Hearns was nowhere near "shot to pieces" in their first fight, though he was in their rematch. He was dominating Barkley from the outside and got careless, which lead to him getting KO'd. Duran was by all accounts done by that time, but Duran's performance that night was masterful, his last hurrah really.
I guess the fact that he did lose to a un-skilled brawler like Benn(who oddly enough was the best England had to offer) puts his status in question.
you call benn unskilled:think tch tch tch of course only seen the 80's benn benn just searched for him becuase of irans slow starting speed...and it worked. and please dont try to take th episs out of a clearly better fighter just becuase some arrogant poster did the typical torll like nationalistic thing.
I know Benn's career and his style change, and I was just taking the **** out of him because of LiamE's stupid ass. He was never that good a fighter though, I wouldn't favor him over any of the elite MW's, or the top guys of that era.
thanks for the great info, i never imagined him to be that kind of beast always fought of him as a die hard journeyman.
Hearns wasn't shot when Barkley KO'd him, the fact is that Hearns was always a little delicate around the chin at 160. Thats what cost Tommy the fight, not any decline in his skills.
Barkley might of won that if he respected Benns power as he troubled Benn at one point.Likewise with McClellan, he hardly ever blocked Benns right hands,if he did he would of won.
I still dont think Barkley would beat Pavlik today. I think Kelly would score a late stoppage over The Blade. Barkley would have beaten Taylor however. And he'd have mauled Abraham, and knocked Miranda into the middle of next week.
Actually G-man would have beaten Benn had Nigel not been POUNDING HIM IN THE ****IN BRAIN STEM all night long!
Whats that saying them dumb**** when Barkley is Benns second greatest win after McClellan? And make no mistake, Gerald McClellan would have finished off Benn in the first round (and maybe not been injured) had it not been for that incompetant interrupting idiot referee.
Hearns was pounding him badly in their first fight. Its just barkely wung a freakin haymaker and it caught hearns flush. Tommys always been sucseptible to looping odd angle punches. Duran wasnt shot either. He got ready for that fight. Not the old Duran, but he had something left in the tank. Barkley was a good fighter, a strong fighter, good puncher, but limited. And was his own worst enemy.
You call Tommy Hearns an overrated Yank?? Apparently you do not know much about the history of the sport. Iran Barkley is a fearless puncher with a lot of heart and no bum. He also put on a nice showing against Roberto Duran even if he lost in a very close fight. Barley KO Pavlik.