Did beating Hearns and winning world titles make him elite? Or was he simply a hard hitter with above average skills who got lucky?
He was a pro and someone who made the best of what he had. Wish we had guys like Iran around in the upper weight classes today, exciting and eager to fight everyone and just make some money. That’s what you want in a boxer. He was I’d say elite, he hang in there with Hearns and splattered him. Humble guy too. I remember how badly Hearns wanted to one up him. He and Barkley were on a talk show and Iran just kept owning him in every exchange. In and out of the ring he had Toms number.
Barclay was a good fighter with 2 notable wins over Thomas Hearns, but he also lost in big fights to Kalambay,Duran,Benn,Nunn and Toney.So to sum up just below top class
I loved watching him. You could never tell what was gonna happen. Only man to beat Hearns twice. And the scoring against Nunn was closer than I thought. We could do with more like salt of the earth guys, like him, in boxing.
Barkley definitely had Hearns number, for sure. But I wouldn’t say Barkley was elite…he was a good fighter, good enough to win multiple world titles, but he also lost a good deal of world title bouts too. But I liked him. He was in that list of fighters just below the elite guys…but whatever else he was, he was Tommy Hearns’ worst nightmare!
What defines elite? I’m not sure myself, I think anyone who gets to the highest level personally qualifies as elite to me.
Yes I guess we all have our own definitions but my interpretation of elite is… guys who not only reach the highest level but also stay at the highest level by regularly beating other top guys of their generation. I think elite guys in their prime are very difficult to beat, and their losses are very few and far between.
I could be confusing elite for ATG. So Your definition of elite could be more accurate than mine to be honest.
He was a huge middleweight with crunching power. A bit awkward in his delivery. Not a great boxer but he had some skills. The best I ever saw him fight was in his loss to Roberto Duran. I also thought he fought a good fight vs Michael Nunn. Iran has a tremendous will to win. A warrior's mentality. He could take punishment and keep firing his shots. Not a guy one would generally look forward to fighting.
His six-rounder with Robbie Sims was a fight of the decade contender! Olajide and Van Horn had so much hype, both big write-ups in Sports Illustrated, both supposed to be the next big thing, and both big betting faves over Iran. He scared the **** out of them and beat them up. Fought everyone and always wanted to carry on! Need his breed again but we’ll never see it
He was from the Bronx so obviously was tough, determined and brave. Loved seeing him KO Schoolboy and Tommy Hearns.
He was certainly entertaining but I feel his loss to Duran certainly takes him down a peg. Borderline elite for me. But there is no shame in losing to Duran, regardless of the weight. Duran was a masterful pugilist and a once in a generation talent.
A MW Shawn Porter. A tough out for anyone. Iran was limited, his physicality was dangerous. I thought he beat Duran. Don't @ me!!!
