Damn, you could hear Tommy's body shots explode on Shuler's mid-section. No doubt his sparring sessions with "Body Snatcher" Mike McCallum at the time paid off big time for him in this match.
Hearns at his best was simply amazing........I have never seen a boxer as perfect as him at his best.....His destruction of Pipino Cuevas was perfect.
@Davidmh1971 couldnt agree more, against pipino cuevas, wouldve challenged any welterweight of an era....and one! thats including floyd, manny and robinson!
@Davidmh1971 Hearns was a very good boxer who's skills in that department were under-rated. His body type also helped him, because opponents had to get inside to hit him, and that meant getting past his superb jab and lethal right cross. Tommy also had a very good overhand right. But he was a touch chinny, which made bouts against the top fighters interesting. I loved the way he put away that dickhead, Duran.
@MADMAC572 - Duran's defeat doesn't count because he was a fat bastard. Just like his quitting against Leonard doesn't count nor his schooling at the hands of Benitez. Duran is the greatest because if you beat him by TKO, by a mile on points or by massacre it doesn't count.
At least, that's what his fanboys say. You're absolutely right, watching Duran-Hearns is brilliant.
"Shuler used the money he earned from the Hearns fight to buy a motorcycle. Just one week after the fight, Shuler was killed when he crashed his motorcycle in Philadelphia [4]. His death came six years and three days after the flight that he was originally scheduled to make in Poland."
Yunno, according to boxrec, these two guys had the exact same build (height/reach anyway). That must have been a rarity for Tommy, who almost always had a cartoonish advantage over his opponent in terms of his reach at least.
Tommy's right hand was so unrealistically accurate. It didn't matter if you had your gloves up or your shoulder in front of your chin,he would somehow find a way to sneak it infront,behind,or between your defense. Could you imagine if there was a boxer like that today!
Spectacular knockout. Thomas Hearns was one of my all time heroes. That punch would have knocked out anyone.
It's a tragedy that Shuler should die so young. He was by all accounts a very nice man, and it needs to be remembered he was unbeaten before this fight. I have no doubt Shuler would have recovered from the loss and re established himself as a major contender in the division. A very sad loss to boxing and his family.
Spectacular knockout. Thomas Hearns was one of my all time heroes. That punch would have knocked out anyone.
It's a tragedy that Shuler should die so young. He was by all accounts a very nice man, and it needs to be remembered he was unbeaten before this fight. I have no doubt Shuler would have recovered from the loss and re established himself as a major contender in the division. A very sad loss to boxing and his family.
@johnnyboy18603 shuler went out after this fight and bought the motorcycle that ultimately killed him just a few weeks after this fight. Hearns attended the funeral and, being the class act that he is, returned the NABF belt that he won from Shuler, back to Shuler's family. Some of the most bittersweet stories ever told come from Boxing. RIP, James. Hearns, thank you Champ.
@BruceinFalkirk Dundee also said tyson "got empty early".SO that verifies that classic tyson retired undefeated.He and marciano at their best were the best.
@BruceinFalkirk Hearns chin was weak from middleweight on up. As a welterweight,his chin was average.
Other fighters get dizzy.Hearns queer street state was always getting hit and the legs were the first to give out as the result of the shot on his chin.Look at the leonard rallys.Look at haglers ko of hearns.Hearns was doing a tiptoe dance after hagler landed the first temple shot that set up his ko.
@BruceinFalkirk Don't think it's that surprising... He was 6'1 and had a really broad back. He was lucky that the rest of his body was shaped so he could cut down to 147... but yeah.. the less weight you have to cut, usually the better your chin gets. Take Miguel Cotto... at 140 he got wobbled a lot, at 147 he did much better and his chin got even better at 154, taking Mayorga's bombs easily for example.
Shuler was killed in an accident a week after this fight, and Hearns gave the NABF belt to his family, saying that James held it longer, and thus was the true champion. Class guy.
Thomas Hearns was one of the most powerfull and exciting fighters we were ever privalaged enough to watch .. We will not see his like again .. Massive Respect to Tommy Hearns ..
"Now we know that Tommy Hearns can hit middleweights and knock them out." Was there ever any doubt?! Tyson once said that he (Hearns) could knock out a HEAVYweight.
with the exception of Hagler,no other fighter could handle Hearns right hand,i mean Hearns split Hagler's head wide open,he kept coming, shuler's family should not feel bad,Hearns right hand was just vicious for any figher to handle.
@deepbg1 i doubt they feel bad Hearns knocked him out! they probably feel bad he died in a motorcycle crash. whats boxing next to your life, fuck all! FACT
There was some fucking moron who proposed a hypothetical match up between Tommy Hearns and Paul Williams!!!! I have Hearns by homicide inside 6 rounds!
tommy's not known to be a body puncher but steward really trained him well. you could hear his body shots ripping black golds body. and that right hand! it was so fast you had to watch it in slow motion to see how it tagged schuler
@heath5511 I CAN APPRIECIATE YOUR OPINION....JAMES SHULER IS MY FATHER AND IN MY HEART I BELIEVE HE FOUGHT HIS BEST!!! I WAS 6 WHEN HE DIED...NOW IM 29!!! MY FATHER WON EVERY FIGHT HE EVER FOUGHT UP UNTO HE FOUGHT HEARNS...THATS THE ONLY FIGHT HE LOST BEFORE HIS DEATH...I LOVE MY FATHER AND SO TRUELY MISS HIM...MAY GOD BLESS YOU!
