Who was the greatest fighter out of the fabulous 4?

Duran, the most dominant in his own division then beating bigger fighters when he was past his best like Barkley and Moore etc

 

Duran

1. Duran (Top 10 ATG)
2. Leonard (Top 15 ATG)
3. Hagler (Top 20 ATG)
4. Hearns (Top 40 ATG)

 

People are selling Hearns short here. Hearns was the first boxer to win belts in 4 weight classes then broke his record being the first to win it in 5. Hagler beat Hearns in a h2h match up but that doesn't convince me that he's the greater fighter. Hearns has the much better resume and historical achievements.

Hearns- 61-5-1(48 KOs)
14-4-1 (9 KOs) in world title fights across 5 weight classes
13-5-1 (8 KOs) against former, future and current world titlists
WBA Welterweight Champion 4 defenses
WBC Junior Middleweight Champion 5 defenses
WBC Middleweight Champion
WBO Super Middleweight Champion 1 defense
WBC Light Heavyweight Champion
WBA Light Heavyweight Champion

4-2-1(2 kos) vs HoF's
KO2 Pipino Cuevas, WBA Welterweight Championship
UD Virgil Hill, WBA Light Heavyweight Championship
TKO 2 Roberto Duran, WBC Light Middleweight Championship
MD Wilfred Benitez WBC Light Middleweight Championship

Lost TKO 14 to Sugar Ray Leonard at 147 Undisputed Welterweight Championship
Drew over 12 rounds vs Sugar Ray Leonard a 168 WBC and WBO Super Middleweight Championship
Lost 3rd round TKO to Hagler at 160 Undisputed Middleweight Championship

Hagler- 62-3-2(52 KOs)
13-1-1 (12 KOs) in world title fights at 160
7-1-1 (6 KOs) against former world champions
WBA Middleweight Champion 12 defenses
WBC Middleweight Champion 12 defenses
IBF Middleweight Champion 6 defenses

2-1(1 ko) vs HOF's
Won TKO 3 Thomas Hearns at 160 Undisputed Championship
Won UD Roberto Duran at 160 Undisputed Championship
Lost SD 12 Sugar Ray Leonard WBC/Lineal Middleweight Championship

 

I find it baffling that some people are trying to twist the narrative that Duran was some natural Welterweight when he was arguably on the smaller end at Lightweight (Viruet, thompson, Lampkin etc. for example had bigger frames). All of that to justify Leonard losing to the smaller man in his prime. And it is Duran who gets slated for excuses....

On the other hand, Leonard's victories over Duran have asterik marks over them, but not a single person has brought it up. If SRR went through as many shenanigans to beat the smaller Armstrong, we wouldn't hear the end of it. Why was the 3rd fight at catchweight when Duran was champion at 160 and SRL had no trouble making that weight?

A lightweight moving up to beat a welterweight in his own division is a bigger victory than vice versa. And let's be honest, Leonard's rematch victory over Duran wasn't nearly straightforward as that.

 

Are you saying that Duran was naturally bigger than Floyd and Crawford? That is some opinion if yes.

 

Just to reiterate, I have no problem with anyone that ranks Duran as the greatest among the fabulous four.

 

Duran is the greater P4P.imo.

 

Hagler could also say that.

 

Hagler should have whupped the career welterweight who hadn't fought for 3 years, but instead he lost a close decision.

 

Shouldn't Hagler have convincingly whupped the career welterweight who hadn't fought for 3 years instead of losing a close decision?

 

I'm not disputing that but if people on here are saying that Leonard can lay claim to whipping the other three then so can Hagler because a lot of people think he beat Leonard.

 

Do you honestly not understand why the two are not the same? It’s okay if you don’t, I would just be a little surprised given that the dynamics are fairly obvious.

 

Yeah. Leonard for me as well.

 

It was a hotly contested but fair decision. Ray was pot shotting Marvin all night and even making him back up on occasions. Punch stats aren't dispositive but Ray won those too. Ray won the cards. Ray won the punch stats. Ray won the fight.

 

The short answer is Duran.