Tommy Hearns was sadly underrated...

[JAB5239]

Not so much like Wlad more like Haye during the Valuev fight or Andre Dirrell vs everybody constant movement but add the jab and hold when he gets inside the jab.

What you're not understanding my friend is that altering his style to do that takes away from Hearns natural strengths. His speed, power and height almost always allowed him to dictated a fight. If he decides to hold when he gets inside he can't rip those fantastic body shots which brought an opponents defense down. I think its more a credit to those who wouldn't let him dictate the fight than a discredit to Tommy and any minor flaws he may have had when losing. His style was perfect for him and in my opinion would be hell for any welterweight in history.

In only 1 of the 4 fights I am talking about was he really fighting an ATG level opponent and that was the first Leonard fight and if you want to argue that Leonard was just better on that night and it wasn't the flaws I can buy that. So lets focus on 3 fights Barkley 1, Barkley 2 and Leonard 2 correct me if I am wrong those were all fights Hearns was heavily favored in. Hearns warrior instincts is what did him in he had the ability to dictate those fights(yes even with 1 hand against Barkley that's still a fight Hearns should have dictated)

Leonard was favored in their second meeting. Took a little digging, but this is all I could find about that.

P.S Didn't Barkley break his hand in that fight also?

I honestly don't remember but I haven't found any mention of it. That of course doesn't mean it didn't happen.

[SCtrojansbaby]

You can have both the amazing exciting style that made his fights so exciting & took advantage of all the physical gifts while still having the discipline to know when to "survive" rather than always fight back. But no fighter is perfect and I don't expect Hearns to be. Its just naive to say that his "fight fire with fire" instincts didn't cost him at least 3 fights and makes him very susceptible to certain styles(great chin, good power)

[JAB5239]

You can have both the amazing exciting style that made his fights so exciting & took advantage of all the physical gifts while still having the discipline to know when to "survive" rather than always fight back. But no fighter is perfect and I don't expect Hearns to be. Its just naive to say that his "fight fire with fire" instincts didn't cost him at least 3 fights and makes him very susceptible to certain styles(great chin, good power)

(Shaking my head) I've shown proof Hearns didn't always fight "fire with fire". And its obvious Hearns had a knack to survive or he would have been stopped more than 3 times in 67 fights...two of those times to a top 5 all time welter and a top 5 all time middleweight.

[SCtrojansbaby]

(Shaking my head) I've shown proof Hearns didn't always fight "fire with fire". And its obvious Hearns had a knack to survive or he would have been stopped more than 3 times in 67 fights...two of those times to a top 5 all time welter and a top 5 all time middleweight.

Yeah you showed proof of a few moments and I acknowledged those moments doesn't change anything I have posted. Just because he wasn't stopped doesn't mean he had a knack for surviving case in point being the 12th round of the 2nd Leonard fight. He didn't get KO'd buthim wanting to fight back in that round rather than survive lost him the W

[JAB5239]

Yeah you showed proof of a few moments and I acknowledged those moments doesn't change anything I have posted. Just because he wasn't stopped doesn't mean he had a knack for surviving case in point being the 12th round of the 2nd Leonard fight. He didn't get KO'd buthim wanting to fight back in that round rather than survive lost him the W

No, a crappy decision lost him the W. And you "case in point" is totally unvalidated since Hearns DID survive the 12th round.

[Rockin']

I watched Thomas grow up in boxing my kids fought Kronk kids in national competitions for years. You folks contemplate while I participated I watched the progression of almost all the American boxers that came out of the JO programs and into Open class boxing. I was the state chairman in the JO program and was the team Region one coach that took the region one team to to colo. springs colo. olympic training center.
Someone shows a fight or a few sequences of Tommy punching the body to try and discretit my observations of a fighter that I saw grow up in the sport. Thomas made his mark in the game with his right hand!!! He did turn a hook/upper cut with his left hand very well but he also made some mistakes letting it go to far away from opponents also. It happen to work against Shuller because he stayed in a shell instead of countering with a move or a punch. Anyone could punch the body when its given to you but its not like its a trade mark punch like Thomas throwing jabs to set up his KO right hand.
Its like contradicting people here is used in place of a real fight? Fan frustrations seem to run wild here at times, instead of appreciating some inside info on some of the boxers I watched grow up, and had my kids fight against, plus work in some of their corners through the years some here want to discredit. Its a shame that folks who seem so passionant about the sport use a forum as if its a ring, I grew up enjoying confrontations its a shame when they can't be settled face to face. "it wasn't his forte" hahaha really?
Ray.

What gym were you fighting out of? I was out of Livonia and Galaxy.

lol, real experience and seeing it with your own eyes means little to this forum. Who'd you ever own, pawn or belittle.... that's what counts.

I wasn't watching Hearns from his younger years but when he leaned over after that right hand to deliver that left hook to the body, its a thing of pain and a thing of beauty. I grew up boxing against the Kronk guys, I believe that I fought 3 or 4. Oba could work the body nice. Anthony Jones could tear your body up. Marlon Thomas dropped that left hook to the body in a picturesque type fashion. I remember hearing the same saying that the Kronk boys don't work the body while growing up around and in the ring. That theory always held water until you fight a Kronk fighter, they were well trained and viscious. I can tell you that I certainly remember the talk but just about every Kronk fighter that I ever threw with could touch the body well.........Rockin'

[Axlsmith]

I would agree to some degree Hearns is underrated.To many casual boxing fans who have seen a couple of his fights he is the guy who gave a good showing against Leonard and Hagler.It all depends who you talk to.Most any big boxing fan is of the opinion Hearns is an all time great

[SCtrojansbaby]

No, a crappy decision lost him the W. And you "case in point" is totally unvalidated since Hearns DID survive the 12th round.

One judge(the one who called it a draw) saw the 12th as a 10-8 round obviously that point being the deciding point in the fight. I think its safe to say that had Hearns done what I have already explained(move/hold etc) that wouldn't have been a 10-8 round and Hearns would of won the fight.

[JAB5239]

One judge(the one who called it a draw) saw the 12th as a 10-8 round obviously that point being the deciding point in the fight. I think its safe to say that had Hearns done what I have already explained(move/hold etc) that wouldn't have been a 10-8 round and Hearns would of won the fight.

You're using one instance that still doesn't prove he was "undisciplined" with "flawes". No fighter is perfect, but you're failing to take onto consideration that the other fighter has a say in how he reacts too.

[SCtrojansbaby]

You're using one instance that still doesn't prove he was "undisciplined" with "flawes". \

I can point out similar moments in Leonard 1, and both Barkley fights that cost him those fights

No fighter is perfect, but you're failing to take onto consideration that the other fighter has a say in how he reacts too.

As I said already I could buy Leonard just being better in the first fight. The other three were lost/not won because of Hearns deadly flaw of wanting to fight back and not knowing how to "survive".