Rate the quality of the fab 4 fights from best to worst

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by dmt, Jul 18, 2025 at 10:48 AM.

  1. dmt

    dmt Hardest hitting hw ever Full Member

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    Rate the quality of fights between the fab 4 (SRL, Hagler, Hearns and Duran) from best to worst. Take into consideration how close the two fighters were to their peaks, the overall excitement of the fight, the overall competitiveness of the fight, the overall quality of the fight etc.

    1. Duran-Leonard 1
    2. SRL-Hearns 1
    3. Hagler-Hearns
    4. SRL-Hagler
    5. Hagler-Duran
    6. Duran-Leonard 2
    7. Hearns-Leonard 2
    8. Hearns-Duran
    9. Leonard-Duran 3
     
    Last edited: Jul 18, 2025 at 11:02 AM
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  2. Bronze Tiger

    Bronze Tiger Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Leonard vs Duran 3 …should be at the bottom of the list
     
  3. Bronze Tiger

    Bronze Tiger Boxing Addict Full Member

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    When we talk about the overall excitement of the fight ….nothing in my lifetime has matched Leonard vs Hagler …I can remember being a little kid on the playground…arguing with the other kids in my neighborhood about who was going to win …I was rooting for Sugar Ray Leonard because Marvin Hagler was too mean looking lol
     
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  4. Mark Anthony

    Mark Anthony Internet virgin Full Member

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    1. Duran vs Leonard, skill level, age and speed of the two fighters.
    2. Hagler vs Hearns, pure excitement and iconic.
    3. Hagler vs Duran, Marvin was a beast and the smaller Duran displayed amazing guile.
    4.Hearns vs Leonard 2 Exciting, more action than the first because both fighters had slowed down and were easier to hit.
    5.Hearns vs Leonard 1 Age and speed on display.
    6.SRL vs Hagler Iconic but overrated.
    7. Hearns vs Duran because Tommy`s search and destroy was on point and devastating in that fight.
    8. SRL vs Duran Nothing special just Ray making the most of his reach and speed by using an active guard, wasn`t a great fight.
     
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  5. dmt

    dmt Hardest hitting hw ever Full Member

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    I remember an Arnold-Jim Belushi movie (Red Heat) where both guys play police officers who team up.

    At one point, Belushi arrests a man for some minor offense and angrily screams at him "you look like Marvin Hagler, i lost money on Hagler".
     
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  6. Mark Anthony

    Mark Anthony Internet virgin Full Member

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    Yes Red Heat (1988) one year after Leonard vs Hagler.
     
  7. dmt

    dmt Hardest hitting hw ever Full Member

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    Lol i guess he bet on Hagler in Hagler-Leonard and lost. :lol:
     
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  8. Saintpat

    Saintpat Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    1. Leonard-Hearns I
    2. Leonard-Duran I
    3. Hagler-Hearns
    4. Leonard-Hagler
    5. Hagler-Duran
    6. Leonard-Hearns II
    7. Hearns-Duran
    8. Leonard-Duran II
    9. Leonard-Duran III.
     
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  9. Flash24

    Flash24 Boxing Addict Full Member

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    #1
    Leonard vs Duran, Montreal, Duran showed how great he truly was, Leonard showed he was more than a flash in the pan, a real warrior. A 15 rd fight
    #2 Leonard vs Hearns #1
    Both fighters in their primes, demonstrating great adaptability, and resourcefulness , 14 rds.
    #3
    Hearns vs Duran.
    Hearns demonstrated a ability to destroy a fighter that was seemingly indestructible. Duran had previously survived Hagler for 15 rds.
    #4
    Leonard vs Benitez
    A fight between two prime ATG's and Benitez is usually the odd man out, in what should be considered the Fab -5.
    A beautiful fight, between two highly skilled, and prime boxers.
    #5
    Hagler VS Duran.
    Hagler won the fight, but didn't dominate as he was expected too. A 15rd chess match that was eventually won by Hagler's naturally middleweight size. But a brilliant performance from Duran in a losing effort.
    #6
    Leonard vs Duran #2
    Leonard turns the table on Duran, and makes him quit. In a million yrs no one would've thought that was a possibility.
    #7 Benitez vs Duran
    Simply a clinic put on by the often overlooked Benitez.
    #8
    Hearns vs Benitez
    A brilliant experience of boxing from both warriors both warriors were prime.
    #9 Leonard vs Hagler
    Both warriors were past prime, but Hagler was expected to destroy the often retired Leonard.
    That Leonard found away to win, is truly still surprising.
    #10
    Hagler vs Hearns.
    A fight that's overrated in my opinion. After the 1st two and a half minutes, the fight was all Hagler. The only suspense was if the cut on Hagler would get the fight stopped.
    #11
    Leonard vs Hearns # 2 and Duran #3
    Fights that should've happened much earlier, with the warriors clearly past their primes.
    Both are decent showings, but clearly not great.
     
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  10. dmt

    dmt Hardest hitting hw ever Full Member

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    Really interesting list. You make a lot of good points but given how one sided Duran-Hearns was, its hard to place it in the top 3. But nice list nonetheless.