Had 12 round fights been brought in sooner would Hearns be Greater than Leonard

I've always said that Hearns was good chin short of being better than Hagler and Leonard - and that his long legs let him down by going to jelly when he got hit.

Somebody (Stebs) on the other Hearns thread mentioned that Hearns was well ahead after 12 rounds of the first fight with Leonard, and I think there is little doubt he won their 2nd fight.

So if 12 round fights came in sooner, would history have Hearns above Leonard in the all time great stakes?

I think the answer is YES

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Originally Posted by BIG H

I've always said that Hearns was good chin short of being better than Hagler and Leonard - and that his long legs let him down by going to jelly when he got hit.

Somebody (Stebs) on the other Hearns thread mentioned that Hearns was well ahead after 12 rounds of the first fight with Leonard, and I think there is little doubt he won their 2nd fight.

So if 12 round fights came in sooner, would history have Hearns above Leonard in the all time great stakes?

I think the answer is YES

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You train differently for different amounts of rounds. What you are saying actually can not be proven because Leonard could of changed his game plan for 12 rounds and beat the shit out of Hearns. ;)

You're right Snakey, Leonard would have felt the sense of urgency earlier on in a 12 round fight, though it's impossible to tell if he would have pulled it off.
I also agree with Big H, Hearns would have been on a par with the other two if his chin was up to their standard. He still had one hell of a chin compared to regular guys.

them three and roberto in the same era ........ best ever group of fighters without a doubt

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Originally Posted by Snakey

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Originally Posted by BIG H

I've always said that Hearns was good chin short of being better than Hagler and Leonard - and that his long legs let him down by going to jelly when he got hit.

Somebody (Stebs) on the other Hearns thread mentioned that Hearns was well ahead after 12 rounds of the first fight with Leonard, and I think there is little doubt he won their 2nd fight.

So if 12 round fights came in sooner, would history have Hearns above Leonard in the all time great stakes?

I think the answer is YES

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You train differently for different amounts of rounds. What you are saying actually can not be proven because Leonard could of changed his game plan for 12 rounds and beat the S*** out of Hearns. ;)

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I get your point - but in this particular case I doubt that at anytime Leonard's strategy was to get schooled for 13 rounds and then come on strong with 5 minutes of the fight left. I think he simply had no answer for Hearns and was heading for a comprehensive beating until he hit him with that big shot - fair play to him though, he pulled it out the bag!

Hearns had the measure of Leonard in terms of boxing ability IMO, he could have outboxed Hagler too but got his strategy all wrong. Hearns was my favourite fighter of the 80's but I sometimes think that his power actually hindered him at times.

What I mean is that because he knew he had one punch ko power in his right it made him stand his ground when he could actually outbox pretty much anybody & often this would be a better strategy.

Hearns was a little chinny but I still rate him as an all time great.

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Originally Posted by Googoogachoob

Hearns had the measure of Leonard in terms of boxing ability IMO, he could have outboxed Hagler too but got his strategy all wrong. Hearns was my favourite fighter of the 80's but I sometimes think that his power actually hindered him at times.

What I mean is that because he knew he had one punch ko power in his right it made him stand his ground when he could actually outbox pretty much anybody & often this would be a better strategy.

Hearns was a little chinny but I still rate him as an all time great.

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Click ;)

definitely think that if fight one was 12 rounds then leonard would have turned the heat up earlier. thats what makes him in my opinion the 2nd greatest welter of all time behind robinson

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Originally Posted by BIG H

I've always said that Hearns was good chin short of being better than Hagler and Leonard - and that his long legs let him down by going to jelly when he got hit.

Somebody (Stebs) on the other Hearns thread mentioned that Hearns was well ahead after 12 rounds of the first fight with Leonard, and I think there is little doubt he won their 2nd fight.

So if 12 round fights came in sooner, would history have Hearns above Leonard in the all time great stakes?

I think the answer is YES

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Maybe, it's impossible to tell... I always thought that they both achieved, or at least showed greatness in each of their fights.. I don't know what your on about how Hearns long legs let him down though... Because if you think about it his long legs and long frame altogether were what allowed him to hit so hard and gave him a massive reach advantage... Without them he maybe would have been more stable but it wouldn't have done anything for his chin and it would take away his biggest strengths.

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Originally Posted by p4pking

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Originally Posted by BIG H

I've always said that Hearns was good chin short of being better than Hagler and Leonard - and that his long legs let him down by going to jelly when he got hit.

Somebody (Stebs) on the other Hearns thread mentioned that Hearns was well ahead after 12 rounds of the first fight with Leonard, and I think there is little doubt he won their 2nd fight.

So if 12 round fights came in sooner, would history have Hearns above Leonard in the all time great stakes?

I think the answer is YES

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Maybe, it's impossible to tell... I always thought that they both achieved, or at least showed greatness in each of their fights.. I don't know what your on about how Hearns long legs let him down though... Because if you think about it his long legs and long frame altogether were what allowed him to hit so hard and gave him a massive reach advantage... Without them he maybe would have been more stable but it wouldn't have done anything for his chin and it would take away his biggest strengths.

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Wot I mean about his legs is that they wobbled and turned to jelly when he got hit late in fights a la Leonard I

I doubt it. SRL would have started alot quicker. Alot of SRL's fights, he tried to break down a fighter, and get them late. He would be forced to quicken his pace. I don't like SRL, but he was great, and I can't say Hearns would be greater regardless of 12 or 15 rounds. Maybe, but we'll never really know.

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Originally Posted by BIG H

I've always said that Hearns was good chin short of being better than Hagler and Leonard - and that his long legs let him down by going to jelly when he got hit.

Somebody (Stebs) on the other Hearns thread mentioned that Hearns was well ahead after 12 rounds of the first fight with Leonard, and I think there is little doubt he won their 2nd fight.

So if 12 round fights came in sooner, would history have Hearns above Leonard in the all time great stakes?

I think the answer is YES

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No..No...NO!...Leonard would have fought completely different...so would hearns.....traing is different and so is the fight plan.....You cannot go by that......well if Zab would have fought PBF in a four rounder Zab would be champ....doesn't make sense....

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Originally Posted by BIG H

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Originally Posted by Snakey

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Originally Posted by BIG H

I've always said that Hearns was good chin short of being better than Hagler and Leonard - and that his long legs let him down by going to jelly when he got hit.

Somebody (Stebs) on the other Hearns thread mentioned that Hearns was well ahead after 12 rounds of the first fight with Leonard, and I think there is little doubt he won their 2nd fight.

So if 12 round fights came in sooner, would history have Hearns above Leonard in the all time great stakes?

I think the answer is YES

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You train differently for different amounts of rounds. What you are saying actually can not be proven because Leonard could of changed his game plan for 12 rounds and beat the S*** out of Hearns. ;)

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I get your point - but in this particular case I doubt that at anytime Leonard's strategy was to get schooled for 13 rounds and then come on strong with 5 minutes of the fight left. I think he simply had no answer for Hearns and was heading for a comprehensive beating until he hit him with that big shot - fair play to him though, he pulled it out the bag!

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No but Dundee would have told Leonard earlier that he was blowing it maybe inthe 9th round, and Leonard would have turned it on earlier.

I here all your points, but I still don't think that any strategy, training or advice from the corner, would've allowed him to be so far behind after 13 rounds, if he actually was able to do anything about it!

Hagler was still better than both of them.