"Nobody outboxes a prime Thomas Hearns"

I'd like to address this growing legend. Apparently no one in history is capable of outboxing Thomas Hearns.

Of Course this legend was born in the fight Ray Leonard fight, in which Leonard...perceived as a master boxer, was unable to outbox Tommy. The feeling, therefore was that since Leonard couldn't do it, no one could. Also Tommy won a decision over Benitez who was himself known as an elusive boxer.

So, two fights and suddenly no one in history could have outboxed Hearns.

Nonsense.

First of all, Leonard..regardless of the myth, wasn't a particularly elusive fighter. He was slick, yes, but he's boxing was predicated on him usually having greater reach and handspeed than his opponents (footspeed too). (and yet Duran was outboxing him often in spots) He wasn't a super adaptable fighter mid fight or a clever cagey tricky fighter. He was a slick speedster with good footspeed and chin and heart to match. Let's not get carried away here.

Hearns AT LEAST matched him for handspeed and had the edge in reach and height and so naturally in terms of boxing, Leonard would have difficulty stylewise.

Benitez was also giving away 3 inches in height to Hearns and a few inches in reach and the Benitez that Hearns fought was on the downslide of his career in any event.

Hearns had good boxing skills, no doubt, but let's not pretend that he'd have the same success against other fighters in history would would have matched or beaten him in handspeed and/or height reach and ring smarts. name ONE fighter that Hearns outboxed that matched him in height and reach and/or handspeed that was elusive and smart in the ring? Just one.

Off teh top of my head, I pick the following fighters to be able to outbox a prime Middleweight Hearns for example:

Bernard Hopkins
Michael Nunn
Roy Jones Jnr


Destruction and Mayhem has Spoken!!

 

Reach is a major quality of a fighter. Saying that without his reach advantage Hearns wouldn't be as good a boxer is like saying that PBF without his speed would not be great at all: truth, but silly.

Hearns was at his best at welterweight and I can't think of any welterweight in the history who could outbox him there, if by outboxing we mean jab and move style of fighting

 

At what parts of the fight was Duran outboxing Hearns? There's only 2 rounds to the fight before Duran got annihilated, so I'm curious as to which parts you're referring to in particular.

 

I agree.

The point is, there is a growing myth that Hearns couldn't have been outboxed, regardless of the attributes of his opponent. I just happen to think that Hearns usually feasted on fighters shorter than himself (many times MUCH shorter) or much slower than himself.

Whenever Hearns is in a MM, the feeling is that his opponent has to knock him out or else would lose. I disagree.

I can't see Hearns outboxing Hopkins or Nunn or Jones as already mentioned and he'd have to fight his heart out to have beaten McCallum at 154lbs.

 

At middleweight, Carlos Monzon probably would have outboxed him.

 

Duran outboxing Leonard not Hearns. Read it again. Hearns annihilated Duran...I'm obviously not referring to that fight.

 

At Junior Middle, McCallum would have beaten him within 8 rounds, working that body and landing left hooks to the head.

 

Don't lie

"Duran Outslicked Hearns" - slystaff

 

It threw me off when you said that "he's boxing was predicated on him usually having greater reach and handspeed than his opponents".

This describes Hearns more than Leonard in my opinion. Leonard wasn't known for greater reach, just handspeed. Anyways you probably just changed your post and switched the names. KIDDING!!!!!!

 

LOL

Come on.

 

:atu:

 

I saw it too. D and M claimed that Duran made Hearns look stupid for long periods and masterfully outboxed him

 

What a moron!

 

New name, same old Stafford. :shit:

Changing your forum handle doesn't make your act any less stale or headache inducing.

Second (or second hundred) verse, same as the first...pick a great fighter from a previous era and try to make him seem less than he really was.

 

Why did you change your name in the first place Stafford?

 

It took McCallum 10 rounds to put away the wannabe Hearns in McCrory, and he struggled early.

 

No one out boxed a prime Thomas Hearns.

Then again, he avoided Mike McCallum.

 

if it wasn't for his height, reach, speed, and power Hearns wouldn't have outboxed anyone!

 

What weltwerweights do you think could have outboxed Hearns?

 

Hopkins would never, ever, ever, EVER have fought him.

 

Maybe in a mythical match up because if they had a chance to fight Floyd would rather beat every wife girlfriend and security guard he could find in order to do some jail time and avoid Hearns.

 

Sly's entire agenda right there.....

 

And that is the real question...yes I have hear/read people say a WELTERWEIGHT Hearns could NOT be outbox....

A Welter Hearns is almost impossible to outbox...only a few welters might have a chance...and MAYWEATHER Jr. is NOT one of them.

 

Mayweather would not beat Hearns. He either lose a decision if he tried to fight safe or get KO'd if he tried to fight aggressively.

 

Floyd Wouldn't Even Go Near PAUL WILLIAMS, Nevermind Tommy Hearns...




REED:kidcool:

 

Reach is as innate a quality and as relevant a factor as reaction times, power, strength, height, balance etc. Saying "so and so would never have added up to squat if they had less reach" is an idiotic statement. Needless to say this lunacy can count the USA, and particularly the intellect of the saps over at Maxboxing, as its home.

 

This.

McCrory was a destitute man's version of Hearns, ESPECIALLY above 147.

McCallum is one of those fighters that is overrated by some who feel he is underrated.

 

:atu:

 

Nobody is outboxing Hearns at 147 lbs, period.

Floyd would lose a wide decision or get stopped.