@jamesshulerdaughter hi. Yes your father fought his best and he was a good fighter. I am curious; there are many comments in this page, why did you pick to respond to my comments? It is an honor though. thanks
You dad was one of my all-time favorite, My dad and I used to love watching your dad on NBC. I'm from Detroit and grew up watching Tommy Hearns and the Kronk boxers, but I wanted to your dad to win his fight against Hearns. I thought your dad was one of the best middleweight boxers of his era. I was really a 'Black Gold' fan. I still am too.
I had been reading about James since 1983 and got to see him the first time in 85 vs Kinchen. Kinchen was moving up fast, i thought headed for showdown w Hagler. I was surprised at how well your Dad could box
Initially, Marvin Hagler was supposed to fight Shuler and Hearns, at jr. middleweight, was supposed to fight John Mugabi. Shuler and Mugabi were undefeated, Mugabi had a 100% KO rate, and Shuler had just decisively beat James Kinchen. For whatever reason, Hearns and Mugabi moved up to 160, and opponents were "swapped," Hagler fighting Mugabi and Hearns fighting Shuler.
Both were supposed to be real CONTESTS. Hagler had his hands full with Mugabi, and Hearns made quick work of Shuler.
That's what you call a knockout! I think us boxing fans use the word knockout too loosely! Knocked out is to be completely unconscious, stiff, no movement, out COLD!
shuler bought a bike with his purse and hit a tractor and died within a week of this fight and hearns being the great man he is gave the family of shuler his own world championship belt that he said shuler would have won in his career at some point. tragic loss.
I grew up in the burbs of detroit. tommy hearns and his "at the time" manager. emannual Steward <-----SP? owned many homes in the city of detroit. I worked for a company that did landscaping and lawn care for pretty much all of the houses..I had to get in the backyard one day and knocked on the door. He answered wearing an apron. He must have been cooking Spaghetti or something. it was pretty cool.....lol Man, i was a squirt then. about 18 or so.
I remember watching this live as a kid with my dad,hard hitter Tommy,i think Shuler died tragically soon after........Amazing how many great fighters came out of the mid west
Duran the 135 G.O.A.T,J.C. Chavez,A. Pryor, or A. Cervantes 140 G.O.A.T- Sugar Ray Leonard the 147 G.0.A.T. Hearns the 154 G.O.A.T. and Hagler the 160.G.O.A.T.
I agree to an extent but U can't deny who he has beat at that weight tho, and the people who were champs at 147 between 82-86 (retirement years) couldn't have beat him
It is true. Hearns beat Cuevez,Benitez,Hill,Duran. 4 legends at that. Hearns then beat contenders Shields, Singletary,Sutherland (first champ at 168), Minchillo, Hutchings and the list goes on and on. When Leonard was doing HBO commentary, Hearns was fighting contenders and defending his titles.
He had some fucking LUCK in his life..LOL. He was supposed to be on that plane that crashed and killed all the american boxers in Poland..get Koed..then die a week later from a motorcycle crash..
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BigDaddyCool71 is a FUCKEN PEDOPHILE...A FUCKEN CYBER STALKER...AND A BITCH INTERNET GANGSTER THAT IS GOING TO GET THE FUCKEN SHIT BEAT OUT HIS FUCKEN ASS....ITS IN THE WORKS BIG BOY...YOU DIDNT THINK I WAS GONNA LET YOU STALK MY PROFILE WITH OUT A BEATEN.....
hearns beat leonard once (second fight draw was bullshit descision) ko'd cuevas, benitez, ko'd duran, Virgil Hill! Shuler was the number one middleweight contender for a reason.
Leonard beat benitez, hearns (iffy stoppage?) duran, and IMO lost to hearns and Hagler as well as Duran. His record aitn so impressive when you take into account certain 'gift' descisions.
shuler got killed, he was a top all time amatuer. had he lived he wouldve been a great fighter. if u seen him in other than the hearns fight u'd agree. roldan was a tough fighter, not a top fighter but a hard test, ask hagler. dewitt is a quality fighter and mayweather was a very talented fighter.
he had a win over hagler that hearns didnt. hearns never lost to duran.
Thomas Hearns Could of beat Sugar Ray, he was points ahead on the scorecard and against Hagler he should of boxed and not mixed it, but forget all that I loved this guy he was very dangerous.
Yes but Leonard had a higher intelligence than tommy did ,he fought less ,because he didn't want to ruin his life,tommy has brain-damage now his speech is slurred,leonard does'nt even look like an ex-fighter,there is your difference.
Leonard did do the best against the fabulous four, but the other guys fought more other guys and Hearns beat more top fighters than Leonard ever did. He fought them all from Welt-lightheavyweight. That has to count for something. He had a much longer career than Leonard.
Mostl likely most of yall are boxing fans, so i wanna recommened this very good boxing anime to you guys. Go to megavidedotcom and type "english dubbed hajime no ippo". Its REALLY good if your a boxing fan.
i watched this fight when i was a kid and didnt realize this fight might have been fixed. shuler wasnt even touched with the last punch and he collapsed! was it fixed to set up a possible big money payday with hagler that never happened because hagler retired after his next fight with leanard! hmmmmmmmmm
I don't believe that at all. But it must have been a good setup according to you so Shuler wouldn't be given a rematch because he died one week later after this fight from a motorcycle accident. Shuler was nailed on the chin just like Roberto Duran. I remember this fight in my senior high school year. Go back and look at Hearns when he knocked out Duran. Hearns' hands are so fast all you saw was Duran's head snapping. Look at that fight again.
Shuler was undefeated at this time.. he wouldn`t have made a cut from the hearns hagler fight and he wouldnt want to tarnish a perfect record.. boxers are way too cocky.
@Royalte evvvverrryy body says that. old fighters would beat the new. 20years from now we'll be saying "manny pac would of destroyed him" or "he wouldnt last a round with lennox" or "mayweather would pick him apart". montana will always be better than brady, jordan will always be better than kobe, babe ruth is a immortal compared to a-rod. nobody's ever going to say the contrary. its so annoying.
