Would Hearns be the GOAT if he won a HW strap?

For sure I’ve read accounts of a supremely confident Hearns step on the scale that day. But apparently his whole demeanor changed when they called out “145 pounds”. The baby faced Hearns turns to his coach to gauge his reaction and is greeted with the stunned and equally confused look on Emmanuel Stewart’s face.

 

If he had beaten a belt holding ATG HW such as Tyson he’d be in the conversation for Top 10 of all time I guess. But those defeats in his prime to fellow ATG rivals SRL and Hagler hurt him a bit. Also not avenging his defeat to Barkley…(losing twice to him) wouldn’t help him in a convo around whether he was no1 of all time or not.

 

To be No1 of all time you obviously have to be at least the no1 in your era and have beaten your biggest rivals, and…in my opinion…also avenged any fluke mishaps against inferior fighters that occurred in your prime years.
So for me if we count the “draw” with Leonard as a victory, and IF he rematched with Hagler and beat him. And had he beaten Barkley in their 2nd match…then he is in an excellent bargaining position.

Then add a HW strap by beating a still dangerous Mike Tyson, then Tommy is in business!

But a bit too many “IFs” and “Ands” to consider it as a serious reality.

 

I mean can you imagine a Resume with SRL, Hagler and Tyson on it!!
Plus World title belts at WW, LMW, MW. LHW and HW! In this alternative universe I’d be happy to call this version of Tommy as the best ever, yes indeed!

 

LaMotta should be known for what he was, a real pro. Underrated for his boxing ability to be honest. Lots of guys have always played the scale game and LaMotta has no shortage of detractors for that and other much more reprehensible things he did.

 

I don't think so. To win a HW belt he would have to have fought a pretty weak champion and would never have been more than a belt holder. It would have been cool but I don't feel it would take him to number 1. I think if he had beaten Hagler and Leonard that may take him top 5.

I think a Tyson fight would have been a huge mistake!

 

NO!

and even if a fighter won 8 Belts from all Divisions, why does that automatically mean G.O.A.T...

he would certainly be a Great Fighter (which he is), he would certainly be 'among the Greats (which he is), he would certainly be listed among the Greatest Multiple Belt Holders (which his is), BUT, it doesn't mean G.O.A.T...

these Lists & Claims are 'damn near' impossible and often rediculous. Sure we can throw names about as the Greatest fighter ever, like SRR, Harry Greb, Pep, Leonard and so on, but beyond a few Dozen or so Special Fighters...

Well, ALL the Rest - TOP Men are Among the Greats, with little between them and there are 1000s of them.

 

Exactly ,, they botched the weight ... No question who was the stronger fighter in the ring that night

 

I think its just too far of a hypothetical mountain for him to climb ... even so being a belt holder, I would say not at all .. there were just too many other greater fighters in the sport ,, than Tommy

 

Hearns chin at HW would be more brittle than a prawn cracker

 

It would be a very significant historical first.

If you look at former welterweight champions, who later beat a lineal light heavyweight champion, that is a very select club.

Barbados Joe Walcott, Mickey Walker, and of course Hearns himself off the top of my head.

Mickey Walker managed a draw against Jack Sharkey, shortly before he lifted the heavyweight title.

That is as close as we came to seeing what you describe.

Now if he won if from somebody like Seldon, then many would have argued, that the bar had been somewhat lowered.

After Roy Jones won the WBA heavyweight title from Ruiz, some of the press noted that no middleweight had won a title at heavyweight, since Bob Fitzsimmons in the 19th century.

 

What HW champion did Walcott beat???

 

Reminds me of the other story of Manny walking into Tommy's dressing room before the Hagler fight and freaking out when he was one of Tommy's friends massaging his legs , a big no no before going into a fight ... Steward said he knew right then the fight was lost and we we see how early Tommy lost his legs in the fight and what another round might have meant against a badly bleeding Haggler if Hearns was able to stay away ..