We all know their greatness but they are not immune to the lowest of lows in terms of decision making and fighting strategy. Which is Most Moronic Move?
Duran saying No Mas was the most damaging. Those other choices were simply tactical mistakes but the No Mas fight was very damaging to Duran's rep. Some folks still can't let it go.
I wouldnt call Leonard brawling with Duran, or Hearns fighting to Haglers strengths, moronic decisions. Leonard probably thought a swarmer type like Duran, especially one as smart as he was, would have to be kept at bay by discouraging shots from the bigger fighter. Hearns didnt look like he had much of a choice, he was on the backfoot throwing long shots but Hagler just kept coming forward.
Duran quitting in a fight though he was losing, he wasn't getting dominated and could have conceivably pulled out and won. It also damaged his career for years...
Hearns fought great in his first round v Hagler he won that round landed several devastating right hands even hurting Hagler badly at first, he hurt his right hand which gave Hagler the edge, also Marvin went for broke after being cut, the bout was going to be stopped so he pulled out all the stops, he wa a killer with a chin made of iron.
Hearns being moronic? He hurt Hagler and helped produce arguably the greatest round in boxing history.
Hearn's first round against Hagler was as much forced on him as it was any kind of choice, probably more so. Hagler gave him opportunity to do little but try to fight him off. I don't think it makes sense to blame Hearns for that too much.
Interesting you should say that, long in the pages of fighting folklore is Ali,s assertion that he was a tactical genius, went against Dundee,s advice and suckered Foreman into the " rope a dope " which was how we all saw it, adding to the already mythical aura around Ali. Read a very interesting article years ago the recipient was Big George, the interviewer was ranting on about how Ali duped him into fighting Ali,s fight and and therefore beaten, George,s reply went " what choice did he have " so with hindsight, maybe it was Foreman who dictated and charted the course of the fight, and Ali did indeed have no say in the way the fight went. Interesting.
And interesting you should mention THAT, because just this morning I rewatched Foreman-Norton and saw how really well George cut the ring. Norton didn't freeze at all, he seemed calculating and fairly cool for a bit, jabbing, trying to move, etc. He found out quickly though that he couldn't move away from Foreman and eventually got caught. It was definitely a case of what Foreman did right, not what Norton did wrong. But anyway, Fab Four......sorry for the hijack.
I’m gonna throw one in there thats not even on the list... Douglas throwing an uppercut as he was moving TOWARDS Holyfield exposing himself to a right hand which ended the fight.