@drepop803 Damn, truthfully, you're right... It does get said a lot but that was my thinking at that time. In the middleweight division, I don't see (and didn't see 2 years ago) anyone comparing to Hearns or Hagler today. In the Welterweight division, I can't say that. There are some good boxers today that could probably touch Hearns enough to shake him up and throw him off of his game. Would be great to see though.
i wish id lived in the 80's you had prime tyson,hagler,hearns,ray leonard,prime holy field,Roberto duran, jc chavez,aron pryor,alexsis argulero and rest speaks for its self
Awesome guts & balls fighter was tommy not like these ticky tacky hit & run fighters of today .This guy Shuler was no mug either he was one of Americas best ever amauters and he was unbeaten as a pro.
I was lucky enough to attend this in person. Hagler vs. Mugabi ended up being RING Magazine Fight of the Year. Tragically James Shuler was killed in a motorcycle accident 2 weeks after this fight. RIP "Black Gold"
that BASTARD left hook to the liver, how Tommy didn't score more body shot KO's i dont know, guess everyone was prepared for it but OUCH,,, GASP,, lol
Your statement could be turned around and still be true. I'am not sure Spinks wouldve been able to handle Tommys reach and if "Hitman" landed one of those right hand BOMBS !!??
One of the most ferocious right hands you will ever see. Hearns was one of the greatest fighters of all time and definitely, the most electrifying fighter, win or lose, of all time. And, he would have demolished Bernard Hopkins!
Hearns could have never beaten hagler because hagler had the great chin and the big punch. Eventually hagler was going to get to hearns and knock him out..
Hagler still would've KO'ed him. It just may have taken a little longer if Hearns boxed and moved. But he would've eventually got to Tommy and wore him down. Marvin was strong and Hearns' chin is shaky at best.
I can't believe some people actually have the Nerve to compare Bernard Hopkins to The greats? Who the heck did Bernard Hopkins ever beat?.....Antwon Echols, LMAO! Hearns would have knocked out Hopkins or Mayweather like nothing (I know noone brought up Mayweather, I just threw his name in there). Don't even compare these guys who have fought and beat noone to the greats!
Marvin Hagler was a great fighter no doubt, but he challenged Hearns and Leonard and Duran, yet he never ever wanted to fight Michael Spinks.. I wonder why? Was the weight advantage what he wanted? Had Hagler been a welterweight and Hearns a natural welterweight like he was when he fought Leonard the first time, I gaurantee you that Marvin would have had a different fight with Hearns. The weight advantage helped him each time he fought the 3 legends -Leonard,Hearns,Duran.
Marvin's walking around weight was only about 163 or 164 pounds. He could've never made 175 to fight Spinks. Marvin never had to lose a lot of weight to get to 160 because he was a natural middleweight. he actually thought about fighting Dwight Braxton at one point, but said it would be too hard to get to light heavy.
I've said this elsewhere, but 15 lbs. is almost ten percent of a middleweights body mass. Putting on 15 lbs. is a lot for a HEAVYWEIGHT, so it's even MORE for a MW. I think the strain in going up would have slowed him down and taken some of the heat of his punches. There were LHs he could have beaten, but the LH division of the early 80s was DEEP with talent.
I agree. The LHW's were very exciting back then. I remember good fights like Braxton vs. Saad Muhammad and Spinks vs. Mustafa Muhammad and even the guy from prison James Scott was a decent fighter. That was probably the deepest the division has ever been.
The light heavy division never had the excitement and paydays the middleweights had. By staying at his natural weight hagler was able to make a lot more money. It's not as common for a middle champ to challenge at light heavy as it was for welters to move up and fight the middle weights. Hagler at middle was able to fight hearns, leonard and duran.
Beg to differ. The late 70s/early 80s light-heavy days were probably that division's BEST days. You had superlative champs in Spinks, Braxton, Mustafa Muhammad, and Saad Muhammad, AND superlative contenders like Yaqui Lopez, Jerry Martin, and former champs like Marvin Johnson, Mike Rossman, and Conteh. At that time, the light-heavies were probably THE most exciting division in pro boxing.
Victor Galindez was another one who was a solid fighter for years until he met up with Marvin Johnson. Also, remember James Scott from Rahway prison? Too bad he never got a chance at the title. I mean, why even allow him to compete if he wasn't going to be allowed to gain a title chance? Yeah, in retrospect, those were the glory days. Real wars!
Yep, I definitely remember James Scott. Politics played a big role in him not getting a title shot. He beatdown top-rated contenders in Lopez and Mustafa. I think the WBA rated him at No.1, but there was no way the powers that were would allow an inmate serving life to fight for the title.
Galindez lost to mike rossman on the under card of ali spinks.. He won the title back from rossman but losing to a marginal fighter like that didn't impress me..
at the same time you said that Hagler was not in his prime vs. either man, against Hearns he was a great fighter and quick. If you really think about it when Hagler fought Hearns,Duran or Leonard he had the advantage in weight. That is a big advantage for him to fight welterweights.
A lot of the problem with Hopkins is that he was ducked a lot of his career, tucked away at a time when the middleweights weren't particularly strong when he became champion. He constantly called out RJJ for a rematch, but that fight never happened. It wasn't until he trashed Trinidad did Hopkins ever get his due. Hopkins vs. Hagler is a Middleweight dream fight.
Ray Leonard and Hearns were both better as welterweights.. Hagler was not even in his prime vs either man, yet he defeated both.. Leonard did not deserve the decision. Hearns vs Hopkins, who knows it certainly would have been a great fight.. But you throw any sensible arguement out the fucking window by saying Barkley is better than Hopkins.. HE couldn't carry his jockstrap even though he is underrated to a degree.
