Who was better: Hearns or Leonard?

''But, If, Could, Would, etc etc. At the end of the day when they fought Leonard stopped him. Fact, so don't try and discredit Leonard's win. well, my point was that imo Hearns wasnt at his prime at 147lbs, but at 154lbs. Leonard still gets an enormous amount of credit for the win though, no doubt.

Leaonrd defeated Benitez when Benitez was UNDEFEATED, that is more impressive for me. When they fought LEONARD BEAT HIM FAIR AND SQUARE Leonard ended the 7 year reign of Hagler, something which Hearns cound't do. Leonard in his prime or near his prime would of never lost to Iran Barkely twice. Kalue in his prime was just as good as Hill, and when Hill fought Hearns he froze and admitts he did. If you say so. I think Benitez was better at 154lbs myself, undefeated or not. not to mention that Benitez shouldnt have been undefeated going into the Leonard fight, because he got a gift over Bruce Curry. so the 'undefeated' thing doesnt hold much weight to me. Leonard's win over Hearns was fantastic, youll get no argument from me. but Hearns VERY clearly should have beaten Leonard the second time around. If Leonard>Hagler at that point(if you had him winning that fight) then Hearns' win over Leonard should be about as good as Leonards win over Hagler. Hill was the best fighter at 175lbs...Kalule was the best fighter at 154lbs. generally, you would give more credit for the win over the heavier man. I mean, even to this day Roy Jones' win over Hill has to be his best win at 175lbs. that says a lot about Hearns. the Barkley losses I have no argument against. Those losses alone may be the reason why Leonard>Hearns, sadly.

I actually think that if Hearns and Leonard had fought at 154, Hearns would have beaten him. Hearns was overall his best at 154lbs. power, speed, even better in the durability and stamina department. lets face it...If Hearns and Leonard had fought in a 12 round fight, Hearns would have walked away with a convincing 9-3 round decision win. Which doesnt matter that much, but it should be taken into account a little. I can understand the debate, but the answer is quite clear to me. Hearns disposed of Duran in convincing fashion. That was a world class win. Leonard's experiences with Duran were totally different. Taking Duran as a benchmark.......Hearns wins the debate. Haggler is not a benchmark because he beat Leonard. That outcome was a robbery in my opinion. IN FACT, Haggler was the best of the three. But that is not the question of the thread.

Some fighters are just made for other fighters. This was the case with Duran-Leonard and Duran-Hearns. Duran is the type of fighter who will take your shots and fight with you. He was successful against Leonard the first time because Leonard tried to play Duran's game of stand-in fighting. That wasn't a good idea since Duran had a great chin and could take Leonard's shots easily. Leonard did defeat him in two other rematches, though. That was because he decided to use his quick feet and fast punches to his advantage. Hearns was all wrong for Duran. Not only did he have a great size advantage but he was pound-for-pound one of the best punchers, at the time. Duran got knocked out and it was bound to happen. Leonard beat Hagler after coming off a long layoff while Hearns lost to him while both were active. And Leonard beat Benitez more convincingly than Hearns did. Both were great fighters who would dominate the division today but I got Leonard over Hearns.

I actually think that if Hearns and Leonard had fought at 154, Hearns would have beaten him. Hearns was overall his best at 154lbs. power, speed, even better in the durability and stamina department. lets face it...If Hearns and Leonard had fought in a 12 round fight, Hearns would have walked away with a convincing 9-3 round decision win. Which doesnt matter that much, but it should be taken into account a little. ''But, If, Could, Would, etc etc. At the end of the day when they fought Leonard stopped him. Fact, so don't try and discredit Leonard's win.

It is really close, as much as I don't want to say it Leonard had the better career. For me it comes down to two fights, Leonard beating Hearns and Hagler beating Hearns. They are even until you get to that point for me, and Hearns losing those two fights puts him behind Leonard, even if Hearns may have been a better fighter.

How can you say that they were both in there primes when Leonard beat him.I actually think that if Hearns and Leonard had fought at 154, Hearns would have beaten him. Hearns was overall his best at 154lbs. power, speed, even better in the durability and stamina department. lets face it...If Hearns and Leonard had fought in a 12 round fight, Hearns would have walked away with a convincing 9-3 round decision win. Which doesnt matter that much, but it should be taken into account a little.

