There's punchy, punch and.... Tommy Hearns

TheGoods · Post by **TheGoods** » 19 Feb 2005, 16:41

The Hitman was asked at the B-Hop - Eastman weigh in who he though was the best P4P boxer in the world right now. Without a second thought Hearns deadpanned: "Mike Tyson".

Made me nobble anyway.

Can't wait for tonight lads. Am like a dog with two cocks...

bollox · Post by **bollox** » 19 Feb 2005, 17:05

Tommy also once raised the possibility of fighting Tyson

He said it many many years ago and in the context of being asked who could be the first to beat him

jamesmcdonnell · Post by **jamesmcdonnell** » 19 Feb 2005, 17:11

TheGoods wrote:The Hitman was asked at the B-Hop - Eastman weigh in who he though was the best P4P boxer in the world right now. Without a second thought Hearns deadpanned: "Mike Tyson".

Made me nobble anyway.

Can't wait for tonight lads. Am like a dog with two cocks...

Yes it must be said his grasp of the current boxing scene didn't exactly seem spot on. I can only guess he doesn't know that Tyson got whipped by Williams.

Tantum · Post by **Tantum** » 19 Feb 2005, 18:13

Hearns isn't an active boxing fan.

KOJOE90 · Post by **KOJOE90** » 19 Feb 2005, 18:15

I remember soon after Evander Holyfield first won the World Heavyweight Title there was a lot of talk of a Holyfield V Tommy Hearns fight.

Apparently the thinking behind it was that Holyfield was a small Heavyweight who to Hearns eyes was open to the right hand. Hearns believed he could take advantage of that.

I for one am glad that fight didn't happen.

stujones · Post by **stujones** » 19 Feb 2005, 18:18

I wouldn't be AT ALL surprised if somehow that fight still got made.

Twinkle Toes · Post by **Twinkle Toes** » 19 Feb 2005, 18:20

Aye I saw that interview. is Tommy slurring a little, or is that the droll of his accent?

jamesmcdonnell · Post by **jamesmcdonnell** » 19 Feb 2005, 18:28

Tantum wrote:Hearns isn't an active boxing fan.

how do you know that?

Strangely that's quite common in former fighters. I would have thought he would have taken an interest seeing as his son is still fighting, and he always seems to still be around boxing events.

Hearns' slurring is apparently caused by damage from repeated nasal surgery, but he doesn't seem that lucid at times either

bennie · Post by **bennie** » 19 Feb 2005, 19:47

Hearns is just turning the conversation to his era, as all fighters tend to do. Tommy dominated when Tyson dominated, so it makes him feel good to mention Mike. The Hit Man's greatest year was 1987, when he flattened Dennis Andries for the light-heavy title and Juan Roldan for the middle title.
Two years later, he got his long-awaited rematch with Sugar Ray Leonard and was jobbed of the verdict (the Las Vegas judges made it a draw) in a punishing fight between two men who had slowed enough to get hit too much. Afterwards, the interviewer asked Leonard if he wanted a third fight and Ray came out with the usual fighter's bs. Then Hearns, who was standing next to Leonard, was asked the same question, and Tommy just said: "Nah!"
I always liked Tommy.

glittermonkey · Post by **glittermonkey** » 19 Feb 2005, 19:51

jamesmcdonnell wrote:Hearns' slurring is apparently caused by damage from repeated nasal surgery, but he doesn't seem that lucid at times either

If only the surgery was the sole cause of the problems with Hearns' speech. Sadly, I don't buy it. After hearing the man speak, attributing the slurring to breathing difficulties seems like denial. I'm pretty sure that Steward came up with that one, I can understand why, but I still don't believe it.

Hopefully the latest talk of a comeback remains just talk. Even if I'm wrong about his speech, it's better safe than sorry. Plus I'd hate to see someone bashing up the shell of such a great fighter, especially since it would probably be someone who Hearns would have decimated when he was in his prime.

bennie · Post by **bennie** » 19 Feb 2005, 19:55

It's much ado about nothing. Even before his first fight with Leonard in 1981 - when Hearns was a young man, he sounded slurry. He then went out and took part in one of the greatest fights ever (people fainted at ringside, the exchanges were so good). He just has a bad lisp.

Old bones Ian · Post by **Old bones Ian** » 21 Feb 2005, 13:23

bennie wrote:It's much ado about nothing. Even before his first fight with Leonard in 1981 - when Hearns was a young man, he sounded slurry. He then went out and took part in one of the greatest fights ever (people fainted at ringside, the exchanges were so good). He just has a bad lisp.

Yeah i've got interviews with him from years ago , and he's always had a bad speech pattern

MightyWarrior · Post by **MightyWarrior** » 21 Feb 2005, 13:30

My all time favorite fighter. But you have to hand it to Iran Barkley:

Interviewed after he'd just KO'd Tommy in a huge upset:

"What did Tommy say to you after the fight Iran?"

Barkely replied "Nothing much, they just sort of carried him out."

bennie · Post by **bennie** » 21 Feb 2005, 13:38

MightyWarrior wrote:My all time favorite fighter. But you have to hand it to Iran Barkley:

Interviewed after he'd just KO'd Tommy in a huge upset:

"What did Tommy say to you after the fight Iran?"

Barkely replied "Nothing much, they just sort of carried him out."