Hagler wasn't in his prime when he fought hearns in 85? That's bullshit! 2 years later after enduring both hearns and mugabe hagler clearly wasn't the same fighter but against hearns he was at the top of his game..
Shuler was 22-0 with 16 KOs. He was the USBA middleweight champ and would have been the united states rep at 165 lbs for the 1980 olympics had we participated.
A couple of months after this fight shuler died in a motorcycle accident. Hearns flew to philadelphia and presented that USBA belt to shuler's family so he could be buried with it.
BH may have beaten Tommy but it wouldve been a great fight because of Tommy. All of Tommy's fights are memorable because of his "lets fight" attitude. BH did enough to win, it was business. I dont buy this "Bernard would outbox Tommy" argument. Benitez, Duran and Leonard couldnt outbox Tommy. Even Leonard, in both fights, could not outbox Tommy. Tommy wouldnt have wanted to outbox BH though. He'd have wanted to take Bernard's head clean off at the shoulders and that makes it pick 'em.
Shuler was hardly some stiff with a padded record. He was one of the best prospects in boxing, with an outstanding amateur record going into this fight. The problem was he got caught early by one of the hardest hitters, pound-for-pound, in the history of the sport.
The reason why none of you ever heard from Shuler again is because this talented young man was tragically killed in a car cras just weeks after this fight.
try 10 days after this fight. like salvador sanchez, he ran into a much bigger vehicle on his motorcycle. and he was damn good. he beat james kinchen, at a time when kinchen was ranked number 1 or 2.
James Shuler was a very well established-highly touted #1 contender. He was intimidated by Hearns' firepower, and he just have him the bazooka treatment. Too bad he didn't fight Hagler that way.
you say he beats Tommy easily? Tommy Gallagher? I saw your page smeloldies. You are a Hopkins fan. So you are saying that to boast Hopkins creditials. The guy is good but Thomas Hearns fought great competition and all the guys Hopkins fought in his career, and none could punch like Hearns. Not even Trinidad.
Bernard fought big punchers in Tito and Antwon Echols, and Antonio Tarver. Long lanky distance punchers could be argued to be Bernard's bread and butter. Tommy would have to pierce the defense of the naturally bigger Hopkins and Hopkins would take Tommy into deep water, where he had trouble. Bernard was also more versatile than two out of the three guys who beat Hearns, Iran Barkley and Marvin Hagler.
You are absolutely crazy to think Hopkins was more versatile than Hagler. Hagler was an absolute beast as a puncher and a super skilled boxer. Take a look at more Hagler fights before dismiss just how amazingly good he was.
Look how Hopkins fought Tito and Tarver. And Antwon Echols in their first fight. Amazing displays of science. As Democratin noted, I am a Hopkins fan, but don't you think Hopkins-Hagler would have been fiercely competitive? Not to mention that Hopkins went on to have tremendous victories at an advanced age, unlike Hagler who retired at 30 or 31. Hagler lost to Leonard and retired. Hopkins lost to Roy at 28 (not too much younger) and went on for over a dozen years more!
Hagler withstood the Hearns cross, full on, and in rapid sucession. Take a look at what that cross did to Shuler and so many other contenders. There's no way your boy could have hurt Hagler. And he didn't have to Ray Leonard boxing skills to eke out a controversial decison. Ray fought Hagler brilliantly and barely won. Hopkins couldn't have coped with Hagler's all-around game. Not strong enough or fast enough to subdue hagler. And one last thing: no one ever clearly beat Hagler.
I said it would be fiercely competitive, I didn't say Hopkins was a sure win. But Hopkins fought like Duran on the inside, and always had solid boxing skills from a distance. He had better stamina, chin, and intelligence than Hearns. Leonard and Duran gave Hagler fits, Hopkins would as well for both reasons.
Hearns was always a highly vunerable fighter at middleweight. Iran Barkley ring a bell? Because he sure rang Tommy's. James Kinchen anyone? Hopkins was a naturally more physical fighter, and naturally bigger. He can brawl or box.
Barkley was better than Hop. You say Hearns was vulnerable, I say that is crap. Hearns fought against a level of competition that is unfathomable to a guy like B_HOP. Shuler would have given Hop a good fight. Hearns would have KO'd Hop in 3.
Quality of opposition. Hopkins fought 1(one) top fighter who was in his prime. And lost miserably. He fought a raw and inexperienced Taylor and lost twice. I'm telling you that a primed and ready Barkler was a better fighter than Hopkins, and B-Hop had a great run against opposition that wouldnt have been top-10 during Hearn's era. Let's not loose focus here. Hopkins was embarrassed by the prime Roy Jones. That was his only true, big fight.
wow. You are clearly off your rocker. I guess Trinidad wasn't in his prime? DLH? And if you really think he lost both of those Taylor fights (at the age of 40) then you know even less than I thought. Barkley. I can't believe I am seeing this. I make an argument ending point about Barkley, and you want to try and say he is better than Hopkins. I'm baffled. Tell me, who did Hearns beat that was better than Hopkins, at middleweight?
Give Hearns hagler's chin and he could possibly be the most complete fighter of all time.
toby099 3 months ago
Damn, you could hear Tommy's body shots explode on Shuler's mid-section. No doubt his sparring sessions with "Body Snatcher" Mike McCallum at the time paid off big time for him in this match.
;-)
PeekaPeep 3 months ago
hearns's handspeed is amazing lol
LamentsTheWorld 3 months ago
Hearns at his best was simply amazing........I have never seen a boxer as perfect as him at his best.....His destruction of Pipino Cuevas was perfect.
