If Hearns had never defended against Barkley...

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by lufcrazy, Sep 17, 2020.


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  1. lufcrazy

    lufcrazy requiescat in pace Full Member

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    How long could his reign have lasted for?

    Year end 1987 Hearns is considered the best MW in the world and the heir apparent to Hagler. But in June 1988 it all went wrong.

    But what if he faced the following guys?

    1988: Sumbu, Nunn
    1989: Duran, Benn
    1990: Eubank, Jackson
    1991: Toney/McCallum

    Is it just a case of Hearns is too chinny, or was it a case of styles make fights?

    I mean even though Barkley beat Hearns, wouldn't we all favour Hearns against all those who beat Barkley?

    Was there ever a potential road map to Hearns being a great MW?
     
    lufcrazy, Sep 17, 2020
    lufcrazy, Sep 17, 2020
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  2. Fuzzykat

    Fuzzykat Member Full Member

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    I thought Hearns was at his best at 154. My guess is that, if not Barkley, someone else would have taken Hearns out. Hearns might also have beaten some really good guys at 160, like he did with James Shuler. I just don't think he would have had a long, illustrious reign.
     
    Fuzzykat, Sep 17, 2020
    Fuzzykat, Sep 17, 2020
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  3. lufcrazy

    lufcrazy requiescat in pace Full Member

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    I just can't picture Eubank, Sumbu or Nunn beating him, so I think he had the potential to reunify the belts had he not faced Barkley first.
     
    lufcrazy, Sep 17, 2020
    lufcrazy, Sep 17, 2020
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  4. George Crowcroft

    George Crowcroft He Who Saw The Deep Full Member

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    I'd pick him over all except the last two. He's too frail for McCallum at that point, and I don't think he was ever able to beat a peak Toney.
     
    George Crowcroft, Sep 17, 2020
    George Crowcroft, Sep 17, 2020
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  5. TBooze

    TBooze Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    The moment Leonard went for five, Hearns was moving to 168, as a 160 title holder or not.


    Nunn and Kalambay were not big enough fights to justify the risk for Tommy.
     
    TBooze, Sep 17, 2020
    TBooze, Sep 17, 2020
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  6. lufcrazy

    lufcrazy requiescat in pace Full Member

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    Yeah but does he stay at SMW?

    Of course he could duck the fighters, he certainly never faced them in real life.

    But the question is more based on there being the potential in that landscape for Hearns to become a MW great.
     
    lufcrazy, Sep 17, 2020
    lufcrazy, Sep 17, 2020
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  7. TBooze

    TBooze Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    In that case I would say if the fights happened Tommy figures he would win. I would have always taken him over Kalambay. At the time I would have picked Nunn, but with over 30 years of hindsight I think Hearns wins that too.
     
    TBooze, Sep 17, 2020
    TBooze, Sep 17, 2020
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  8. CharlesBurley

    CharlesBurley Well-Known Member banned Full Member

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    No, his first 3 defeats were all cases of him being walked down and not being able to keep an opponent off him inside.

    If he can't beat Barkley, he's very unlikely to beat Benn who's a faster, more intense more explosive puncher.

    Kalambay he probably beats due to styles, with Kalambay being a shorter, slower, less rangy

    McCallum says he got the better of sparring session. But regardless of that, in a long fight I favour him to break Hearns down. The bodysnatcher would pick Hearns apart and break him imo

    Eubank/Toney are more pickems. Hearns can outpoint them from outside if they look to counter punch, but when they slip inside Hearns could be in real trouble. Both Toney and Eubank walked very good boxers down and both are way stronger than Hearns at MW
     
    CharlesBurley, Sep 17, 2020
    CharlesBurley, Sep 17, 2020
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  9. lufcrazy

    lufcrazy requiescat in pace Full Member

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    I think Benn has a great chance tbh, I can picture him sparking Hearns and conversely I really struggle to see Hearns avoiding the best shots from Benn.

    McCallum beats an old Hearns imo.
     
    lufcrazy, Sep 17, 2020
    lufcrazy, Sep 17, 2020
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  10. Bulldog24

    Bulldog24 Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Hearns was at his best in 1979. Stop being unfair.
     
    Bulldog24, Sep 17, 2020
    Bulldog24, Sep 17, 2020
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  11. William Walker

    William Walker Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    I think his reign would have ended with Nunn.
     
    William Walker, Sep 17, 2020
    William Walker, Sep 17, 2020
    #11
  12. Jamal Perkins

    Jamal Perkins Well-Known Member Full Member

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    The thread starter deserves a gold medal...awesome topic! When my arthritis ridden hands are better in the morning ill type my reply!
     
    Jamal Perkins, Sep 17, 2020
    Jamal Perkins, Sep 17, 2020
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  13. vast

    vast Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Eventually his jaw would betray him. He would have been had by an ave. punching MW.
     
    vast, Sep 17, 2020
    vast, Sep 17, 2020
    #13
  14. Devon

    Devon Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Beats Kalambay, Duran, Jackson
    Loses to Eubank, Benn, Nunn, Toney
    I really don’t know about the McCallum fight at MW I would pick prime hearns at SWW though
     
    Devon, Sep 17, 2020
    Devon, Sep 17, 2020
    #14
  15. lufcrazy

    lufcrazy requiescat in pace Full Member

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    I honestly don't see how Nunn beats him.
     
    lufcrazy, Sep 17, 2020
    lufcrazy, Sep 17, 2020
    #15
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