Barkley on Hearns power "It was'nt what I thought it was"

Michael Olajide dropped him. A 39 year old Duran staggered him several times and dropped him. Benn cruched him from second one. He did not have an iron chin.

He was a warrior and came to fight and took many punches but he was no Hagler or Monzon when it came to his chin. A decen chin but nothing great.

 

Then again Hagler and Monzon weren't as open defensively as Barkley was. You couldn't miss him.

He was able to achieve what he did because of that toughness, nothing else.

 

Just because he was knocked down doesn't mean he doesn't have a great chin. I wouldn't put him in the Hagler or Lamotta category, but he took a great shot.

 

Mike McCallum once said that with Hearns it was about taking away his ideal range on that right hand. The timing and snap with which it was delivered made this difficult, and McCallum was no regular fighter, but me thinks he knew how to avoid the brunt of those elements, given his own prowess in the ring.

No doubt, toughness aside, Hagler and Leonard were able to do this. In Barkley's case, his physical style and toughness didn't present Hearns with the space required to get off in ideal fashion, plus Barkley was a big middleweight.

 

Barkley never stayed on the outside enough for Tommy to get his range, Hearns power was awesome but if his range was narrowed his power was not as great as it was outside look at his kos of Cuevas and Duran Tommy got full extension on his right hand and they both had Iron Jaws.

 

Yeah, this is definitely a range thing.

Hearns' didn't have great infighting skills, but his power was freakish at the right range.

 

Considering Barkley had moderate success as a 220 heavyweight, I can't doubt his chin or comments about Hearns.

 

Years later when barkley was asked about the hardest he had been hit (including the stint at heavy i assume.) he replied the tommy hearns left hook to the body in the first fight...

 

Hearns at least hit hard enough at MW to rock one of the most solid jaws ever at that weight. Compare that to what Foster's best right hand did to Ali, which wasn't that much, I'd say.

 

Everyone comments on how Hearns hurt Hagler in the first round but I have watched it many , many time and never see it. He lands a huge, fast right hand close inside but while Marvin feels it he never seems hurt or staggered. Anyone know the point in the round this hurt Hagler took place.

Excellent point on the range issue. Makes great sense. Maybe this reflects it.

 

hearns was an atg puncher,imo the biggest punching welterweight ever,he had scary power

 

I think Hagler's legs were doing funny things for a while there and he was forced to hold on although I'd agree that he was not exactly close to being knocked out. It's the closest I've seen Hagler being hurt though.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Kmp1Mq6bq0
2:50

Hearns seemed to stun Barkley with some short uppercuts in their rematch.
He could generate some power with short punches as well but it was mostly the long right hand and the left hooks to the body that did the damage.

 

Correct Sir and fair play for the time schedule.

Around 2:47 to 2:53 is the closest I've seen to Hagler being on '***** street'. Still not that close

 

I think it's overstated. I think Hagler was surprised and stunned for a second but in some reports of the fight Hagler is described as staggered / almost knocked out. Nowhere near it. The most hurt I've seen Hagler was against Hart. More stunned in that one that against Tommy

 

Agreed.