Hearns chin in the Leonard rematch

It dosent change the fact that the only person to put him down and out at welterweight was one of the best finishers in the divisions history and that was in the 14th round. That makes me think it was more exhaustion and Leonards finishing ability rather than Hearns ability to take a punch.

 

I agree.
There are a few revisionists that try to minimize it, but clearly the guy had a lot of vulnerability. It's part of what made him such an exciting fighter.

 

Well, Hearns was 6'1 or more with a devastating jab and long-range right hand. He was a very good boxer. It's not like he was taking a lot of shots from these welterweights. Other fighters with less than excellent chins have gone 32 fights unscathed too.
If you want to give him a "solid 10" for chin, that's fine. But he looked a bit shaky when tagged to me. I'd say a "7" would be generous,

 

The chin is not always the target, but what has to support the body with every blow, no matter where it lands? If George Chuvalo did not have strong legs, it would not of mattered how good his chin was, because when the shock of a blow made it to his legs, he would of been in trouble. You need good legs as a base for both offence and defence in boxing.

 

His welterweight career ended at the ancient age of 22 ... not exactly a huge carer span ... in his career Hearns was hurt badly by Leonard in both fights, Hagler iced him, Barkley iced him once and badly hurt him in the rematch as well, Juan Roldan had him hanging on for his life and KItchen rocked him as well ... Hearns was courageous and as brave as they come but his chin was always a bit suspect ...

 

the Chin was def going. and it didnt take elite fighters to do the job. We have Barkley, a grade B fighter and Kinchen, himself washed up (like Hearns)

a few yrs back, with his youth he had had better recuperative powers but the Roldan-Barkley-Kinchen wars all caught up to him. I was surprised he got thru the 12 with Sugar Ray

 

I agree, but getting clouted on the chin is the quickest way to wobble those legs.
Hearns always had skinny (or weak ?) legs, in every division he fought in. It's pure conjecture to imagine if he had stronger solid legs and the effect that would have on his chin punch resistance. It never happened. And if it had maybe his chin still would have proved a weakness.

I never saw Hearns' legs give out until he'd been whacked on that chin a few times.
We can debate all night a chicken-egg thing about legs and chins, the point is he couldn't take many solid ones to the jaw. He couldn't take it. At any weight.

 

His legs had no problem going 15 against Benitez ... funny how weak they got a year later v.s. Hagler ...

 

Yeah, and some people will argue that his legs going bad against Hagler had just about nothing to do with Hagler's punches !
Manny Steward of course blamed it on someone giving Hearns a leg massage. :rofl

 

Thing is Ray barely made it to the last round and Ray had no power in his punch in round 12. Ray is the one who went to the hospital after not Tommy. That 12th round could have been easy for Tommy and he would have won a decision had he not been reckless at the beginning of the round and become tired. He came out throwing punches at Ray when he didn't have to. He could of sat back and jabbed and won the round. In his biggest fights, he was the one who caused himself to struggle sometimes. Had he just boxed more he would have maybe won fights he lost, but he wouldn't have been as exciting and iconic. What is better? With Hagler, yes Marvin came on strong but Tommy hit him rather easily and he threw punches recklessly and broke his hand. Had he tied up Marvin and let Marvin settle down just a little he could have timed better right hands with leverage. I always thought what that first round showed us was that yes, Tommy could stop Marvin.

 

Ray was hurt many times in that fight also. That fight there must have taken a lot out of both guys. They took turns hurting each other in different rounds. Ray was hurt the most in round 7 at the beginning of the round by a left by Tommy and then Tommy sort of swarmed him in a way he didn't have to. Tommy should have hurt him and let Ray get to the ropes which is where Ray went after he was hurt just seconds into round 7- When Ray went to the ropes Tommy should have donethe thinghe did to Duran by jabbing to the body and throw a right to the head. In round 3 Ray ducked it after going down, but in round 7 he was more on ***** street and he might not have had the reflex to duck the right.

 

Are you talking about their 1981 fight or 1989 ?