Hearns v Pipino Cueves

[marbleheadmaui]

At the time of that fight a lot of people thought Hearns was going too far too fast. IIRC it was a pick'em fight.

Pipino Cuevas was on a run throught the welters that made Tyson's run through the heavies pale in comparison. Pipino really only had a single punch, a left hook, but it was one of the savage punches the sport has ever seen. Something like ten defenses nine by KO and he'd broken two jaws, one eye socket and knocked out teeth along the way. That's not hyperbole. His punches literally broke bones time after time.

Pipino started his career slow and he finished it badly. He partied hard all along the way. But at that time? Hewas viewed as perhaps the most dangerous puncher in the sport.

An unquestionably great win.

But historically the way you phrased two dominating wins over HOFers isn't actually that rare.

Joe Louis absolutely DRILLED HOFers Billy Conn (second fight), Max Baer, Max Schmeling, Jack Sharkey and John Henry Lewis.

Jack Dempsey drilled HOFers Jess Willard, George Carpentier, Billy Miske and Battling Levinsky.

Ezzard Charles dominated and stopped HOFers Archie Moore, LLoyd Marshall (twice) and Jimmy Bivins.

Sandy Saddler dominated Willie Pep and Old Bones Joe Brown, stopping both.

Those are just off the top of my head. My guess is there are 25-30 guys who have done that.

But that's not a lot. Dominating HOFers, except at the end of their careers, is unusual.

The win over Pipino I have always thought was a central part of Hearns' greatness.