How high do you rank Hearns win over Virgil Hill

I'm not sure on Qawi, but I don't think Hearns would have gotten past Saad, Mustafa Muhammad, or Spinks.

 

Great win. Totally came out of the blue. I ordered the PPV thinking it would be Tommy's "last hurrah" and he actually won.

Even though Hearns had already beaten Andries for a light heavy belt years earlier, and floored him repeatedly, the Hill win was a much bigger accomplishment.

Hill was an excellent champion. He beat any number of super middleweight, light heavyweight and cruiserweight champs, including unifying with Henry Maske and beating Donny Lalonde, Leslie Stewart, Bobby Czyz, Frank Tate (twice), Fabrice Tiozzo (twice), Marvin Camel, Adolpho Washington, Lou Del Valle and contenders like Jean Marie Emebe, Joe Lasisi and James Kinchen, not to mention fighting close with Dariusz Michalczewski in a unification and Jean Marc Mormeck for the cruiserweight title.

One of Tommy's best wins. Top 4.

 

It was a big win but also showed how limited Hill was .. prior to that Hearns fought for his life vs Roldan, was iced by Barkley, hung on for his life to survive Kitchen, hung on for his life to survive Leonard ( in what would have ended as a replay of their first fight if it was scheduled for 15 instead of 12 ) .. it shows just how important styles and levels of competition are .. while Hill had the rare but occasional explosive KO he overwhelmingly won over the distance behind his jab against very, very limited opposition ... If Hill fought in the 70's and 80's I feel he would have lost to Saad, Mustafa, Spinks, Qwai, Johnson, Conteh, Galindez, Scott and Lopez. However he fought in an exceptionally soft era in the light heavyweight division and had a big run ... still, Hearns did what he always did which was come into the fight in shape and ready to give his all and outclassed Hill .. His victory over Dennis Andries was another impressive showing as Dennis was bigger , stronger and a good puncher .. Hearns did a number on him too ..Thomas Hearns was an exceptionally exciting fighter who came into every fight to win ... he may be the best great fighter with serious flaws I can name .. no knock because he was great but he had Achilles heels thjast made a lot of his fights roller coasters.

 

Hearns is an all-time great. That's all it showed. Boxing history is filled with all-time greats who were able to put together one last epic performance.

That win was Tommy's.

Otherwise, Hill puts together a 10-year reign. Regardless, Hill was a first-ballot Hall of Famer.

 

I can't disagree with anything that's been said really, from it being a brilliant win to Hills deficiencies etc. One of those fights where the bigger man's lighter-fisted limitations and/or conservative/boxing orientated approach and dubious tactics played into the hands of the fighter moving up despite the bigger man being well schooled and generally successful prior with his methods. Too much respect essentially.

 

In what division was Hearn's an all-time great ? Not in welter where he was stopped in his biggest fight and left the division at 22 with exactly two signature bouts .... not at middleweight for sure. Against Robinson, Monzon, Greb.. not me. We saw what Marvin did to him .. There was zero demand for a Hagler rematch because despite an incredible round one Hagler destroyed him early and few forgot the image of Hearns being carried out of the ring by his friends .. .. not at 168 or 175 .. you put Hearns up there w Ezzard Charles, Gene Tunney, Archie Moore, Michael Spinks or Bob Foster ? Not me. An argument can be made for 154 but it was a weak division , his signature wins were over blown up smaller men and he was in it for only two years .. As I said before I will give him a borderline great status (with major flaws) and commend him for exceptional excitement, conditioning and heart but all time great, no.

 

So where do you rate Hill all time at 175 ?

 

Bingo.

 

I believe all 4 would have pummeled Hearns. And I happen to respect the hell out of Tommy.

 

I think Hill has a solid record: Tiozzo (2X), Maske, Czyz, Frank Tate, De Valle.

 

That's nice that "you" give him "borderline" great status. But that ship sailed years ago and you are still waiting on the dock with your luggage. (LOL)

Thomas Hearns is an all-time great.

 

No doubt about it

 

So you clearly avoid answering my question which proves you have nothing. As I expected.

 

Who's saying not solid ? Solid would be accurate.

 

Thomas Hearns has been retired for a couple decades. I don't have to prove anything to you. It's over. He's a Hall of Famer.

He wasted a Hall of Famer in Cuevas to win the welterweight title. He outpointed a Hall of Famer Benitez and wasted another Hall of Famer (Duran) in Super Welterweight Title fights. He floored and drew with another Hall of Famer (Leonard) for the Super Middleweight title. He decisioned Hall of Famer (Hill) and three-time light heavyweight champ Andries on his way to winning two light heavyweight titles. He beat former, reigning and future champs like Bruce Curry, Mark Medal, Angel Espada, Eddie Gazo, Doug DeWitt, Saensak Muangsurin, Nate Miller ... he beat top contenders of his day like Juan Roldan, Randy Shields, Harold Weston Jr., Clyde Gray, James Shuler, James Kinchen ... He engaged in all-time classics like Hearns-Leonard 1 & 2 and Hearns-Hagler. First boxer to ever become champ in five divisions.

It's over. He's in. There's nothing to prove.

Catch up. The guy was a lock for the Hall of Fame 30 freaking years ago. It shouldn't take you 30 freaking years to catch up.