th.

    The best win in history is Frazier beating Ali in FOTC
     
  4. turbotime

    turbotime Hall Of Famer Full Member

    Joined:
    May 4, 2012
    Messages:
    42,478
    Likes Received:
    3,650
    How? Hearns was seriously drained taking him to school.

    Henry Armstrong getting screwed for his 4th title simultaneously in weight classes has to be #1.
     
  5. fruitandnutcase

    fruitandnutcase Member Full Member

    Joined:
    Feb 12, 2022
    Messages:
    396
    Likes Received:
    605
    It was a great fight and the last big win of Leonard's career before he designed the blueprint Floyd, 2000s Oscar and Canelo would all come to follow, with a slew of suspect, cherrypicked wins

    Culturally, the biggest wins in boxing are almost all heavyweight. I think Hagler-Leonard made a bigger splash for all the right (and wrong) reasons
     
    Silver likes this.
  6. catchwtboxing

    catchwtboxing Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

    Joined:
    Jul 4, 2014
    Messages:
    25,915
    Likes Received:
    33,970
    Premature stoppage when he was behind on the cards. Not that great.
     
    Mark Anthony and MismatchHypejob like this.
  7. kirk

    kirk l l l Staff Member

    Joined:
    Jul 26, 2004
    Messages:
    70,558
    Likes Received:
    26,675
    How is SRL beating Hearns a greater win than Duran beating SRL and taking his 0 the previous year.
     
    Smoochie, mono, Daddy and 14 others like this.
  8. RJJFan

    RJJFan Boxing Junkie banned Full Member

    Joined:
    Sep 5, 2010
    Messages:
    14,002
    Likes Received:
    6,960
    I think Hearn's form at WW before that fight would have seen thru even Duran. If they had fought at that time, I'd have picked Hearns.

    Hearns was an absolute monster at WW.
     
    Mark Anthony likes this.
  9. Dynamicpuncher

    Dynamicpuncher Boxing Junkie Full Member

    Joined:
    Jan 14, 2022
    Messages:
    14,363
    Likes Received:
    29,191
    I think Leonard beating Hagler was a better win.
     
    heerko koois likes this.
  10. Guerra

    Guerra Well-Known Member Full Member

    Joined:
    May 23, 2020
    Messages:
    2,380
    Likes Received:
    4,314
    Too close and too much smoke an mirrors.
     
  11. RJJFan

    RJJFan Boxing Junkie banned Full Member

    Joined:
    Sep 5, 2010
    Messages:
    14,002
    Likes Received:
    6,960
    Leonard has always relied on his speed and athleticism. He was always the fancy Dan who could get away with it against less athletic fighters. Against Hearns, he was outmatched in both and had to rely on grit and heart to overcome the massive deficit.
     
    vast likes this.
  12. vast

    vast Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

    Joined:
    Nov 27, 2010
    Messages:
    25,988
    Likes Received:
    19,870
    SRL was all about speed. Once it left him he was trash. It was a great win for him, but Duran beating him was better.
     
  13. like a boss

    like a boss Boxing Junkie Full Member

    Joined:
    Jul 30, 2012
    Messages:
    11,288
    Likes Received:
    7,025
    Great come from behind win by Leonard and a great fight too but greatest fight in history is stretching things.
     
  14. Cecil

    Cecil Boxing Addict Full Member

    Joined:
    Mar 22, 2015
    Messages:
    5,101
    Likes Received:
    5,212
    But despite his speed he was losing the fight and being outboxed but through toughness and desire he won the fight.
    So how can he be trash he proved just the opposite in that fight.
     
  15. sid

    sid Boxing Addict Full Member

    Joined:
    Nov 2, 2013
    Messages:
    4,705
    Likes Received:
    2,812
    After that there was the no mass fight lol.