Stick a chin on Tommy

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by darwoody, Jul 10, 2008.


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  1. darwoody

    darwoody New Member Full Member

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    Having seen The Ring's list of The Greatest 80 Fighters of the Last 80 Years, I felt that Thomas "Hitman" Hearns was criminally low at 67 on the list. Considering he knocked out Duran(5), outboxed Leonard(9) twice and went to war with Hagler(17) I feel he should be a lot higher(although I admit I am a fanboy). The only weakness I can see is his chin, so where would he rank and how would his career have been different if God had given him whiskers?
    Your thoughts please.
     
    darwoody, Jul 10, 2008
    darwoody, Jul 10, 2008
    #1
  2. Bill Butcher

    Bill Butcher Erik`El Terrible`Morales Full Member

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    If Hearns had a chin like the other 3 of the fab 4 had then he would probably have beaten them all head to head because his reach, speed, power & ability to throw flurries were devastating not to mention his boxing skills.

    The only way to get him outa there woud be to the body but Id imagine that anyone from MWT downwards is gonna sustain too much damage by the time they get in to the body of Tommy.

    Give Tommy Lamotta`s chin & Hearns v Robinson @ 147 might be for more than greatest welterweight of all times... it might be for best fighter ever p4p.
     
    Bill Butcher, Jul 10, 2008
    Bill Butcher, Jul 10, 2008
    #2
  3. Unforgiven

    Unforgiven VIP Member banned Full Member

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    He probably would have been unbeatable.
    But no fighter has everything, that's why no fighter is unbeatable.

    I agree, 67 seems too low.
    There have been hundreds of great fighters over the last 120 years or so though, so being 67th is no minor feat.
     
    Unforgiven, Jul 10, 2008
    Unforgiven, Jul 10, 2008
    #3
  4. darwoody

    darwoody New Member Full Member

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    May 24, 2008
    Thanks Butch I agree. Even with his dodgy chin 67 seems very low to me.
     
    darwoody, Jul 10, 2008
    darwoody, Jul 10, 2008
    #4
  5. redrooster

    redrooster Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Then all he'd need is some ribs to match. He couldn't take it to the body either that's partly why Hagler got him out of there quickly
     
    redrooster, Jul 10, 2008
    redrooster, Jul 10, 2008
    #5
  6. darwoody

    darwoody New Member Full Member

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    May 24, 2008
    Dont forget the broken hand in the first round.
     
    darwoody, Jul 10, 2008
    darwoody, Jul 10, 2008
    #6
  7. natonic

    natonic Boxing Addict Full Member

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    I'd rate him ahead of Tito Trinidad (and Tito is one of my all-time favorites). Some other names I'd put Tommy above: Pedroza, Galaxy, Olivares (29?), and I don't see how you could rate Aaron Pryor 32 spots higher than Hearns.
     
    natonic, Jul 10, 2008
    natonic, Jul 10, 2008
    #7
  8. rekcutnevets

    rekcutnevets Black Sash Full Member

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    It may have made Hearns the best ever. He probably would have won a real Cruiserweight title, and probably campaigned as a heavy.
     
    rekcutnevets, Jul 10, 2008
    rekcutnevets, Jul 10, 2008
    #8
  9. fists of fury

    fists of fury Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Hearns ranks 67th while his contemporaries are all top 20? That's a joke if you ask me.
     
    fists of fury, Jul 10, 2008
    fists of fury, Jul 10, 2008
    #9
  10. Holmes' Jab

    Holmes' Jab Master Jabber Full Member

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    Agreed. It's very harsh.
     
    Holmes' Jab, Jul 11, 2008
    Holmes' Jab, Jul 11, 2008
    #10
  11. Holmes' Jab

    Holmes' Jab Master Jabber Full Member

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    Hearns with a granite chin would have been virtually invinsible; especially at WW.
     
    Holmes' Jab, Jul 11, 2008
    Holmes' Jab, Jul 11, 2008
    #11
  12. My dinner with Conteh

    My dinner with Conteh Tending Bepi Ros' grave again Full Member

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    Tommy's Top 30 for me. Still, a chin wouldn't solve everything. His stamina wasn't great either.
     
    My dinner with Conteh, Jul 11, 2008
    My dinner with Conteh, Jul 11, 2008
    #12
  13. janitor

    janitor VIP Member Full Member

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    Give Hearns an iron chin and Sam Langford starts to look frighteningly plausible.

    As it is he gets sold a fair bit short.

    He is one of only three welterweights in history ever to defeat a fighter who held the lineal light heavyweight title, the other two being Barbados Joe Walcott and Mickey Walker.

    Just thought you ought to know.

    He is basicaly 1-1 against Leonard and the only member of the fab four who beat Duran the way a fighter from a higher weight class should.
     
    janitor, Jul 11, 2008
    janitor, Jul 11, 2008
    #13
  14. PowerPuncher

    PowerPuncher Loyal Member Full Member

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    He didnt have a hard chin because he was a tall skinny kid fighting at 147. If he was naturally stronger and had a better chin he wouldnt be able have the advantages of height/reach which made him special. Its like saying what if he had his cake and ate it - you cant have both
     
    PowerPuncher, Jul 11, 2008
    PowerPuncher, Jul 11, 2008
    #14
  15. fists of fury

    fists of fury Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Nice post.

    I think the boxing gods looked at Tommy, thought: "Oh ****, we created a monster here!" and decided to compensate by giving him a crappy chin.

    Well, it wasn't THAT crappy but with a really solid beard he'd have been disgustingly powerful.
     
    fists of fury, Jul 11, 2008
    fists of fury, Jul 11, 2008
    #15
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