Who fought the better version of Hearns

Hagler

 

How about a poll?

I would say Hagler by a rizla paper. Hearns was just coming off some good wins at (in my opinion) his best fighting weight of 154lbs. He was never quite the same after that. As devastaing as he was at welterweight,he was still improving.

 

Leonard did Middleweight was Hearns's worst weightclass he suffered two KO losses at the weight to Barkley, Hagler, and barely scrapped by Roldan who had him on wobbly legs in every round.

 

Probably Hagler. Hearns weighed in at 145 same day weighin and really wasn’t pushed before he fought Leonard. By the time Hearns fought Hagler, he was a more seasoned fighter and was at a more comfortable weight for his frame.

 

In absolute terms? Hagler.

The Hearns SRL beat was a more formidable WW than the version Hagler beat was a MW, though.

 

Hard to say. Hagler fought the more prime Hearns but not at Hearns prime weight as far as fighting there all the time. Tommy was comfortable at 147 in 1981, and he was a great then just not experienced like he was later which would have helped him with Ray when he got hurt and some inside techniques which he mastered in 1989. Hearns problem in the Hagler years was moving around too much. Benitez 154, Sutherland months later at middleweight then Minchillo at 154 , Duran 154, Hutchings 154 Jumps to Hagler 160, Shuler 160 then back to Medal at 154, Dewitt 160 months later, then months later 175 in 1987 and dropping back to 160 for Roldan. Barkley 160 and then up to 168 for Kinchen.. Too much. Had he just stayed at a weight longer he could have really gotten his right hand going like at 147 and 154. He was in too much of a hurry to do things and make history. I guess those guys all were. but it hurt Tommy a little. Hagler was the only one of the fab 4 to stay at a weight and be solid and know his body in a way Hearns, Leonard and Duran could not. Although I think Leonard always knew what he was doing until he fought Norris who was just too young for him. Ray thought he would get a knockout in that fight.

 

Hagler.

Tommy was so good at that weight that he assumed he could go punch to punch with Hagler and win a brawl... and that was his undoing.

 

Leonard beat Hearns when Tommy was still undefeated. It was in that fight we learned what Tommy had offensively but it also exposed his chin/stamina issue.

When he fought Hagler he was still in his prime but it was at a higher weight. I would say Leonard fought the better version.

 

It is a very interesting question. Weight vs. prime.

 

SRL did and its not even close.. Tommy dominated at 147. 160 wasnt even Hearns best weight , actually it was probably his worst. He was far from a great MW. And he hadn't fought at 160 in 2 years !!!! ,, Think about that for a second.. No tuneups before facing a strong MW. He struggled against the bigger stronger fighters there Hagler Barkley and even Sutherland where he folded his right. He had so many right hand injuries in that stage of his career it affected him against the stronger guys there at 160.
And he got sparked twice in 3 rounds there at that weight..

 

He won his 4th belt at MW (first fighter to win 4 championships in 4 different divisions) but that wasn’t his best weight I’d go with 154 as his best.

 

SRL.

 

Hagler.

And what's crazy is that that version of Hagler was really nearing the end so you can consider that post prime Hagler.

 

Hagler

Tommy was bigger, faster, stronger, and like Joe Louis, three years improved since his first fight with Schmeling