Why was Barkley able to Beat Hearn's

[mickey malone]

I think Barkley was also much overlooked in the skill department too which was why he was a tough fight for anybody. He had a very good jab, nice counter shots (especially the left counter), and generally underrated boxing ability. Not saying he was Whitaker by any stretch, but if he was around today he'd be kicking ass at 160 big time.



You could have just as easily given the decision to Barkley mate. Really, really close fight that Duran would have lost without the knock down.

Absolutely, and like Hearn's is possibly the biggest ww of all time, i can't think of a bigger man than Barkley at 160, so they were a great match really..
Shame there was'nt a rubber match, could've made Barkley an atg..

[BennyST]

Absolutely, and like Hearn's is possibly the biggest ww of all time, i can't think of a bigger man than Barkley at 160, so they were a great match really..
Shame there was'nt a rubber match, could've made Barkley an atg..

Man, I'll say. He ended up at heavyweight stopping Gerrie Coetzee, WBC heavyweight champ, so he was a big dude.

Just seeing how he dwarfed Duran was incredible. Looked like he was going to annihilated.

[Daddy T]

Barkley against Duran is one of my favourite fights. Early on it really didn't look like Duran could do it. This would be like floyd or pac moving up to middleweight and beating GGG.

[Luccio]

Largely, because he was'nt fazed by the hitman, his power, or his reputation.. Arguments can be made for a lucky punch in their 1st fight, bu

what makes a punch lucky?

Not at all, it was a close fight.

no 😜

Destroyed him by winning a split decision?

duran wrecked im
fixed fight doe...

I hate all of this bullshît about Hearns' not having a good chin. When he was a respectable fighter, he was only ever stopped by elite fighters: That being Leonard, Hagler and Barkley. Some people might go and say that Barkley is not an great fighter, but if nothing else he had a great punch. So consider that myth debunked.

Hearns was legendary power puncher.
bu he was the khan of his day as far as chin goes.

could dish it out but wasnt enough of a man to take it back...

[billeau2]

A little history on Barkley: South Bronx raised, leader of biggest street gang in the area...the one person considered meaner and tougher was his big sister...Not making this up!

Very tough hombre. Some guys come up "tough" and it may not translate when they become fighters against other tough individuals, but Ian took that toughness and craziness and translated it into a usable force in the ring. Sometimes the tougher guy beats the more technical guy.

[TonyGe]

Duran beat him but it was a close fight. Barkley showed skills that people didn't know he had and Duran took some hellacious shots. Gil Clancey who was providing color was in awe of what Duran was doing that night.

[TonyGe]

what makes a punch lucky?



no 😜



duran wrecked im
fixed fight doe...



Hearns was legendary power puncher.
bu he was the khan of his day as far as chin goes.

could dish it out but wasnt enough of a man to take it back...

I wish all the present fighters were even just half the man Hearns was. Hearns was a warrior that fought on too long.

[Luccio]

I wish all the present fighters were even just half the man Hearns was. Hearns was a warrior that fought on too long.

well to be fair he didnt really take a lot of punches in his career...

not for a guy with 67 fights at least....