Had Tommy's number. In fact, Barkley was the cutest fighter I ever saw. People thought he was a goalkeeper but he was a very clever and underrated fighter.
Nobody but Duran could have stood up to that left hook "The Blade" nailed him with in the eighth.

KOJOE90 · Post by **KOJOE90** » 21 Feb 2005, 14:39

How is 'The Blade' these days anyone know? Last I heard he had become quite religious and was back living with his mother in the Bronx.

I read that he had to use a large print version of the Bible due to his failing eyesight.

I always thought Barkley V Eubank at 168lbs could have been interesting.

bennie · Post by **bennie** » 21 Feb 2005, 14:47

KOJOE90 wrote:How is 'The Blade' these days anyone know? Last I heard he had become quite religious and was back living with his mother in the Bronx.

I read that he had to use a large print version of the Bible due to his failing eyesight.

I always thought Barkley V Eubank at 168lbs could have been interesting.

He's blind in one eye. Went on far too long and was even fighting at heavy by the end of his career.

Tantum · Post by **Tantum** » 21 Feb 2005, 14:54

jamesmcdonnell wrote:
Tantum wrote:Hearns isn't an active boxing fan.
how do you know that?

Because he mentioned it on HBO.

KOJOE90 · Post by **KOJOE90** » 21 Feb 2005, 14:55

bennie wrote:
KOJOE90 wrote:How is 'The Blade' these days anyone know? Last I heard he had become quite religious and was back living with his mother in the Bronx.

I read that he had to use a large print version of the Bible due to his failing eyesight.

I always thought Barkley V Eubank at 168lbs could have been interesting.
He's blind in one eye. Went on far too long and was even fighting at heavy by the end of his career.

Very sad, another story that makes me wish Boxing had some sort of compulsary pension and medical insurance scheme.

Manos de Oro · Post by **Manos de Oro** » 21 Feb 2005, 16:01

Barkley was in the ring for the roll call of champions at MSG the night of Hopkins - Trinidad. He didn't look out of place beside Jake La Motta and Emile Griffith. I think I read in BN a month or so ago that he was actually wanting a 'comeback'.

Lefthookhappy19 · Post by **Lefthookhappy19** » 21 Feb 2005, 21:08

I heard Hearns talk on an interview while his son Ronald was fighting, pretty fast and clear apart from the nose thing. His sons pretty good and fights the exact same way with a lesser right hand and jab but better left hook up top. Shame he didn't take up boxing earlier. A real prospect if he keeps improving.

jamesmcdonnell · Post by **jamesmcdonnell** » 22 Feb 2005, 06:55

bennie wrote:
MightyWarrior wrote:My all time favorite fighter. But you have to hand it to Iran Barkley:

Interviewed after he'd just KO'd Tommy in a huge upset:

"What did Tommy say to you after the fight Iran?"

Barkely replied "Nothing much, they just sort of carried him out."
Had Tommy's number. In fact, Barkley was the cutest fighter I ever saw. People thought he was a goalkeeper but he was a very clever and underrated fighter.
Nobody but Duran could have stood up to that left hook "The Blade" nailed him with in the eighth.

Best performance of Duran's career for me. 37 years old, two whole divisions above his best fighting weight, and in with a HUGE middleweight in his prime, who had flattened Tommy Hearns with one left hook.

Duran showed that night that he was one of the most complete fighters ever, he had absolultely everything, skills, heart, power and an iron will, even then.

Shows just how hard Hearns hit to be able to stop Duran like that.

Slapsie Maxie · Post by **Slapsie Maxie** » 22 Feb 2005, 08:03

bennie wrote:
MightyWarrior wrote:My all time favorite fighter. But you have to hand it to Iran Barkley:

Interviewed after he'd just KO'd Tommy in a huge upset:

"What did Tommy say to you after the fight Iran?"

Barkely replied "Nothing much, they just sort of carried him out."
Had Tommy's number. In fact, Barkley was the cutest fighter I ever saw. People thought he was a goalkeeper but he was a very clever and underrated fighter.
Nobody but Duran could have stood up to that left hook "The Blade" nailed him with in the eighth.

I was watching Benn's fight against Barkley yesterday morning ( channel five is showing Championship pro-box at 5am ) One of Benn's best IMHO. He took Barkley's best shot and had him down three times

The three knockdown rule may have ended the fight prematurely but the end result probably would have been as brutal. Benn was on fire that night

On the same show, they had Benn dismantling Nicky Piper with body shots over 11 rounds. A much lower class of opponent, but a very good performance nevertheless

Slapsie

jamesmcdonnell · Post by **jamesmcdonnell** » 22 Feb 2005, 09:01

what night is that on, must set my video recorder for that. Benn V Barkley is one I don't think I saw at the time, not that there's much to it.

J · Post by J » 22 Feb 2005, 09:06

the clue is in the first line mate, "i was watching this yesterday morning!"

unless you have some kind of time travel machine reckon you might struggle videoing it!

think i have it on dvd though.

jamesmcdonnell · Post by **jamesmcdonnell** » 22 Feb 2005, 09:12

I was of course meaning to Video the following week...

There's punchy, punch and.... Tommy Hearns

There's punchy, punch and.... Tommy Hearns

Re: There's punchy, punch and.... Tommy Hearns