How did Iran Barkley manage to beat Thomas Hearns twice?

Barkleys knockout devastated tommy.it ruined his legs.his chin seemed to have had its goose cooked...but it"d been coming..to this day ill maintain that Tommy had a very good chin from 1977-1987....but his swaggering over confidence in letting it hang out against hagler (he took shots that would have already stopped every other middleweight).....than against dewitt, than a brutally strong andries and finally power puncher roldan.....u can only go to the well so often....

After that kayo loss... tommy became so tentative...and wound his defence right up....to the point he wasnt as offensive... but even than kinchen"s getting thru with one shot and than ray wobbling him badly made it seem his chin was gone...amir khan gone.....by time he fought barkley again his chin had recovered...he suffered knockdown but fought back 7 rounds very hard...i had it to barkley by one pt last viewing but one pt to hearns on the night....a real shame hearns broke his hand and had suchba brutal fght at that stage of his career...if hed won easier on the night not broken his hand or avoided the fight altogether...a fresher tommy might have won a cruiser world title beating czyz was on.... in an easy fight for hearns...or we may even have seen finally mccallum in 94 at light heavy....or benn eubanks at 168..jones jnr even in 94/95 if tommy had stayed in gym and active

 

I don't know if I would pick 10 out or 10 just because both times Hearns lost to Barkley but I see the point. yes. Barkley had a great style for Hearns. As for both times Hearns fought Barkley. he busted him up badly and in the second fight he actually hurt him more stunning him than the first. but the first fight he had him cut up and backing up from body punches. I think eventually maybe in a 3rd fight hearns might have finally had that win since one or two rounds scored different in the rematch and Hearns wins a decision. I think it was a split decision. But it took so much out of him to fight Barkley that what was the point. I think after the second fight Hearns had to realize Barkley had the wrong style for him, and to just fight other guys. Virgil Hill was so much easier for Hearns than Barkley. and Hill was the much better fighter than Barkley. I think the Hill that Hearns beat in 1991 easily beats the Barkley which beat Hearns in 1992.

 

Well it seems to me that in the first fight Hearns beat the hell out Barkley especially with body shots but every time it seemed that Barkley was near finished Hearns got complacent and got caught he was going for broke but in the rematch it seemed Hearns was more conservative and stayed on the ropes and as it turned out he injured his right hand and could not capitalize on the openings....so I think though it seemed he was always a few punches away from beating Barkley he just couldn't....

 

Like wise I think the Hearns that Barkley beat in 88 easily beats the Kalambay which beat Barkley in 86 or whenever it was. Juts a styles thing.

 

I don't think Hearn's chin was great pre Hagler. Mugabi soaked up way more punishment against Hagler than Hearns did.

Leonard exposed his chin way back in '81.

But, not too many could get to it, as you pointed out.

 

I think 160 lb. Benn would have been caught coming in and ko'd by the '88 version of Hearns.

I don't think he ever showed the type of chin that Barkley showed against Hearns in their first fight.

I know Benn kod Barley in '90, but I still think Hearns Kos Benn at 160 lbs.

 

I pick Hearns as well.

 

The 22-0 benn that fought watson probably gets wasted by one punch by summer 1988 hearns.that tommy was swaggering and would catch the reckless limited benn.

The miami seasoned wbo champ benn of 1990 tho has a real chance to make it a very exciting fight with tommy but i still think tommy chops him down in 5

 

Barkley was tough enough to take his lickin' and keep on tickin'.

Hearns wasn't, even though Hearns > Barkley as career.

 

I agree with styles, attributes etc. In boxing there's always going to be a scenario where a lesser opponent comes out on top. Happens in every sport as well. Overall records is the more accurate assessment how good a boxer / fighter is.

 

By being as tough as old boots, and very good.

 

Styles make fights.

 

I concur.

 

The first was a bit of a fluke but also a testament to Hearns's poor defense at close quarters. He was always vulnerable when an opponent was close enough to land. His chin wasn't the best either, of course, but most would be deep on ***** street if Barkley managed lo land a haymaker like that cleanly on the chin.

The second was probably a combination of Hearns aging and the weight suiting Barkley better. He was simply too strong for Tommy at that point and at that weight.