Hearns, the Hit Man's peak was...?

[80s champs]

I'm a big fan of Hearns since the first fight with Leonard,1981,and I could watch his fights over and over. So when was his peak performance? Steward said the Shuler fight,but that Duran fight was just sheer frightning!!

[Thread Stealer]

Probably the destruction of Duran.

Outboxing Benitez was another terrific performance.

[Duodenum]

Hagler. He was coming off the win over Duran, and was primed for his superfight substitute in place of SRL's refusal to rematch him, then delivered the hardest punch of his career on the P4P hardest chin of all-time, fracturing his right hand in the process. Ultimately in boxing, the immovable object prevails over the irresistible force.

[bill poster]

My fav. fighter
I look at Hearn's very early career and his defence was better than it was later on- he didnt seem to take a step back after a while and it cost him

[Robbi]

1980-1984.

[redrooster]

between the Duran and Shuler fights.

[80s champs]

Hagler??? Good point,but at the same time,Hagler kept pressing Hearns,not allowing him to be offensive,and he knew that was the only way to beat the Hit Man. So a lot of Hearn's Punches,I think,did'nt have the leverage of the Argressive type Hearns,but that right hand he landed in the first round,though it was more toward the top of Hagler's dome,would have taken out many fighters. Now the punch Hearns landed on Duran,flush on the side of the face,that could have landed on Hagler would have been interesting. I think though Hagler was just too much for Hearns at that time,now the more bulked up Hearns later on would have been more interesting. He was knocking out much bigger guys than Hagler could have because Hearns could handle the weight. Oh I wish they rematched,Darn Leonard!! But He had the right,even though he was out of the picture for so long.

[Robbi]

between the Duran and Shuler fights.

Well thats a very short prime in your opinion. Two fights, Hutchings and Hagler. Complete nonsense to put it mildly.

[JohnThomas1]

Well thats a very short prime in your opinion. Two fights, Hutchings and Hagler. Complete nonsense to put it mildly.

The thread actually asks for peak performance. Of course Rooster has his usual wierd spin on things.

His peak performance was Duran. This fight was at his peak weight IMO and coming off this fight he was at his best ever. He was peak period going into the Hagler fight but not peak weight.

[jedijojo]

The thread actually asks for peak performance. Of course Rooster has his usual wierd spin on things.

His peak performance was Duran. This fight was at his peak weight IMO and coming off this fight he was at his best ever. He was peak period going into the Hagler fight but not peak weight.

From 82 to 86 he was at his absolute best.

[redrooster]

Well thats a very short prime in your opinion. Two fights, Hutchings and Hagler. Complete nonsense to put it mildly.

You didn't read the title carefully enough. Peak, not prime.

[Robbi]

The thread actually asks for peak performance. Of course Rooster has his usual wierd spin on things.

His peak performance was Duran. This fight was at his peak weight IMO and coming off this fight he was at his best ever. He was peak period going into the Hagler fight but not peak weight.


Got yaaa. Silly me.

[JohnThomas1]

From 82 to 86 he was at his absolute best.

You'd have to include 1980 and 1981 IMO. Some even argue they were his best years.

[sweet_scientist]

I'd say the Duran performacne was his most devastating, but if you look at the calibre of opponent that was in front of him, it's got to be the Ray Leoanrd fight. Showed what a great boxer he was, outclassing Ray for vast portions of the fight, and showed what great versatility he had, being able to change tactics and box on the move when he needed to buy time and space in troubling moments.

He didn't quite come through, becuase Ray was THAT great of a fighter, but it was still an impressive performance all the same.