SRL vs Hearns 1

Hearns was a better fighter at 154 than 147. Though Duran was a career lightweight his best win was undisputingly the Brawl in Montreal. The 154-160 Duran was a totally different fighter like night and day. Montreal Duran would of been a totally different ballgame for Tommy at least the welterweight version. Tommy would of struggled with Montreal Duran no doubt about it. Anybody is entitled to their opinion and to say a lightweight putting one of the greatest performances at welter its not farfetched to say if he could of beaten Tommy that night too. Duran wouldn't of given Tommy space. Tommy would of gotten memories from his am fight with Pryor. Montreal Duran had a very good chance to beat 147 Tommy.

As for Leonard-Hearns, again. Hearns is an ATG welter, but for conversations sake, like Tito, Hearns grew and his body filled in perfectly and reached its full potential at 154. He was noticeably stronger, faster, and better at 154. He was a better boxer too.

 

Montreal Duran might be different because of Hearns experience, but Duran still would have had to deal with the right hand which I don't think he ever could deal with. Duran never dealt with that kind of power with any other opponent. That is the significant fact in the Duran/Hearns fight.

 

Imo it was a case of a mature fighter who was brought along better beating a not so mature fighter who because he was bombing everyone about never was put in a situation where he had to learn survival methods such as clinching.

Loenard was physically mature and strong for that fight and it looked to me that hearns was still maturing. He looked like a freakish skeleton and didn't look as though he could take big punches,and this proved to be true.

 

**** off Duranimal.

 

Great fight. Hearns showed how well he could box, Leonard showed how tough he was and how well he could adapt. Hearns was ahead but Leonard had the momentum and had hurt Hearns. Herans was down in round 13 and looking tired. He was hurt in round 14. Had the ref let it go on I think he would have had to eventually stop it in Leonard's favor.

I wish they would have fought a rematch at 154 Lbs. When they met in 1989 too much time had passed. The fight was ruled a draw but I thought Hearns did more... even Leonard admits this.

So... let's pretend Hearns did last the distance in the first fight. What does the rest of round 14 and 15 look like? how many more times does Hearns go down? Could Leonard have won a decision?

 

I agree with this.

I think it was the fight that made or proved Ray leonard a great welterweight.
hearns still had a way to go to prove his greatness