You're blowing it son: Ray Leonard stops Tommy Hearns 9/16/1981

It's the understated body punching esp in the 6th rd that actually won the fight for Leonard . When Leonard realized he would not win when the fight from the outside against the tall and fast Hearns he began to stand in front of Hearns slip and counter get maximum leverage on his punches and slowly began to grind Hearns down until the stoppage in the 14th rd. That left hook to the body in the 6th rd was a thing of beauty and ferociousness and completely shifted the fight to Leonard.

 

There's something about Sugar Ray Leonard that I could never take to.

I especially don't like the way he raises his arms in victory (in a fight where he needs a stoppage to win) after pushing Hearns through the ropes in the 13th and when Hearns legs wobble in the 14th.

Ali had his antics but he never did that.

 

When he clipped Tommy's chin in the 14th and staggered him backyards and raised his arms up, he knew right there 100% that he had Hearns … Leonard played into the hands of the fans and judges and used his popularity as advantages throughout his career. It was hard not to like him, although being a huge Hearns supporter, I wasn't a fan of him either. He was a phenomenal boxer. And when he raised his hands in the air at that moment, it was and still is one of the most Iconic moments in the History of sports

 

I found it very easy to dislike him.

I think raising your arms in victory just because your opponent's legs have buckled is very disrespectful.

He always struck me as an Ali wannabe.

 

And I can't agree that Leonard raising his arms in the air is an iconic moment in boxing let alone the history of sports.

But we all have different views on these things.

 

Ray was always a bit coccky. Today he acts like the great guy and nice and all that, but at his worst he was coccky and arrogant and did what he wanted without any regard for the sport. But he was great. Later after Hagler, he thought he could do anything he wanted like that joke 2 titles in one night thing with Lalonde.

 

What made me a fan of Hearns more is not really their skills in the ring, it was more their attitude. Tommy went through losses brushed himself off and fought anyone I went into Hearns/Leonard one wanted Ray to win. And I was so happy when he stopped Hearns. After that he played these games retire don't retire. Bring Hagler to the auditorium to announce it will never happen. I never understood bringing Hagler there to say it won't happen. He had no embarrassment for that. So Ray plays games and Hearns keeps fighting and winning titles and to me that proved more. He was a quiet guy who didn't have the attitude and games Ray had. He was just who he was and it made you like him more, although he also didn't have the personality of Ray. Hearns was there the whole decade fighting anyone even guys like Dewitt and Sutherland. Ray was at ringside.

 

I've just never liked Leonard at all.

He's always come across to me as false and insincere when he's interviewed or appearing on TV.

He steals another fighter's nickname, he raises his arms in victory just because his opponent's legs wobbled and then trying to do the Ali shuffle against Duran just adds to my irritation.

He can't even think up his own gimmicks.

And he can't do the Ali shuffle either. He just looks like a tw*t.

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Agreed .. I knew Hearns was my guy long before their fight and I was young .. He had that bada** aura about him and I knew he was going to be the fighter who was going to take on anyone until the end. And I didn't get that feeling from Ray.. Tommy just looked and was tough .. Not to mention the coolest nickname Motor City Cobra. I was pissed when it was changed because he fought just like that .. a Cobra

 

Exactly, I bought into the Ray Leonard personality and the 7-up thing and little Ray and I rooted for him against Duran and I was impressed with that, and then I rooted for him against Hearns. But then games started after. He knew he was huge after Hearns and knew he could market that and he sure wanted to. Coming back and not coming back. Even that Baltimore Maryland auditorium. Hagler had to come there and be in the audience. I would think Hagler thought for sure he would the get the fight. Even Cosell was there. And Ray loved it all. "this will be one of the greatest fights. Talk about Fort Knox. But it will never happen"something like that. Hagler must have been so pissed off. I think it worked out well. I think Ray would have always probably beaten Hagler so had he beaten Marvin, then the fights between Hagler and Hearns or Duran would not been made, and we needed those. Ray just played the games. After Howard. "I am finished for good" And someone in the audience says "whoa". I don't see what the whoa was about. In it all Hagler,Hearns and Duran fought on took some punishment. And Hearns fought at a pretty high level and beat Benitez and Duran and fought Hagler. Duran fought on also and beat good guys, not the Benitez and Hearns levels, but he was very good. Top notch. And Marvin fought the top middleweights and wanted the 3 guys Duran,Hearns and Leonard later.So I respected that. I am repeating what I said, but I cannot stress it enough. I like Ray. I think he is great. I rate him over Hagler,Hearns and Duran and Benitez. I have to because of his wins over them. He was versatile. Yet I agree his longevity was not much. I don't think he was the stronger guy mentally of the 4. I remember how Ray used his bs. I am not sure which fight it was where he came out to a Michael Jackson song "leave me alone" like he Michael Jackson being hounded by the press. Ray loved all that stuff. He wanted that aura.

 

He was great though. Beat all the legends who were his contemporaries. Today he really gives credit to Hearns and Duran and Hagler because he has to. They are his legacy so he better make them the best who ever laced them up and they are some of the best. I don't think those 3 are top 10 ATG-but Ray probably is barely. Maybe near 10.. They are all within I think top 25, and together they make up one of the most exciting eras which Ray has to build up so he is remembered like them.

 

Their subsequent fights showed that there wasn't much difference between them. I was waiting til I read all the posts before posting but you're right Flash; that LH to the body took the wind out of Tommy's sails and, although Hearns rallied and won rounds after that, IMO that shot in the sixth s-l-o-w-l-y spelled Hearn's defeat.