Leonard says Hearns was his biggest rival AND toughest opponent

Good post! That's that!

 

To be fair this was the talk of many of the reporters who were there to see it. It just seems Tommy was a stick of a fighter, way too lean and dry to last more than 10 rounds.

As Clancy says on the tape "I think they made a mistake bringing Tommy down to 145. With the extra two pounds on him he would made it thru the last two rounds"

 

But you know what? Ray landed lot of blows landing flush in the middle rounds and Tommy stayed up. One right hand in the late rounds having this effect means Tommy was not conditioned well nor was he strong enough for the championship rounds 11-15. it showed.

Steward seemed to have this problems and hadn't figured out how to correct it. That is, he didnt seem to know how to properly condition them for the later rounds. Same thing happened to his other champion Hilmer Kenty earlier in the year when he took a beating from O'Grady and lost his title.

So that being said, I rate Sean O' Grady highly in my top lightweights of all times (somewhere around #2) :roll:

 

Not in the least.

Hearns was the only member of the fab four that Leonard never really solved.

He got past him once but so did Iran Barkley.

 

I totally agree with you. The right gameplan is a crucial part of the overall perfomance. I don't like these kinds of excuses. Sure, Leonard wised up after that, but on the night Duran was the better man, because the fight plan is a much a part of what you bring into the ring as everything else. Tremendous victory for Duran. Absolutely one of the best in history.

 

It was one of Leonard's best performances against Hearns who had a good reach advantage. Duran fought great but Leonard fought stupid. He really had to pull it out of the bag to come back against Hearns. Great fighter who could turn it on when it really mattered. Took to much time out - that finishes a fighter. Leonard was my favourite fighter as a kid watching my first fights. He was entertaining.

 

Spot on. He couldn't outpoint him, and one had to pay extreme prices to get to him.

I still think Hearns from around the Duran fight would beat Leonard more often than not.

 

I think Leonard just might have felt the same way...Tommy waited a looooooong time for the second go.

 

Agreed.

 

Cheers guys.

 

well that was a 154lb hearns, leonard was a welterweight, not a junior middleweight.

 

what makes u say that? leonard is a warrior, the man fought with incredible guts and heart as any fighter there ever was in both losing efforts(duran I) and winning efforts(hearns). Leonard fought ANYBODY and everybody, and he fought the best of his era. how many guys can say that?

 

Don't read beyond what I typed. Leonard did fight the best of his era...and of coarse, Leonard had incredible heart and guts. Not denying that. I rate Leonard very highly for what he's accomplished. I believe he is problably the 2nd or 3rd best welter in history. But having said that, Tommy did not receive a rematch, until a long time had passed. Tommy would have taken a rematch at welter IMO...it never came.

 

Never said any different.

Mind you Leonard wasn't a welterweight beating Kalule for his title.

 

Not to mention he sure wasn't a middleweight either but it didn't stop him beating Hagler.