Was Thomas Hearns the best pure boxer of the 80's?

Seen several of Bernard's fights, and while he f***ed his title shot by running from Eusebio (in his hometown nonetheless), he was a strong fighter who didn't fight the competition to make him a better fighter. Spinks, especially if you see some of his early fights, definitely could box, but I see your point.

 

Hearns didn't look like himself after the first. Awkward and off balance,the leg situation and the broken hand probably didn't help much. Hagler was a beast that night..

 

Hearns was the best boxer/puncher of that era....but yet he outboxed the 2 best pure boxers of that era...Leonard and Benitez.....he actually made Leonard look look slow in both of the their fights....he outboxed him very easily.....he also outboxed the best pure boxer above 160 Virgil Hill...he also made him look akward and slow...so take it for what it is...and Hagler isnt on the same planet as Hearns boxing wise....he would never outbox Hearns not even on his best day and Hearns worse....he won the only way he could...that was the only chance he had with a lil luck spreaded in there with Tommy breaking his righthand and his leg cramps...and a bunch of lowblows that wasnt called....

 

Three guys I'll throw into the discussion, although all are mixed 70s/80s guys:

Salvador Sanchez: yes, sadly he only survived a couple of years into the 1980s but he burst on the scene by beating Danny Lopez at the very start of the decade and all of his memorable work happened in the 1980s.
Herky-jerky style, but yet very classic in his approach and a very effective technician.

Alexis Arguello: Some of his best technical work was in the 1980s as he rose in weight and wasn't able to rely as much on strength and power. A joy to watch.

Larry Holmes: Fantastic mix of a powerful, accurate and blistering jab, footwork and a sizzling straight right ... with the occasional sneaky hook.

 

As if Robinson would seek to outpoint Hearns. Fast hands, great puncher, great feet, it would be the easier road to try and decapitate Hearns.

Hearns was almost impossible to outpoint, but the fact that he was a massive puncher aided him in this.

Still, that wingspan. Jeebus.

 

Sumbu Kalambay

 

Yeah, Robinson would straight up batter Hearns.

 

Put it this way if those two ever fought I'd be sitting firmly on the fence and keeping my money in my pocket.

 

I wouldn't.

 

My definition would be someone who primarily, and almost exclusively, adopts a strategy or hit-and-not-get-hit, and piles up the points with it.
That's PURE BOXING surely.

Not someone who often goes out to blitz the opponent with overwhelming power, tasks obvious risks and sacrifices defense often or even sometimes, to get that KO, and happens to get into brawls quite regularly.

 

Well okay, fair enough. The safety-first approach then. My own definition allows for the the use of power and aggression (provided one stays with sound boxing principles while being aggressive). I don't see why these traits have to be mutally exclusive. And I believe that definition sums Hearns up as well as anyone.