Leonard Hearns was overrated in the sense of entertainment

[warp1432]

I watched this fight today and while it's a great one, it's overrated in terms of greatness. Granted it was a really good fight, it was to one sided/to dull at times to be an all time great.


Granted it was a match up between two ATG's it seemed to one sided at times by hearns. I had it 115-113 for Hearns after 12, a little bit closer then what the judges had it. It didn't seem one sided on the scorecard, but minus like 6, 7, and 8 (which was the best rounds of fight) and of course the last two rounds it really was one sided for hearns.

It was a great match and I like watching boxing fights like that, but Pryor Arguello is a way better fight. I think it's overrated in the terms of entertainment value.

Hell of a match up/comeback though. Leonard's hand speed is amazing and Hearns' jab and right hand. Man.

[Thread Stealer]

It wasn't really good in terms of action. It was great in terms of skill level and drama, though.

I wouldn't have called it the 1981 Fight of the Year.

Caveman Lee-John LoCicero was better. Wild, vicious brawl.

[MANGLER]

I agree. It was a good boxing match wit a dramatic ending, but not one of those fights I watch over and over. That fight is remembered due to its importance rather than its greatness in terms of action. The rematch was actually better imo.

[Smokin'J]

Though, I really liked the first one 'cause of the comeback didn't watch the second match. Trying to find it.

[Silencers]

The total roll reversals between them was great IMO, Leonard the supposedly better boxer turned into the stalker about 5 rounds in while Hearns the supposed bigger puncher turned into the boxer, it wasn't a great action fight, it wasn't an all out war but it was fought at a very high skill level and the ending was as dramatic as it gets.

[ManiacCop]

The total roll reversals between them was great IMO, Leonard the supposedly better boxer turned into the stalker about 5 rounds in while Hearns the supposed bigger puncher turned into the boxer, it wasn't a great action fight, it wasn't an all out war but it was fought at a very high skill level and the ending was as dramatic as it gets.

Well said my man.

[wpink1]

I watched this fight today and while it's a great one, it's overrated in terms of greatness. Granted it was a really good fight, it was to one sided/to dull at times to be an all time great.


Granted it was a match up between two ATG's it seemed to one sided at times by hearns. I had it 115-113 for Hearns after 12, a little bit closer then what the judges had it. It didn't seem one sided on the scorecard, but minus like 6, 7, and 8 (which was the best rounds of fight) and of course the last two rounds it really was one sided for hearns.

It was a great match and I like watching boxing fights like that, but Pryor Arguello is a way better fight. I think it's overrated in the terms of entertainment value.

Hell of a match up/comeback though. Leonard's hand speed is amazing and Hearns' jab and right hand. Man.

Hmmmm what you just said is two things I have always said.

Leonard won all the action packed violent rounds, most should have been scored two point rounds.

By listing 5 rounds out of 14, you listed half of the fight. Except with the 1st round or two very seldomly being action packed rounds expect for fights like hagler hearns, and paquio Marquez.

You have to keep in mind also several things that made this fight enormous.

1. The skill level between these two fighters. You have 2 all time top pound per pound greats at their peak level and weight (hearns maybe at 154, but he was 32-0 with 30 ko's at welter so we cant down him at welterweight now).
2. A class of boxer vs slugger.
3. Media darling gold medal vs the Motor city slugger a blue collar dream who flat out killed people in the ring. Example Cuevas...
4. A great great build up plan by Dundee and leonard. Who First beat Benetiex, then his major major wars with Duran, with Hearns in builing up paralel steam with a devasating ko record, and throwing a duck a leonard in his press conference hyping the 2nd Duran fight.
5. Leoard was the money of boxing, and a small mans ali at the time with all the commercial endorsements.
6. The fight iself saw violence, saw role reversals saw several things not seen before in Leonard the pretty boy having a huge closed Eye and fighting on, and Hearns being hurt and being backed up and fighting on.
7. You have all the stars there..All of them.


These are some of the reasons why this was a all time classic fight. No it was not a Hagler Hearns. Leonard clearly before the fight said, that he would not engage hearns in the early rounds in a slugfest, and knew he would lose some early rounds. That was his plan. He also planned bringing on in the middle to later rounds to stop Hearns. This was his plan, as documented in the Sports illustrated the week before the big fight, title the Showdown.

[BattlingNelson]

The total roll reversals between them was great IMO, Leonard the supposedly better boxer turned into the stalker about 5 rounds in while Hearns the supposed bigger puncher turned into the boxer, it wasn't a great action fight, it wasn't an all out war but it was fought at a very high skill level and the ending was as dramatic as it gets.

And add in the historical significance which was recognized at the time, you have a fight of the year. Some fights might have had more action, as mentioned by threadstealer, but this was a great significant fight with great skill and surprising tactics.

[lparm]

The total roll reversals between them was great IMO, Leonard the supposedly better boxer turned into the stalker about 5 rounds in while Hearns the supposed bigger puncher turned into the boxer, it wasn't a great action fight, it wasn't an all out war but it was fought at a very high skill level and the ending was as dramatic as it gets.

Agreed, I remember the DLH-Quartey fight and people said it was the 90's version of Leonard-Hearns, and one boxing writer compared the 2 fights saying L-H has 3 great rounds and DLH-Q had 2-3 great rounds so in his mind they were the same. I personally think for drama Leonard-Hearns was probably one of the most dramatic fights I've seen but for the best drama watch JCC-Taylor.

[Silencers]

And add in the historical significance which was recognized at the time, you have a fight of the year. Some fights might have had more action, as mentioned by threadstealer, but this was a great significant fight with great skill and surprising tactics.

Indeed, a very significant fight, 2 fighters in their prime in a unification fight, Ray Leonard the American darling, Tommy Hearns had all of Detriot behind him, of course at the time, people at the time didn't realize they would go on to become ATGs but them being ATGs adds to the fight.

Agreed, I remember the DLH-Quartey fight and people said it was the 90's version of Leonard-Hearns, and one boxing writer compared the 2 fights saying L-H has 3 great rounds and DLH-Q had 2-3 great rounds so in his mind they were the same. I personally think for drama Leonard-Hearns was probably one of the most dramatic fights I've seen but for the best drama watch JCC-Taylor.

I found Leonard-Hearns to be a much better fight than DLH-Quartey but I guess there were similar parallels to each other. I agree, it was one of the most dramatic endings I've ever seen in a fight.