I always thought Curry was McCallums best win. That was not as much of a one punch fluke punch as people seemed to think. He did land and Curry was knocked out, but McCallum was putting mental pressure on Curry as well as Curry's eye getting swollen. Mike was not landing much, but Curry was working to stay in the fight and slowly Mike was being the stronger fighter against Curry who was faster than Mike. But it didn't matter.. I will never forget watching that fight. They are fighting and Mike lands that left and Curry is on his back as quick as that. I felt sorry for Curry, yet I remembered his fight with McCrory and how it ended in a similar fashion, so I thought well this how boxing is. McCallum won fair and square. I got sidetracked. Ray's best win was Hearns like I said. He had to win a fight which he was losing. Although I never thought Angelo was the key to the win.
I narrowed it down to Hearns 1, followed by Duran II. Hearns 1...two great (and I mean great) fighters at the weight, in the primes of their careers, going -to-head. It doesn't get any better than that. Leaonard was a little leery I think of Hearns' power, and he was struggling with Hearns' combination of heght, reach and skill. A lesser fighter is glad to last the distance. A great fighter finds a way to win. Leonard won. Duran II was another showcase of Leonard's adaptability, but it's not quite on the same level as Hearns I, as Duran didn't seem as fired up for the rematch and had to lose a lot of weight in a hurry. Not taking anything from Leonard though...he fought a perfect fight.
If there was one thing that ever so slightly 'taints' the Hearns fight it's that Tommy came in way too light. Those two extra pounds really could have helped him in the fight later on. A startling lack of professionalism from the Hearns camp there.
Hearns I was Ray's most impressive win. No doubt in my mind. It displayed all his skills,adaptability,and guts.