Davidmh1971 4 months ago
@Davidmh1971 couldnt agree more, against pipino cuevas, wouldve challenged any welterweight of an era....and one! thats including floyd, manny and robinson!
adamcraigmile12 4 months ago
@Davidmh1971 Hearns was a very good boxer who's skills in that department were under-rated. His body type also helped him, because opponents had to get inside to hit him, and that meant getting past his superb jab and lethal right cross. Tommy also had a very good overhand right. But he was a touch chinny, which made bouts against the top fighters interesting. I loved the way he put away that dickhead, Duran.
MADMAC572 3 months ago
@MADMAC572 - Duran's defeat doesn't count because he was a fat bastard. Just like his quitting against Leonard doesn't count nor his schooling at the hands of Benitez. Duran is the greatest because if you beat him by TKO, by a mile on points or by massacre it doesn't count.
At least, that's what his fanboys say. You're absolutely right, watching Duran-Hearns is brilliant.
BruceinFalkirk 1 month ago
"Shuler used the money he earned from the Hearns fight to buy a motorcycle. Just one week after the fight, Shuler was killed when he crashed his motorcycle in Philadelphia [4]. His death came six years and three days after the flight that he was originally scheduled to make in Poland."
thought id post that up.
makpak 5 months ago
@makpak Thanks. The way people are typing here I thought he died from the fight.
johnnyu3 1 month ago
40 wins 2 losses? DAYUMN!
DestructionAMV1 5 months ago
Yunno, according to boxrec, these two guys had the exact same build (height/reach anyway). That must have been a rarity for Tommy, who almost always had a cartoonish advantage over his opponent in terms of his reach at least.
cet0708 5 months ago
Tommy's right hand was so unrealistically accurate. It didn't matter if you had your gloves up or your shoulder in front of your chin,he would somehow find a way to sneak it infront,behind,or between your defense. Could you imagine if there was a boxer like that today!
RonaldPak999 6 months ago
The Hit Man was a great fighter and had a great trainer in Emanuel Stewart.
as26370 6 months ago
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Spectacular knockout. Thomas Hearns was one of my all time heroes. That punch would have knocked out anyone.
It's a tragedy that Shuler should die so young. He was by all accounts a very nice man, and it needs to be remembered he was unbeaten before this fight. I have no doubt Shuler would have recovered from the loss and re established himself as a major contender in the division. A very sad loss to boxing and his family.
johnnyboy18603 7 months ago
Spectacular knockout. Thomas Hearns was one of my all time heroes. That punch would have knocked out anyone.
It's a tragedy that Shuler should die so young. He was by all accounts a very nice man, and it needs to be remembered he was unbeaten before this fight. I have no doubt Shuler would have recovered from the loss and re established himself as a major contender in the division. A very sad loss to boxing and his family.
johnnyboy18603 7 months ago 5
@johnnyboy18603 did he die because of brain damg?
PLURscopeZ 7 months ago
@PLURscopeZ . No he was killed in a motorbike crash 10 days after the fight.
johnnyboy18603 7 months ago
@johnnyboy18603 shuler went out after this fight and bought the motorcycle that ultimately killed him just a few weeks after this fight. Hearns attended the funeral and, being the class act that he is, returned the NABF belt that he won from Shuler, back to Shuler's family. Some of the most bittersweet stories ever told come from Boxing. RIP, James. Hearns, thank you Champ.
jperez9805 4 days ago
that's funny .I was thinking Tommy was at his best at Jr. middle 154
keithwil715 8 months ago
@keithwil715:
I agree. He was at his best at 154. He just couldn't have stayed there and have accomplished the things that he ultimately did.
tw69hands2 5 months ago
Yeah,hearns might have looked like a light heavyweight but he still only had a welterweights chin.
fadethetrade 8 months ago
@fadethetrade
He was pretty sturdy at light-heavyweight, strangely enough. The real problem was never his chin but his legs - something Angelo Dundee noted that.
BruceinFalkirk 8 months ago
@BruceinFalkirk Dundee also said tyson "got empty early".SO that verifies that classic tyson retired undefeated.He and marciano at their best were the best.
fadethetrade 8 months ago
@BruceinFalkirk Hearns chin was weak from middleweight on up. As a welterweight,his chin was average.
Other fighters get dizzy.Hearns queer street state was always getting hit and the legs were the first to give out as the result of the shot on his chin.Look at the leonard rallys.Look at haglers ko of hearns.Hearns was doing a tiptoe dance after hagler landed the first temple shot that set up his ko.
fadethetrade 8 months ago
@fadethetrade
I've seen his fights at 175lbs. He was sturdy at the heavier weights, surprisingly enough
BruceinFalkirk 8 months ago
@BruceinFalkirk Don't think it's that surprising... He was 6'1 and had a really broad back. He was lucky that the rest of his body was shaped so he could cut down to 147... but yeah.. the less weight you have to cut, usually the better your chin gets. Take Miguel Cotto... at 140 he got wobbled a lot, at 147 he did much better and his chin got even better at 154, taking Mayorga's bombs easily for example.
k4n31985 4 months ago
2:56 Holy Sh*t....
Looks That Arm....
MurkrowVigilant 8 months ago
Shuler was killed in an accident a week after this fight, and Hearns gave the NABF belt to his family, saying that James held it longer, and thus was the true champion. Class guy.
zenmachinefilms 9 months ago
he is a god is boxing perfection
mO3fnMon3y 9 months ago
HOLY SHIZ look at Hearn's arm length!!!! WTF!!!!
Katsujin7289 9 months ago
Shuler died soon after this fight. R.I.P.
