Best Fighters of the 1980's, 1-10

Yes I was. I tipped Leonard to win.

 

A knackered Boxer is a knackered Boxer, his name doesn't change that.

 

I have no order, since it's all subjective. But Leonard, Hagler, Hearns, Tyson, Chavez, Holmes, Spinks, Holyfield, Pryor and Galaxy or Sanchez have to be in the lock for the top 10.

 

Well how about Ring as well? SRL fighter of the 80's.

https://www.ringtv.com/121043-10-greatest-fighters-by-decade/

 

Just imagine how they would rate someone coming along and knocking Hagler off this pedestal. Oh wait, hang on!!!!

 

As we've been thru before the vast majority of boxing writers favored SRL and some by significant margins.

• Dave Anderson of the New York Times: 114-114

• Associated Press: 117-112 Hagler

• Baltimore Sun: 7-5 in rounds Leonard

• Al Bernstein of ESPN: 115-113 Hagler

• Dave Bontempo of ESPN: 114-114

• Boston Globe: 117-111 Leonard

• Boston Herald 116-113 Leonard

• Chicago Sun-Times: 115-114 Hagler

• Chicago Tribune: 7-5 in rounds Hagler

• Nigel Collins of The Ring: 115-113 Leonard

• Howard Cosell: 117-112 Leonard

• Houston Chronicle: 115-114 Leonard

• Michael Katz: 117-112 Leonard

• Harold Lederman of HBO: 115-113 Leonard

• Phill Marder of The Ring: 114-114

• Larry Merchant of HBO: 114-114

• New York Daily News: 117-111 Leonard

• New York Post: 114-114

• Newsday: 115-114 Hagler

• Philadelphia Daily News: 116-112 Leonard

• Oakland Tribune: 117-112 Leonard

• Jeff Ryan of KO Magazine: 118-111 Leonard

• San Jose Mercury-News: 116-115 Hagler

• United Press International: 116-112 Leonard

• Washington Post: 114-114

He's in the debate for sure. I don't rate those wins with Leonard's tho.

 

Galaxy at no. 3 is a really interesting pick - I absolutely would have forgotten about him if you hadn't mentioned him.

I think Chavez was a fantastic fighter but I think his most significant work was split between the late 80s and early 90s and his place in the 80s suffers a little for it.

No argument with Hearns or Hagler being in the top 5 at all, but not sure how Hearns can rank three places above him considering Hagler KO'ed him in 3 in one of the biggest fights of the era. Hagler is no. 2 at worst in the 80s - the most dominant champion of the era.

And Leonard should be much higher (but you already knew I'd say that)!

 

My top 10 of the 1980s

1. Marvin Hagler
2. Sugar Ray Leonard
3. Thomas Hearns
4. Mike Tyson
5. Michael Spinks
6. Julio Cesar Chavez
7. Larry Holmes
8. Salvador Sanchez
9. Azumah Nelson
10. Eusebio Pedroza

Just missed out:
-Aaron Pryor
-Jeff Fenech
-Khaosai Galaxy
-Mike McCallum
-Evander Holyfield

 

The 'names' that Leonard fought on his returns from retirement, from '87 to '89, included two, well past their best opponents. Their names don't really change the fact that Hagler was on the verge of retirement and never fought again, after their bout, or that Duran was 38; his heyday well behind him; never to be recaptured (not for the want of trying on Duran's part, mind).

The point is that, big names or no, the context of any given bout is important in assessing its relative worth and contribution to an overall rating for the decade - this is particularly important, in Leonard's case, since he elected to sit out of the '80s, for a significant number of years.

 

According to an LA Times poll, looked pretty even

 

not really since KO had been predicting his demise for years

John, in all the years we've been debating, have you ever won a debate?