Thomas Hearns to me. I went into his fight against Ray in 1981 wanting Ray and was so happy he stopped Hearns. Then I saw how Ray retired and cameback and played games after that through the years and Hearns just kept fighting other legends and winning titles and not playing games, and I ended up liking him more and more compared to Ray. Hearns took losses and brushed himself off and came back just as explosively as before and didn't make excuses which to me is the worst thing about fighters because why would an excuse be accepted. If they can accept a great win without excuses, why make one with a loss?
Wow .. I actually liked Hearns back in the day more than you?? I wanted him to blast Ray in that .. was never a Ray fan, or the peoples' fighters fan .. huge respect though .. I always knew Hearn's was a bad a** and just wanted to fight in that ring .. love that style
Grew up in the 70's watching Ali on TV. Didn't watch the Ali/Frazier trilogy until video rental era of the 80's. Frazier's will, grit, and workman dignity converted me to being a big Frazier fan. Watching Arguello/Pryor 1 on video the first time was like reading about Robert E Lee or Hannibal Barca - the noble, gallant, skilled exemplar of his craft losing a war of attrition. Big Arguello fan after watching this. Jose Luis Castillo was magnificent in his losing effort in the best fight I've ever seen. I think he gets underrated a bit if you consider he deserves the decision in the first Mayweather fight and he lost arguably the best fight of all time in the last minute.
I remember watching the Castillo Corrales fight Live on TV and just couldn't believe what I was seeing .. it was like WOW
I was 16 and I saw Hearns as the bad guy and Ray as the good,, I believed the media stuff. I have this odd memory that Tony Tucker or Ayala fought on the undercard, but it was so long ago.. Hearns was hurt and then he started to win, and I was so happy when Leonard came through. Compare this to years later when I was so nervous when Hearns fought I had a hard time watching. Ray Leonard has such a short record compared to most greats, yet his wins are probably the best as far as wins in that short time and short amount.
I know what you mean. I have still have those lingering nerves ... can't seem to get over the fact that Tommy had to wait 8 years for Ray again and then win the fight , imo, and walk away with the draw ... but I'm trying
I gained a lot of respect for Wlad in this fight.Kelley gave Hamed all he wanted. Alvaro Lopez was another who gave every ounce of effort,but was always the bridesmaid.Maidana v Floyd?
López is a great shout, during those golden light heavy years. Maidaina too as well but he already won me over when he kicked broner’s butt. He did do surprisingly well against Floyd in the first match.
And to be honest, Tommy made a bad mistake going at Ray in round 12. I wish he would have sat back and jabbed and countered with the right hand in round 12 and he would have won the round or a least split it and won a decision. But I think Tommy edged that fight. I think the difference in that fight was Tommy fought the whole decade and Ray did not. Hearns gained experience which Ray did not, and it showed a little.
Sergio Martinez vs Miguel Cotto. Was hard to watch. Sergio footwork was never the same after surgery and he was a punching bag in this fight.
Sorry but I don’t think Martinez got anything from that loss.Nothing valiant or positive at all from it for Martinez He should never have taken that fight as he had nothing to gain and everything to lose from it.The only person that gained was Cotto who became the first Puerto Rican 4 weight champion even though he wasn’t even a real middleweight and it totally revitalise his career.
Felix Trinidad vs Bernard Hopkins. Tito kept pressing the fight til the end even though he was getting buzzed. That is the way a champion should behave. The 10th round alone made me proud to be a fan of Trinidad.