Dactuck 10 months ago
That flicker jab, and chopping right. I wish I could fight like that. damn. Best boxer I've ever seen.
subfighter316 11 months ago
Loved the way he fought. Classy, elegant and fast!
FredericoMendez 1 year ago 3
Hearns took out the trash quickly on this night.
wayupinya1 1 year ago
Starched!
Eddieshack67 1 year ago
Too bad Hearns wasn't a heavyweight. I would have loved to see him against Mike Tyson though I think Tyson would have ko'd him eventually.
mrjforall 1 year ago
Thomas Hearns was one of the most powerfull and exciting fighters we were ever privalaged enough to watch .. We will not see his like again .. Massive Respect to Tommy Hearns ..
MrPaulrooney 1 year ago
R.I.P james 'BLACK GOLD' shuler
rokine30 1 year ago 3
BOXERS OF TODAY HAVE NO TALENT NO WONDER THEY LAST FOR A FEW FIGHTS OR A CUP OF COFFEE
manonhill12 1 year ago
Hearns one of the best men to ever put on a pair of gloves!!!
connymat 1 year ago 2
@connymat long live king tommy
184smithy 1 year ago
"Now we know that Tommy Hearns can hit middleweights and knock them out." Was there ever any doubt?! Tyson once said that he (Hearns) could knock out a HEAVYweight.
pnutbutrncrackers 1 year ago
with the exception of Hagler,no other fighter could handle Hearns right hand,i mean Hearns split Hagler's head wide open,he kept coming, shuler's family should not feel bad,Hearns right hand was just vicious for any figher to handle.
deepbg1 1 year ago
@deepbg1 i doubt they feel bad Hearns knocked him out! they probably feel bad he died in a motorcycle crash. whats boxing next to your life, fuck all! FACT
dan32113 1 year ago
if he'd only come in at the full weight against Hagler.. Hearns' legacy is littered with 'if only's'
billyposter 1 year ago
hearns has the fastest hands in boxing history hands down
raholiday 1 year ago
@raholiday lol....fastest? think not
XxDiddyDidItxX 1 year ago
Hearns would beat Floyd with his long jab alone and Floyd's power wouldn't be enough to threaten his unsteady chin.
Whyavier 1 year ago
Shuler's death was so tragic! Just days after his defeat to Hearns...
expressivechild 1 year ago
There was some fucking moron who proposed a hypothetical match up between Tommy Hearns and Paul Williams!!!! I have Hearns by homicide inside 6 rounds!
diamondbreaker23 1 year ago
@diamondbreaker23 yup, paul williams gets hit way too much. not much people can handle a lot of hits from hearns.
hapaboycanscrap 1 year ago
I want to be as good as Hearns someday. Going into amateur boxing soon.
I want to fight!!
sirchristian12 1 year ago
My God, it's easy to forget just how friggin' terrifying prime Hearns was.
70gabino 1 year ago
tommy's not known to be a body puncher but steward really trained him well. you could hear his body shots ripping black golds body. and that right hand! it was so fast you had to watch it in slow motion to see how it tagged schuler
heath5511 1 year ago
@heath5511 I CAN APPRIECIATE YOUR OPINION....JAMES SHULER IS MY FATHER AND IN MY HEART I BELIEVE HE FOUGHT HIS BEST!!! I WAS 6 WHEN HE DIED...NOW IM 29!!! MY FATHER WON EVERY FIGHT HE EVER FOUGHT UP UNTO HE FOUGHT HEARNS...THATS THE ONLY FIGHT HE LOST BEFORE HIS DEATH...I LOVE MY FATHER AND SO TRUELY MISS HIM...MAY GOD BLESS YOU!
jamesshulerdaughter 1 year ago
You're father was a great fighter and Great man and he's surely missed
2READYCRETE 1 year ago
@jamesshulerdaughter hi. Yes your father fought his best and he was a good fighter. I am curious; there are many comments in this page, why did you pick to respond to my comments? It is an honor though. thanks
heath5511 1 year ago
@jamesshulerdaughter Sorry if not bringing up your favourite memories, but is the story about Tommy at James' funeral true?
mootle661 1 year ago
@jamesshulerdaughter:
You dad was one of my all-time favorite, My dad and I used to love watching your dad on NBC. I'm from Detroit and grew up watching Tommy Hearns and the Kronk boxers, but I wanted to your dad to win his fight against Hearns. I thought your dad was one of the best middleweight boxers of his era. I was really a 'Black Gold' fan. I still am too.
tw69hands2 1 year ago
@jamesshulerdaughter
I had been reading about James since 1983 and got to see him the first time in 85 vs Kinchen. Kinchen was moving up fast, i thought headed for showdown w Hagler. I was surprised at how well your Dad could box
Piglatinsuperstar 1 year ago
Two weeks after this Shuler died..And Thomas Hearns gave back the belt to his family ,,,,Simply a CLASS ACT
frostbitewinterwind 1 year ago 27
@frostbitewinterwind How did he die?
CheckHookAssassin 5 months ago
@CheckHookAssassin How to find out: Use Google
zamptor 5 months ago
lol @ the ending
ChillPill365 1 year ago
Am Ali fan but Thomas "Hit Man" Hearns must have the fastest jab in boxing history
such great JAB
Dilmar 1 year ago 2
@Dilmar amen. tommy's jab was just stiff and he unleashes it so fast. simply beautiful the way he threw that jab
heath5511 1 year ago
Initially, Marvin Hagler was supposed to fight Shuler and Hearns, at jr. middleweight, was supposed to fight John Mugabi. Shuler and Mugabi were undefeated, Mugabi had a 100% KO rate, and Shuler had just decisively beat James Kinchen. For whatever reason, Hearns and Mugabi moved up to 160, and opponents were "swapped," Hagler fighting Mugabi and Hearns fighting Shuler.
