Was Hearns v Leonard II one of the best performances of Tommy's career?

[DINAMITA]

Thoughts? :bbb

[teeto]

Not in my opinion, i mean he fought well that night, but i just thought Leonard was a lot sharper with what work was done by each in that bout. Maybe that's a bit harsh taking something from a man for not beig as sharp as Ray Leonard, but i wouldn't say it was quite as good as s0me of his more youthful performances, though it was good, two knockdowns says a lot even against that version of Ray

[redrooster]

Tommy was extremely faded coming in and showed it. Looked soft and round, no definition. He even looked slow before the fight started. Completely lifeless-No life in him at all.

[TBooze]

As KO said after, Tommy got what The Motor City Cobra needed from that bout; Redemption....

It was hardly vintage Hitman, nor for that matter did we see much of the old Sugar Ray; but much like the Thrilla in Manila, we saw two formerly brilliant fighters giving everything they had left.

The result, although not in the class of the first fight, was just as compelling and intense.

[teeto]

For the record i only scored it once, but i had it a draw! Not sure what the consensus is on here, but i know it was largely viewed as an inustice on the hitman

[TBooze]

For the record i only scored it once, but i had it a draw! Not sure what the consensus is on here, but i know it was largely viewed as an inustice on the hitman


I had it 113/112 to Tommy. Tommy IMO won the fight overall well; but the way 10 point must works (basically you score 12 individual fights) means IMO at best you can only give it to Hearns by a point.

So a one point Leonard win or a 112/112 draw seems fair. And that is how all three judges had it!

[Russell]

Tommy was extremely faded coming in and showed it. Looked soft and round, no definition. He even looked slow before the fight started. Completely lifeless-No life in him at all.

Well, if you believe Hearn's Leonard might have been roiding' to bulk up. Believe he said that in regards to his appearance at the weigh in, flexing his muscles and all that shit.

Hearn's wasn't exactly a guy embellish or a immodest guy.

[80s champs]

I remember it well. And saw it live on closed circuit. Considering what Hearns was suppose to have left,his intense motivation for this fight (including his brother getting involved in a murder the night before the fight, which could have bothered him,but really didn't),gave him a great performance against another great who was suppose to be superior,and for a guy with a fair chin, he held up really well against Leonard's bombs. MOTIVATION was his advantage that night.

[Fedor Em]

I actually think Hearns put on a better performance in the first fight. Even in a loss he went up against the 2nd greatest welterweight ever in his absolute prime and nearly won the fight.

[GPater11093]

what wuld you guys say is his best performance i say duran

[Rebel-INS]

what wuld you guys say is his best performance i say duran

The Cuevas, Benitez and Hill wins are all up there.

[GPater11093]

they are all good but i think he completly destroyed DURAN

[Bokaj]

I've only watched it once, but had a close but clear victory for Hearns. I was extremely impressed by how he conducted himself afterwards, though. Truly beautifully.

[Rebel-INS]

they are all good but i think he completly destroyed DURAN

He also completely destroyed Cuevas who was champ, at his prime weight and hit like a truck.

[GPater11093]

He also completely destroyed Cuevas who was champ, at his prime weight and hit like a truck.

suppose though

but im a big fan of duran and noone did that to duran execpt hearns

[Rebel-INS]

suppose though

but im a big fan of duran and noone did that to duran execpt hearns

You're right about that, Duran was a fucking brilliant fighter and that was a fantastic win for Hearns, who is my favourite fighter of all time.
But the Cuevas win is that little bit more special in my eyes.

[GPater11093]

yeh the cuevas win was amazing but its all our differnt opinions

[ThinBlack]

yeh the cuevas win was amazing but its all our differnt opinions


What about Mike Colbert?

[MAG1965]

what wuld you guys say is his best performance i say duranProbably Duran. Then Benitez and Cueves.Virgil Hill was a great performance in that he was older and his skills diminishing,but he fought his fight and outboxed the undefeated light heavyweight champion.

[JohnnyB]

Given a lot of people felt at the time that Ray waited until Tommy was shot to fight him again Hearns pulled together a great performance on the night. The Hitman won the fight from my memory but I haven't watched it in donkeys.

I have always believed Tommy was all wrong for Duran. Roberto has his excuses about not training for the fight and partying in Miami with a $100,000 advance he got for signing up for the fight but I reckon Tommy with his power at 6'1 was just a step too far for any version of Duran. Just a plain and simple mismatch for me.

I agree with the people above that put Cuevas and Benitez as Tommy's best wins.

[Mike T]

Tommy was all wrong for Duran at 154. Younger, motivated Duran at 147 is a diffrent animal... Tommy still ko's him later.

[fists of fury]

It was a hard-fought, close fight that I think still delivered the goods in terms of drama and excitement, if not quite the quality of their first encounter. Both were heavier, many years older and slower, and it showed.

I watched the first and second fights back to back the other night, and I must say that both had slowed quite alarmingly since their first fight. You don't get such a strong impression of it until you watch both fights right after each other.

But still, both fighters displayed great courage and heart...something neither fighter ever lacked. Great fight.

I just got Sugar Ray Leonard's new book (came out last year) and in it he admits that Tommy deserved the decision.

[Stevie G]

Thoughts? :bbb

Tommy performed above expectation level in Leonard II. And he just about earned the decision,imo. His best performances were when he was younger.
Such as -

Benitez
Duran
Shuler.

[JudgeDredd]

Cuevas
Duran
Hill

[Stevie G]

Hutchins.