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

[Taeth]

How do you figure? Hagler had a hard time with Duran, he relied on Hearns weak chin, and lost to a far more aged Leonard... so what exactly do you mean Hagler was better than both?

[raleights]

I think SRL showed up to fight the way Calzaghe did with Lacy. Hagler losing to him doesn't mean all that much in terms of how great he is p4p. When one of the greatest fighters of all time shows up with more focus and determination than he's ever had, and you lose a CLOSE decision. Well it's not something I read into a whole lot

[means2184]

Maybe ,...but try o remember you pace your self differently the 1st 5-6 rnds if you know your goin 15 instead of 12 ....WE"LL NEVER KNOW FOR SURE...but if u just take the fight and stop it at rnd 12 and judge it then maybe

[cockey cockney]

This is a case of ifs and buts though. Leonard turned on the heat when he needed to and won the fight. I believe he wouldda done the same in a 12 rounder, he just always seemed to have a way to win any fight.

[atomic bull]

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

BIG H, just think about this,.....if 12 rds were always the Championship distance do you realize how many major fights would have been changed? Conn would have dethroned Louis, Walcott would have retained his title vs. Marciano, Lamotte would had lost his title to Dauthile, Hearns would have been Undisputed Wwelterweight champ, Cooney would have beaten Holmes, just off the top of my head.

[BIG H]

Fair point - not sure about Cooney and Holmes though

[BIG H]

Just checking out some old threads

[ono]

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

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.

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!

I watched that fight last week and i got that impression. Leonard couldn't cope with Hearns, yet he pulled it out of the bag. Altho a different referee might have let the contest go on...stoppage was a tad premature imo.

[Howlin Mad Missy]

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

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.

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!

wow. just like Froch.