If Duran had fought Hearns again

The difference between Norris and Leonard and Duran Hearns was that Duran was a champion at the same weight Tommy was 154. It really was a unification without Duran's WBA belt at stake. He had won his title from Davey Moore prior to fighting Hagler months before. He knew the weight and was champion. Ray had not fought at 154 where he fought Norris for years and had been inactive. And Ray never had another win, Duran had about 30 more wins after Hearns stopped him.

 

Tommy was a whole different fighter than Duran ever fought. A sharp tall fast puncher. Even had Tommy not knocked out Duran, his right hand punches would have swelled up Duran's face. Duran would have always been open to Hearns punches. Duran could not give enough resistance to keep Hearns from landing his clean and best punches.

 

No chance. Their fight wasn't close, so I see no reason to believe Duran would have been winning a rematch.

 

I think the 1980s version of Duran would have mugged Hearns.

 

Agreed. Also, let's not discount the impact Hagler had on him. Duran pretty much left it all in the ring against Marvin and we can see the results in the fights that followed. No excuses, just a little perspective.

 

I didn't see Duran or Hagler leaving it all in the ring that night. Hagler fought too calm a fight and had to pick it up in the late rounds and did and won a decision. I think the Hagler and Hearns fight took much more out of Hagler and Hearns then the Hagler/Duran did on those guys. Hearns and Hagler collided and had a slugfest.

 

I know dude, i was joking about the beard :good

 

Duran at his peak would have stylistic concerns with Hearns.

Duran was not gonna return to his former powers. He just wasn't. He used skill and guile and sheer guts to make a great later career for himself, but he is not anywhere near the lightweight monster he was at his peak.

He was and always would be a step behind a guy as long and as prolific with the lead as Hearns. You can see in the first fight between the two: He longed to come over the jab with a right, and just couldn't pull the trigger on it. Too fast and snappy was Hearns' stick.

Then there is the concussive right. Duran would always get hit by it multiple times. Hearns set in up brilliantly behind the jab, and often times Duran would walk right into it. Whether it was a bit later or a bit earlier, eventually Hearns would start to back Duran up, and when that happens, Roberto drops his hands and suddenly becomes a target. Then, boom.

Rinse, lather, repeat. 10 of 10 times. Maybe the Montreal Duran against the Leonard Hearns would be different, but these were not those two versions of these men anymore. One was different and worse, brilliant as he may have been, and the other was more refined and improved.

 

You've totally missed the sarcasm in my point.

Another point is that SRL was a bigger fave than Hearns i reckon.

To be argumentative with your retort Ray had about a 14 month break before fighting Norris. He had 3 years before fighting Hagler. Also, Ray had never fought at 160 pre Hagler. He'd won a title pre Norris at 154.

As for Ray never having another win post Norris, well he had but one fight! Duran had about 43!!!! You'd expect Duran to add the odd extra win.