BoxRec

More potential matchups from this fascinating era.please discuss specific bouts in depth


Thomas Hearns 1987-Sugar Ray Leonard 1987

Julian Jackson 1990-Iran Barkley 1989

Matthew Hilton 1990- Roy Jones jnr late 1990 (@11-0)

Michael Nunn - mike mccallum 1989


Starting off with the first match .I think in 1987 immediately following the Hagler fight.......this would have been a far more flamboyant exhibition of these fighters capabilities than the far slower less explosive versions we saw in 1989....by that time Hearns was still reeling from his sudden loss of chin,mobility and speed.Ray too had lost reflexes and speed.
In 1987 i think this fight would be every bit a display of the two at theirvpeak as 1981.i think both would box beautifully the first four even rounds but around 5 ray would be rocked badly and floored.he would fight back but by round ten he would be well behind.tommy would dance out the last two for a win

Jackson v barkley

I have a strong feeling for Iran taking this one. He had more offensive tools rather than power ,and at this,stage had some underrated skills.

The 89 Barkley wasnt quite the absolute crude brawler he later totally was.at this time he would often try to box and could be very mobile. Jackson had the humongous punch but Barkley was one of the toughest most durable fighters around in 89.The Benn fight he was coming off a long layoff and retina surgery and although the fast starting Benn ambushed him on the three knockdown rule, Iran could have continued.

I think Iran totally dominates Jackson in one of the best wins of his career, he gets on Jackson's chest early and makes it a very ugly fight and doesnt allow Julian room.he wears Jackson down and stops him on eye damage around the 9th round

Hearns, Barkley, Jones & Nunn.

Mccallum v nunn in the summer of 89

I have zero doubts about this one. Mike mccallum wins on points.

Hell if a shot welterweight donald curry could outbox and shutout nunn for 4 rounds, if a blown up smaller marlon starling could test him , if a cruder guy like barkley could push him......hell i say mccallum gets the job done.

Nunn was a flamboyant talent but in retrospect the hot streak that culminated in the kalambay destruction was really as good as it got....the manner of the sumbu win was shocking and highly impressive.... but a one off.

Mike mccallum was hitting his own hot streak around about this time.graham,watson,collins,kalambay in the return.

Nunn was rated into the stratosphere after his wins over tate,roldan and kalambay.but in retrospect kalambay aside the other 2 wins were not hugely impressive ,neither were the close barkley,curry and starling wins......the full body of work said he was good,real good....but not quite....the full superstar ticket.on paper all the wins,are impressive but imo he fell short even of a Leonard,hearns or hagler in their past their best 1987 incarnations and would have been beaten by all 3 plus mccallum.he had the physical tools to beat them all but not the boxing IQ by a long shot and thats a huge part of a fighter.