Both were supposed to be real CONTESTS. Hagler had his hands full with Mugabi, and Hearns made quick work of Shuler.
joeypolanski 1 year ago
hearns = legend... i didn't see all ali + ray robinsons fights but i saw a lot of hearns. nobody gave more. nobody. legend. massive respect due.
pgc6265 2 years ago 2
RIP BLACK GOLD
ramptondayrelease 2 years ago
That's what you call a knockout! I think us boxing fans use the word knockout too loosely! Knocked out is to be completely unconscious, stiff, no movement, out COLD!
JAYLOVE477 2 years ago 2
It was not a world championship belt.
shire2005 2 years ago
shuler bought a bike with his purse and hit a tractor and died within a week of this fight and hearns being the great man he is gave the family of shuler his own world championship belt that he said shuler would have won in his career at some point. tragic loss.
40951 2 years ago
I grew up in the burbs of detroit. tommy hearns and his "at the time" manager. emannual Steward <-----SP? owned many homes in the city of detroit. I worked for a company that did landscaping and lawn care for pretty much all of the houses..I had to get in the backyard one day and knocked on the door. He answered wearing an apron. He must have been cooking Spaghetti or something. it was pretty cool.....lol Man, i was a squirt then. about 18 or so.
MrClamjuice 2 years ago
I was nervreous as shit.I was14 and was trying to pick Hearns.I knew that Hagler would win,but HeaJust hit too hard for Hearns!
ojsucksit 2 years ago
I remember watching this live as a kid with my dad,hard hitter Tommy,i think Shuler died tragically soon after........Amazing how many great fighters came out of the mid west
onlyjoetee 2 years ago
Duran the 135 G.O.A.T,J.C. Chavez,A. Pryor, or A. Cervantes 140 G.O.A.T- Sugar Ray Leonard the 147 G.0.A.T. Hearns the 154 G.O.A.T. and Hagler the 160.G.O.A.T.
joekooltrips 2 years ago
I don't agree with the Ray Leonard call.
He was good, sure. but calls seemed to go his way a tad bit too much.
Maeror2010 2 years ago
I agree to an extent but U can't deny who he has beat at that weight tho, and the people who were champs at 147 between 82-86 (retirement years) couldn't have beat him
joekooltrips 2 years ago
It is true. Hearns beat Cuevez,Benitez,Hill,Duran. 4 legends at that. Hearns then beat contenders Shields, Singletary,Sutherland (first champ at 168), Minchillo, Hutchings and the list goes on and on. When Leonard was doing HBO commentary, Hearns was fighting contenders and defending his titles.
NathanHotDogs 2 years ago
Shuler died 1 week after the Hearns fight on a motorcycle.
628903 2 years ago
He had some fucking LUCK in his life..LOL. He was supposed to be on that plane that crashed and killed all the american boxers in Poland..get Koed..then die a week later from a motorcycle crash..
falseistrue 2 years ago
thomas hearns and pernell whitaker best boxers ever my 2 favortire
SnortShroomz90 2 years ago 3
flicker jab ftw!
Lazythug4life 2 years ago 2
This comment has received too many negative votes show
BigDaddyCool71 is a FUCKEN PEDOPHILE...A FUCKEN CYBER STALKER...AND A BITCH INTERNET GANGSTER THAT IS GOING TO GET THE FUCKEN SHIT BEAT OUT HIS FUCKEN ASS....ITS IN THE WORKS BIG BOY...YOU DIDNT THINK I WAS GONNA LET YOU STALK MY PROFILE WITH OUT A BEATEN.....
moreLIESthantruth 2 years ago
LOL a "good technical bout"? Yeah, for all of a minute, buddy. XD
gigantor21 2 years ago 6
hearns beat leonard once (second fight draw was bullshit descision) ko'd cuevas, benitez, ko'd duran, Virgil Hill! Shuler was the number one middleweight contender for a reason.
Leonard beat benitez, hearns (iffy stoppage?) duran, and IMO lost to hearns and Hagler as well as Duran. His record aitn so impressive when you take into account certain 'gift' descisions.
ricardoparker93 2 years ago 3
shuler got killed, he was a top all time amatuer. had he lived he wouldve been a great fighter. if u seen him in other than the hearns fight u'd agree. roldan was a tough fighter, not a top fighter but a hard test, ask hagler. dewitt is a quality fighter and mayweather was a very talented fighter.
he had a win over hagler that hearns didnt. hearns never lost to duran.
well its still hill n cuevas to only kalule.
YakiKadafi90 2 years ago
Thomas Hearns Could of beat Sugar Ray, he was points ahead on the scorecard and against Hagler he should of boxed and not mixed it, but forget all that I loved this guy he was very dangerous.
boxerboy2345 2 years ago 4
hearns record. cuevas, roldan, hill, shuler, dewitt
leonard record: kalule, mayweather sr, hagler (controversial)
common: duran, benitez (hearns more impressive in both, demolishing duran and beating benitez with one hand)
amongst themselfs 1-1
its a fact that hearns fought a lot more top fighters than ray, just watch his record.
YakiKadafi90 2 years ago 2
Don't get up to get a beer!
Metron65 2 years ago 2
Hearns was a wonderful boxer ,though ,there is no question and of course that lethal right.
134being 2 years ago 2
Yes but Leonard had a higher intelligence than tommy did ,he fought less ,because he didn't want to ruin his life,tommy has brain-damage now his speech is slurred,leonard does'nt even look like an ex-fighter,there is your difference.
134being 2 years ago
Leonard did do the best against the fabulous four, but the other guys fought more other guys and Hearns beat more top fighters than Leonard ever did. He fought them all from Welt-lightheavyweight. That has to count for something. He had a much longer career than Leonard.
