If this ATG fighter simply did not exist, How would have the divisions he participated in have shaped up in his absence? Who could have stepped up, how much of a difference would there have been?
If there were no Sugar Ray Leonard. Would Thomas Hearns have ruled the Welterweights with an iron fist? Maybe Duran would have Challenged Benitez in Nov. 1979? Without a second loss to Duran, Would Palomino have fought a comeback bout against Cuevas? Many different scenarios would be possible.
Yes, between Hearns and Benitez I guess Duran would've taken on Benitez, but do you guys think he could have beaten him, if he was in the same mood as in the Leonard fight maybe, He would then unify against Hearns and probably loose by KO, but would do better than in their actual fight
Without Leonard, Duran most likely would have moved up and beaten Benitez in a close fight, while nothing would have changed on Hearns' end of things; he still would have beaten Cuevas for the WBA title. Duran vs. Hearns would have been the big fight in the welterweight division, and I think Hearns would have survived some scary moments to win the undisputed welterweight championship. Duran-Benitez might have happened at an earlier date than Leonard-Duran did, and Duran-Hearns might have happened in 1980. I think Hearns would have eventually fought Hagler, except he'd be undefeated when he did. Hagler would gone out on top, possibly having broken Monzon's record. The Fab Four would have possibly been Hagler, Hearns, Duran, & Benitez.
Thomas Hearns wins the world welterweight championship either outright or by unifying the title by outpointing Benitez, defends it a several times, defeating Duran in the highlight of his welterweight career, fights at junior middleweight, wins titles there, as well, then challenges Marvin Hagler and loses for the first time. He probably rematches Hagler and maybe outboxes the old man this time. He still goes on to win versions of the light heavyweight title. He also defeats whoever beats an old Hagler, if it isn't Hearns himself. Everything remains pretty much the same except that Hearns' place in history is much, much higher because he doesn't experience the freakish loss to Leonard (it's a shame that there wasn't an immediate rematch in that case, as Hearns was boxing so beautifully). His loss to Barkley is rationalized as a reckless moment against a backdrop of near perfection, the destruction of the Hands of Stone, and a memorable war with an all-time great middleweight. Without Leonard in the picture, Hearns achieves legendary status. With Leonard in the picture we have the image of skinny bewildered Hearns flopping about, unable to stand on stick legs, helpless against the ropes, and the flashing fists of Leonard's dramatic come-from-behind victory. Leonard's presence in the picture dramatically changes our collective memory and valuation of Hearns' career. As much as we love Hearns, for the vast majority of those who think about these things, Leonard was make or break for the Motor City Cobra. The rematch with Leonard does nothing to erase the image we have a faltering Hearns at the hands of a boxing superstar in an era desperate for the second coming of Muhammad Ali. Leonard is the key to Hearns' legacy.
Hagler & Hearns would be ranked a little higher, Duran would be ranked a little lower & we would have missed out on some excellent fights.
I am not sure if Hearns would be ranked higher without Ray. He might have had wins up to fighting Hagler, but doesn't the Leonard fight help his ATG rating even if he lost it? That was a classic fight.
