True or False: If Hearns had a stronger chin, he would be in contention for G.O.A.T?

Hearns is a G.O.A.T type of fighter ... his career accomplishments, quality of opposition, and him floating to so many weight classes gives him strong consideration ...

He was the first welterweight to go on and win higher titles, including middleweight, super middleweight, light heavyweight, and cruiserweight.

 

Another thread that essentially boils down to the classic: "If I were as big as Shaq, had the eyes/ball-handling/quickness of Stockton, could shoot like Bird, and had Jordan's moves, could I be in the NBA right now as the GOAT?"

 

A better chin means he would have never lost to SRL or Hagler. I have not seen the Barkley fight so I would not know.

 

Its not the same. Hearns already had all the quality he only lacked a god given chin..

 

That guy had some of the most rememberable fights in boxing history ... I think his losses overshadow his victories, but it shouldn't take anything away from his accomplishments.

He's one of the best fighters p4p of all-time ... he never dominated one weight class but his impression on the sport during his career was amazing.

In my book this guy is an ATG ... chin or no chin ... if he wasn't getting knocked out ... his opponent was getting knocked out.

 

True, he would be in contention, maybe not the greatest, but definitely in contention.

If Hearns had an iron-chin, he would have won a clear decision over Leonard in their first fight, stopped Hagler on cuts, and would never have been KO'd by Barkley.

 

Hagler and Barkley flatten this guy ... SRL took him into deep waters and outlasted him ... it was never a point of him getting knocked out by Leonard ... it was a stoppage.

 

Absolutely in my opinion

 

Oh I see. We're only allowed to make ONE totally irrational, fictional/fantasy change to someone that would make them NOT themselves, but someone else entirely. As long as we do this, such fantasizing becomes useful and legitimate in some practical way, whereas what I said was just silly bull****. atsch

 

His chin had nothing to do with the outcomes of those fights ... you put any fighter in history in his situation at the time and they wouldve got knocked out to. When he was knocked it was by clean, flush shots ...

Everyone runs the risk of getting knocked out !!

 

Probably. A better chin probably allows him to alter his gameplan somewhat...of course it could have made him more aggressive and thus ended up with him being KO'd anyways.

 

Damn we agree ... but it does make sense when you think about it ... the more aggressive you are the more vulnerable you are.

I think that if he learned how to clinch and hold ... he wouldve had a better advantage than just having a better chin.