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

[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

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.

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