Tommy Hearns Names The Best Overall He Fought

Best overall Benitez???? Ok.. From the fights you would think he would say Leonard, but Benitez did take him 15.

 

The hand was hurt colliding with Benitez's head.

 

surprised. I would think it would be Ray. These "the best I fought" interviews always are surprising. I will say that.

 

I am not disrespecting Wilfred Benitez. He was a great fighter and Hearns seems to really respect him.

 

I think Wilfred left an impression on everyone who fought him in his prime — opponents, win or lose, walked away saying, ‘Damn.’ His skill dazzled. There’s a reason he could carry the nickname “Bible of Boxing.”

 

hardest Roldan sounds about right. Had it been the Roldan of the Hagler fight, Tommy wouldve been flattened

Best overall is Hagler. notice how Tommy broke his hand in two title fights (vs benitez) and still won. Hagler was a much more demanding fighter using many weapons from an inside game to outscoring Tommy from the outside; he never let Tommy rest and took him beyond his limits

I'd have picked leonard as best overall but since he was far behind and forced to catch up, I cant

 

Yes, Leonard, Duran, Palomino and Hearns always talk about how good Benitez was, he really had that "special" aura about him.

 

Benitez vs. Hagler might have been interesting. I think Hearns saw the skill level of Benitez since Wilfred was more a natural 154 pounder and still Hearns could not touch him. Hagler might have won, but Hearns hit Hagler in 10 seconds cleaner than he hit Benitez in 15 rounds. It just surprised me a little that he picked Wilfred over all the guys he fought as most skilled. Including Leonard.

 

Wilfred made that big mistake of moving up one too many divisions and also fighting Hamsho. Bad style. Had he stayed at 154, where he probably fought his best he could have had a Hearns rematch or won another title there. No problem. But the Hamsho fight took something out of him by the time he moved back down.. Hamsho was a bad style for him..

 

what do you mean Hearns couldnt touch him? He touched him all night long! He staggered him and out jabbed him, drilled him to the body. If Wilfred won more than two rounds, I dont see how

as for a Hagler - Benitez fight, there's no "might" about it unless you enjoy science fiction. I can just see petrified WIlfred freezing up against Hagler and departing early

btw, Hamsho also had no problem finding him, nor Bruce Curry nor Harold Weston nor Davey Moore nor Matthew Hilton. The guy's overrated

 

did you know Hamsho was a bad style for him before the fight started? It's funny how you mention that Hagler "might" have beaten him and then say Hamsho had his number

 

Jackson, Brown and Mullings had no problem finding Norris either yet you talk about him as if he's the second coming!!!!

 

styles make fights. Hearns can beat Virgil Hill. who would have easily beaten Iran Barkley I think I don't remember tbinking much about Benitez vs. Hamsho back at that time. I do remember thinking Duran would beat Barkley in 1989.. I knew it.