Did Thomas Hearns ruin Pipino Cuevas?

[ShoulderRoll]

Going into their fight Cuevas had been world champion for 4 years, making 11 consecutive title defenses with 10 of those wins coming by stoppage.

Afterwards he went on to lose 7 of his next 12 fights and never reached the same heights again.

[Rusty Tromboni]

Kinda.

He definitely took a brutal beating. it might have been more that he hit his ceiling, though. We see a lot of grrat fighters kinda fall apart (careerwise) after losing a title fight. Being a champion isn't just about being the best and taking in ring beatings. It's a demanding lifestyle that requires a mindset and commitment that isn't necessary in regular life. Look at Tiger Woods. The dude IS one of the best athletes ever because of the focus he had. As a Boxer, you can't have a day-off. But you're constantly being tempted by life's greatest attractions. Valdez, Pryor, Tyson... tons of contemporaries had similar fates, even w/o the brutal beatdown.

Cuevas still looked good going into the fight w/ Duran. But I do think running into Tommy Hearns ****d him up mentally as much as physically.

[QueensburyRules]

- -On a p4p basis, near anyone going against that Hearns right set up by his long, super sharp jab is gonna be messed up.

[The Old LefHook]

Yeah, it ruined him because he was overrated and exposed. He had no skills. At any time I would excpect Duran, for instance, to take him apart with the same alacrity he did when they met. Cuevas normally does not even make the AT top ten welterweight rankings. No depth, no real skill.

[joseph5620]

Going into their fight Cuevas had been world champion for 4 years, making 11 consecutive title defenses with 10 of those wins coming by stoppage.

Afterwards he went on to lose 7 of his next 12 fights and never reached the same heights again.

He definitely shattered the scary Cuevas aura. I personally think he ruined him psychologically. The confidence seemed to be long gone after that.

[ShoulderRoll]

Yeah, it ruined him because he was overrated and exposed. He had no skills. At any time I would excpect Duran, for instance, to take him apart with the same alacrity he did when they met. Cuevas normally does not even make the AT top ten welterweight rankings. No depth, no real skill.

Maybe he was the product of careful matchmaking. But to make 11 title defenses in those days must not have been an easy feat. Only the WBC and WBA existed then.

Which makes me think he had to have some ability.

[#1Assassin]

you can't change a guy too much that late in his career. cuevas alwats got by on power and punch resistance. getting completely annihilated like that, not only dominated but hurt with basically every clean powershot seemed to make him lose it mentally as plenty others have already said.

perhaps physically as well, a man can only take so many headshots before he cant take them any more. he took some ******* blasts in that fight.

[toehead]

The fight right before with Randy Shields is what ruined him it was 15 rds and they gave each other a tremendous beating the Hearns fight was basically a one punch knockout after a round and a half

[ShoulderRoll]

The fight right before with Randy Shields is what ruined him it was 15 rds and they gave each other a tremendous beating the Hearns fight was basically a one punch knockout after a round and a half

Interesting. I will make it a point to watch the entire Randy Shields fight when I have some time.

Just watched the first round and it's hard to believe this lasted 15, Cuevas was all over him.

[Dynamite76]

Yeah, took away his aura and possibly that confidence.