I'm surprised...Hearns isn't a top 20 ATG? I was positive guys like him, Duran, and Leonard were....Benitez is a possible as well imo (not entirely sure about Hagler, though I count him way up there as a middle). I mean, none of those guys are SRR or Henry Armstrong, but I'd say top 20, absolutely (especially Duran).
I thought Spinks was a blazingly dull heavyweight. And his fight with Quawi wasn't exactly FOTC. That said, Michael had some seriously exhilarating moments as a light heavy! At times really exciting power imo. Wish he'd fought Saad in his prime.
Spinks has the versatility to win this. If he lays back and Hearns outjabs him, he can switch gears and attack. His superior chin and power will allow him to get inside and crack Hearns chin. Spinks by KO.
Tommy wouldnt last six rounds with Spinks. I doubt he would last two with someone like Qawi. Cheers All.
If anything Hearns has himself to blame. I think he deserves to be in the top 20 with his wins Cuevas, Benitez, Duran, Hill and all those titles and great fights, but he cannot complain where he is ranked, and from what I can tell he never complains. He is not insecure about his ranking. He said in that HBO documentary something about that he is not concerned where he is ranked that they don't have to rank him at all, so he is just grateful to be ranked. That is what he meant, even though I forget his exact words. He lost to Ray and that was fair, but the Marvin Hagler fight. It was a great fight which will always be remembered for two guys just going out and exploding and showing guts and determination, but to be so reckless and arrogant to just go in and swing because he felt he knocked out Duran in two he could do the same with Hagler. It hurt him. The good comes with the bad. It was not that simple to say he could knock out Duran so I can knock out Hagler. Who knows. maybe he could have had he not broken his hand, but Marvin's chin was incredible. The guys who troubled him did not go after him, they worked defense and made him miss and countered him. Different fighters. Thomas hurt his own legacy and he should have been ranked higher. I rank him way up there. I just wish he would have sometimes gone in there not to entertain but to use the jab and set up the punches and win decisions. I think the Hagler fight gets him in the history books, but it also gets him in there as a guy who could have been greater had he fought a little smarter in some fights. The need to entertain the crowds is important, but first he should have won the great fights. That would have meant more.
amazing light heavy and tho i think him somewhat fragile at heavyweight he still must be given credit for beating a Holmes who tho slipping had still been beating (inexperienced) his opposition. Spinks was a huge underdog.
I have a big feeling Hearns won't respond well to Spinks's straight right hand. Spinks via early knockout.
To me, Tommy ranks in the Top 30-Top 45 ATG, which is huge acomplishment. Top 20 ATG is too high for me. Those Barkley defeats cost him a higher ranking in my opinion.
Not really much to add here, as you all have said, Spinks wins convincingly One thing I will say is, Hearns is not beating Jones at 175. No way. He has a better chance against a smaller inexperienced Jones at 160. Jones KO 5 at 175 imo