Hearns beat Benitez as well, at Benitez's best weight imo He also beat Duran, and never lost to him imo his win over Virgil Hill>the Ayub Kalule win He beat Leonard right after Leonard 'beat' Hagler...he should get about as much credit as Leonard's win over Hagler Hearns was way ahead of Leonard before the late fight KO, and imo his other 10+ wins over top ranked contenders just about evens it out for me. Leaonrd defeated Benitez when Benitez was UNDEFEATED, that is more impressive for me. When they fought LEONARD BEAT HIM FAIR AND SQUARE Leonard ended the 7 year reign of Hagler, something which Hearns cound't do. Leonard in his prime or near his prime would of never lost to Iran Barkely twice. Kalue in his prime was just as good as Hill, and when Hill fought Hearns he froze and admitts he did.

I took Hearns simply because I like him better and his style of fighting better. SRL is obviously an ATG and it's hard to judge which of the two is actually better but as I stated, Hearns gets my vote.

Leonard...... Ray's wins are incredible......... Wifred Benitez (38-0) Roberto Duran (72-1) x2 Ayub Kalule (36-0) Thomas Hearns (32-0) Marvin Hagler (62-2) .5 Weight World Champion Hearns in his own right is a ATG fighter, but he wasnt as great as Leonard was. Hearns beat Benitez as well, at Benitez's best weight imo He also beat Duran, and never lost to him imo his win over Virgil Hill>the Ayub Kalule win He beat Leonard right after Leonard 'beat' Hagler...he should get about as much credit as Leonard's win over Hagler Hearns was way ahead of Leonard before the late fight KO, and imo his other 10+ wins over top ranked contenders just about evens it out for me.

So your saying the only reason Leonard was greater is because of marketing? Don't talk Bullshit, Leonard was the greater fighter due to being more consistet, having the better wins and beating Hearns when they fought. Sorry, but I disagree. Hearns was better than Leonard, IMO.

TOTALLY AGREED. And the same can be said for Tszyu. Thank you for finally saying what needed to be said. Hearns was extraordinary, he just didn't have the marketing team that Leonard had............or the smile. Sad but true. So your saying the only reason Leonard was greater is because of marketing? Don't talk Bullshit, Leonard was the greater fighter due to being more consistet, having the better wins and beating Hearns when they fought.

I know most people will say Leonard, because Leonard beat Hearns when they were both at WW...and that may be the right answer. but honestly, I think its up for debate. The number of highly ranked fighters Hearns beat is staggering. Clyde Gray, Harold Weston, Bruce Curry, Angel Espada, Pipino Cuevas, Luis Primera, Randy Shields, Wilfred Benitez, Murray Sutherland, Roberto Duran, Fred Hutchings, James Shuler, Mark Medal, Doug Dewitt, Dennis Andreas, James Kinchen, Virgil Hill. Every one of these fighters was at least in the top 10 when he beat them, most of them were at least in the top 5. He should even have a win over Leonard right after Leonard's win over Hagler...in other words, if you consider Leonard to have won that fight and considered the best at Middleweight at the time, then Hearns should get a huge amount of credit for that robbery that should be a win. While Leonard did not have nearly as many good wins...his wins over Hearns(at WW) and Hagler alone seem to seperate him from Hearns. well, that and Hearns' losses to Barkley. I feel like Hearns is more accomplished than Leonard. but maybe his losses alone set him right below Leonard. which is too bad. thoughts? TOTALLY AGREED. And the same can be said for Tszyu. Thank you for finally saying what needed to be said. Hearns was extraordinary, he just didn't have the marketing team that Leonard had............or the smile. Sad but true.

Leonard...... Ray's wins are incredible......... Wifred Benitez (38-0) Roberto Duran (72-1) x2 Ayub Kalule (36-0) Thomas Hearns (32-0) Marvin Hagler (62-2) .5 Weight World Champion Hearns in his own right is a ATG fighter, but he wasnt as great as Leonard was.