Who was the best out of Leonard, Duran, Hearns, and Hagler?

Every time I think about this question, I come up with a good argument...and it's immediately confronted by an equally compelling counter-argument. That's a testament to the greatness of these fighters. What a time it was for boxing...a time when giants roamed the earth. The best fighter amongst the four is "Sugar" Ray Leonard. The greatest (which isn't necessarily the same thing) is Roberto Duran. Marvin Hagler comes in a close third. As awesome a fighter as Thomas Hearns was, it almost doesn't make sense that he pulls up the rear on this list. This man was an amazing boxer-puncher with a crushing right hand. Tommy was the original Paul Williams, only much, much better. If the punch Shane Mosley caught Floyd Mayweather with had been delivered by the "Hitman," Floyd would've woken up in the dressing room asking, "Where's my belt?" Hearns was just unlucky to have been fighting in the same years as Hagler and Leonard; otherwise, he would've just kept knocking down all-comers. You'll be hard pressed to find a more devastating KO than the one the "Motor City Cobra" put on the otherwise granite-chinned Duran.

Leonard. Easily.... easily.

Hagler for me but a case can be made for all of 'em

The bottom line is that SRL fought Hagler, whether you like him or not. There are no excuses. How are you ducking somebody if you fight them? Do you even realize what you're saying? srl waited till hagler was slowing down to fight him and then he didn't give hagler a rematch.

the bottom line was that srl was ducking hagler The bottom line is that SRL fought Hagler, whether you like him or not. There are no excuses. How are you ducking somebody if you fight them? Do you even realize what you're saying?

1. Hagler 1. Duran 2. Leonard 2. Hearns As much as I appreciate SRL's mad skills he really bugs me. I don't like sneaky and Ray was as sneaky as they come. Call it intelligence, smarts, gamesmanship if you will, I call it sneaky and I don't like it. Hagler seems to me the most honest and unsneaky of the four (there really isn't much to seperate them IMO) so he gets my vote. He worked hard to get where he was and he never took his eyes off the prize. I have a ton of respect for Duran aswell, although he could be a little dirty sometimes. I find it's a lot more difficult to get hold of Hearns fights than the other three so I don't really feel I can judge him fairly. He was very impressive in the two Leonard fights and The War but that's about all I've seen of him. Things that bug me most about Leonard: 1. Making Hagler wait an eternity to fight him. 2. Mollifying the judges with his fast feather-flurries at the end of each round in the Hagler fight. 3. Not giving Hagler a rematch. 4. Waiting years to give Hearns a rematch. 5. Not squaring up to Duran in the (too soon after the first match) rematch. Instead trying to embarrass him with his slipperiness. There's no denying his skill as a boxer, but his calculated gamesmanship detracts from his achievements in my eyes. yes he was very sneaky

The bottom line is that Leonard fought Hearns and neither fighter was remotely close to their primes. the bottom line was that srl was ducking hagler

Leonard was the most dynamic of the four and also has the best win, which is his spectacular KO victory over an undefeated Hagler in their first fight. Leonard dug down deep to KO Hagler in the 14th while behind on the score cards. I remember Angelo Dundee saying," You're blowing it kid, you're blowing it." Then SRL stormed back, true greatness!

this answers your question The bottom line is that Leonard fought Hearns and neither fighter was remotely close to their primes.

1. Hagler 1. Duran 2. Leonard 2. Hearns As much as I appreciate SRL's mad skills he really bugs me. I don't like sneaky and Ray was as sneaky as they come. Call it intelligence, smarts, gamesmanship if you will, I call it sneaky and I don't like it. Hagler seems to me the most honest and unsneaky of the four (there really isn't much to seperate them IMO) so he gets my vote. He worked hard to get where he was and he never took his eyes off the prize. I have a ton of respect for Duran aswell, although he could be a little dirty sometimes. I find it's a lot more difficult to get hold of Hearns fights than the other three so I don't really feel I can judge him fairly. He was very impressive in the two Leonard fights and The War but that's about all I've seen of him. Things that bug me most about Leonard: 1. Making Hagler wait an eternity to fight him. 2. Mollifying the judges with his fast feather-flurries at the end of each round in the Hagler fight. 3. Not giving Hagler a rematch. 4. Waiting years to give Hearns a rematch. 5. Not squaring up to Duran in the (too soon after the first match) rematch. Instead trying to embarrass him with his slipperiness. There's no denying his skill as a boxer, but his calculated gamesmanship detracts from his achievements in my eyes.

Hagler was my favorite so he is my #1 but Leonard BEAT THEM ALL so I give him his credit, he should be #1

Roberto Duran.

shouldn't this be a no brainer since SRL beat them all? I think hagler would be a close 2nd ( very close fight vs SRL ), then duran 3rd, and hearns 4th. All were greats though On paper yeah. Other things to factor though. Hearns was ahead before he got stopped in the 14th of a 15 rounder at WW. He was at his best at 154 and he didn't get his rematch until years later. What if Duran waited 8 years to rematch Ray? Would people have made a big deal about it.

Gotta say Duran because of his dominance at 135 and victory over a prime Sugar. Fighting guys like Hearns and Hagler are tough tasks for him with his size and style. Even then he gave Hagler some trouble too... One thing about Hearns is he never got his quick rematch against Sugar. SRL was fortunate to get a rematch with Duran, an immediate one. If Hearns were given the same chance at say 154 who's to say he couldn't have beaten Sugar then? By the time he got his rematch they were too old, and most though Hearns won anyway. It's hard to say though, they all beat each other.

the marvelous one

shouldn't this be a no brainer since SRL beat them all? I think hagler would be a close 2nd ( very close fight vs SRL ), then duran 3rd, and hearns 4th. All were greats though

Umm, didn't Leonard fight Hagler coming off about a 2 year retirement? just go to the 2 min mark and watch the whole video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RFrwN2khM5g&feature=related

Umm, didn't Leonard fight Hagler coming off about a 2 year retirement? 3 years. Leonard had fought once in 5 years. Leonard did admit that he waited until he saw how Hagler had looked more vulnerable against Mugabi before fighting him. Hagler's legs weren't the same, reflexes were slower, and easier to hit. As it turns out, Leonard-Hagler was a fight between two fighters who had seen better days. this answers your question

Umm, didn't Leonard fight Hagler coming off about a 2 year retirement? 3 years. Leonard had fought once in 5 years. Leonard did admit that he waited until he saw how Hagler had looked more vulnerable against Mugabi before fighting him. Hagler's legs weren't the same, reflexes were slower, and easier to hit. As it turns out, Leonard-Hagler was a fight between two fighters who had seen better days.

srl was ducking hagler Umm, didn't Leonard fight Hagler coming off about a 2 year retirement?