Let's suppose that after drawing in their second fight in May'89,Ray and Tommy decided to rematch in November of that year instead of Leonard having his rubber with Roberto Duran. How does it pan out?
I wish it had actually happened, Stevie. I enjoyed their second fight and hoped they'd go at it again. But as for an actual rematch, I like to think that Tommy finally gets the win. He'd be confident after getting the draw, not sure Leonard would be. In fact we may see Sugar age badly in this fight and take a lot of punishment. Course, we have to remember Tommy has a few miles on the clock to, but in this fight I see him knocking Ray down again, busting his face up and getting a points win at last.
Morning,Fergy. I too wish it had happened. I see it as a 50/50 one. As you say,Hearns would be confident of finishing the job but Ray would know what he was up against this time so it could have gone either way. One thing for sure,it would have been another entertaining fight.
It would for sure, mate. Those two had that rivalry. Once they got together they had to fight their best fight.
Good question. I think I’d pick Hearns to win. Gave Ray a very tough fight the first time around, clearly won the rematch imo, badly hurting Ray in the process - which might’ve been a revelation to Hearns during the fight but by fights end, a potential well realised and likely more strongly pursued if a rubber had eventuated. For the rematch, I think Ray believed that Tommy was damaged goods and that he (Ray) would get away with a relatively easy fight and a KO as the cherry on top. Of course that didn’t pan out. So for one thing, Hearns outstanding performance might’ve culled him out of Ray’s future schedule. Ray was pretty good in Duran III but Roberto was notably ineffectual in his own right so not a great gage on where Ray was at by that stage. As I recall Tommy posted some decent performances the following year after the rematch so it seems he would’ve held up okay for a Nov89 fight.
As much as I love and respect Sugar Ray Leonard he will probably get rocked hard in a rubber match with Thomas Hearns. I think Hearns likely wins a well deserved points decision or unless its almost a replay of their first fight and Leonard comes back and stops Hearns. I think Hearns is still waiting for Leonard to agree to this fight!
I think Hearns would of had a bit more left in the tank in a 3rd fight, remember Hearns 2 years later went on to have one of his best performances over Virgil Hill. Where as Leonard got annihilated by Terry Norris. Overall I'd pick Hearns to win a 3rd fight, but people saying Hearns would be more confident. That could be a good and bad thing, because it could lead to Hearns getting caught. Remember Hearns was badly rocked vs Leonard 2 or 3 times in their 2nd fight, and barely held on in the 12th round.
