Would a 25 year old version of Hearns have beaten Leonard from the first fight?

Well, if it was the Hearns of 84 versus the Leonard of 84, then I'd definitely pick Hearns. I wasn't watching boxing at the time so perhaps someone else who was around then can chip in but the Hagler-Hearns fight was seen as very, very close matchup. I think Hagler was 6-5 favourite by fight time.

Hearns had a brilliant 1984, particularly with his crushing of Duran. He seemed better than he had been even at WW. Would he have beaten the Leonard of '81? I think if they fought three times in their primes, Hearns would win one at least and the third fight is a draw. They were very evenly matched.

 

Leonard always will find the way to win because he was simply the greater fighter and more balanced,hearns was an spaguetti with glass chin

 

The only valid thing is that they fought in their prime and leonard stopped him..period

 

Leonard fought Duran in his "prime" too and Duran initially beat him. Leonard was prime but not "peak". Hearns was at that SRL stage against SRL, he became even better later. He learnt to clinch and tie his man up when hurt etc.

Great post by the tinman, Hearns was indeed at his best in that period. I think these two would always fight closely and could see both winning fights in a series of 3 or 5 or 7 or whatever.

 

If they'd been fighters in a different era, I kind of see a series of fights like the equivalent of Beau Jack and Bob Montgomery. If they'd fought each other 4 times, it'd be 2-2. Who was better - Jack or Montgomery? But because it was the 80s and the modern era, they only got one shot against each other. But that one fight told us enough to suggest another fight between them at their best could have gone the other way.

 

Leonard did beat duran clearly in the rematch and it happened in the real world, however hearns beating leonard is only speculation,Great difference

 

Well we saw the rematch many years later and we saw the original. These two were extremely close. We know beyond a shadow of doubt Hearns improved some post SRL whilst SRL was absolute peak for Hearns.

 

All what we know is that The rematch between hearns and leonard was how much relevant like roy's and bernard"s

 

I beg to differ - strongly!!!

A full 2 years later Hearns put on a sublime performance to comfortably outclass the best light heavyweight in the world.

6 months after the Hearns rematch SRL all but shut out Roberto Duran who had just beaten Barkley for the middleweight championship.

Both these guys were obviously still extremely relevant. Jones by comparison was completely irrelevant. Hopkins still had a bit left.

 

Well. We obviously disagree here

 

No worries mate. As i said tho Jones was 100% past it but Hearns and SRL were soon to add to their world titles over name opposition.