NathanHotDogs 2 years ago 2
Leonard did the best against the fabulous four he was overall the greatest.
134being 2 years ago
who is dat doubtin the hitman? are u crazy?
hulk2364 2 years ago
richard steele must be a rich ass motha-fucka lol
metalaholla 2 years ago
That deadly right hand of Hearns. Same right hand that put Duran to sleep!
repcrese 2 years ago 4
Hearns went to his funeral in Phildelpha and placed the belt he won from Shuler on his coffin
Unwin85 2 years ago 4
Mostl likely most of yall are boxing fans, so i wanna recommened this very good boxing anime to you guys. Go to megavidedotcom and type "english dubbed hajime no ippo". Its REALLY good if your a boxing fan.
redgear4566 3 years ago
The morons saying the fight might have been fixed need to watch the replays. It hit him right on the tip of the chin.
limen 3 years ago
Tommy had one of the best right hands in history.
lizardman77 3 years ago 4
you guys can say what you want but the point remains that last punch did not land and he fell... ali vs liston phantom punch 20 years later.
caliman6000 3 years ago
i watched this fight when i was a kid and didnt realize this fight might have been fixed. shuler wasnt even touched with the last punch and he collapsed! was it fixed to set up a possible big money payday with hagler that never happened because hagler retired after his next fight with leanard! hmmmmmmmmm
caliman6000 3 years ago
I don't believe that at all. But it must have been a good setup according to you so Shuler wouldn't be given a rematch because he died one week later after this fight from a motorcycle accident. Shuler was nailed on the chin just like Roberto Duran. I remember this fight in my senior high school year. Go back and look at Hearns when he knocked out Duran. Hearns' hands are so fast all you saw was Duran's head snapping. Look at that fight again.
mp4vids 3 years ago 2
Shuler was undefeated at this time.. he wouldn`t have made a cut from the hearns hagler fight and he wouldnt want to tarnish a perfect record.. boxers are way too cocky.
ajdog15 3 years ago
Why would they fix this fight?
Tommy did not need any help to beat Shuler.
joeygonzo 3 years ago 2
Hearns on parole..
moloko76 3 years ago
Damn, I never knew that about Shuler dying. Sad. He caught a perfect right from Hearns here, like so many others.
PihaSandDunes 3 years ago 2
BOOM,no wonder they called him the hit man....
Towball22 3 years ago 2
What a perfect knock out cold stunner! Boxing desperately needs someone like Hearns today.
Jorsalfar 3 years ago 3
Shuler passed soon after this fight. :(
khaliamoon 3 years ago
Damn!!!!!! Charlie Murphey.... WHOP!!!
twtheimmortal 3 years ago
This was the first fight I ever saw of Hearns. I became a fan instantly.
Shuller was a tough guy, a true tragedy when he died after this fight.
ringworks 3 years ago
This was the time of men and legends.. Tommy would demolish the fighters fighting today.
Royalte 3 years ago 20
@Royalte evvvverrryy body says that. old fighters would beat the new. 20years from now we'll be saying "manny pac would of destroyed him" or "he wouldnt last a round with lennox" or "mayweather would pick him apart". montana will always be better than brady, jordan will always be better than kobe, babe ruth is a immortal compared to a-rod. nobody's ever going to say the contrary. its so annoying.
drepop803 9 months ago
@drepop803 Damn, truthfully, you're right... It does get said a lot but that was my thinking at that time. In the middleweight division, I don't see (and didn't see 2 years ago) anyone comparing to Hearns or Hagler today. In the Welterweight division, I can't say that. There are some good boxers today that could probably touch Hearns enough to shake him up and throw him off of his game. Would be great to see though.
Royalte 6 months ago
eh tyson probably wouldnt beat hearns by knockout but hearns would pry take it cause of his quick breaching jab and devastating right
clevertrevor23 3 years ago
i wish id lived in the 80's you had prime tyson,hagler,hearns,ray leonard,prime holy field,Roberto duran, jc chavez,aron pryor,alexsis argulero and rest speaks for its self
enorjusten 3 years ago 5
This comment has received too many negative votes show
Tyson could beat in his prime hearn right?
YoungMikeTyson 3 years ago
if hearns came up to heavy wieght then yes
enorjusten 3 years ago
glad to hear it...:P
YoungMikeTyson 3 years ago
Hearns was a Welterweight-MW at his best, Tyson is a Heavyweight. You fucking retard.
Mowglieboy69 3 years ago 15
@Mowglieboy69
i bet he could still ko wlad though
Robstailey 1 year ago
Awesome guts & balls fighter was tommy not like these ticky tacky hit & run fighters of today .This guy Shuler was no mug either he was one of Americas best ever amauters and he was unbeaten as a pro.
lorenemma 3 years ago
thats me in cuple of years
vince4193 3 years ago
What a boxing card..
Canizales vs sandoval
Hearns vs schuler
Hagler vs mugabe
shire2005 4 years ago
I was lucky enough to attend this in person. Hagler vs. Mugabi ended up being RING Magazine Fight of the Year. Tragically James Shuler was killed in a motorcycle accident 2 weeks after this fight. RIP "Black Gold"
mrdavidjames 3 years ago
Yes, unreal...three title bouts...three killer knockouts...and -- in order -- Padilla, Steele, Mills. Can you imagine?
greygooseguy 3 years ago
Yes, unreal...three title bouts...three killer knockouts...and -- in order -- Padilla, Steele, Mills. Can you imagine?
greygooseguy 3 years ago
that BASTARD left hook to the liver, how Tommy didn't score more body shot KO's i dont know, guess everyone was prepared for it but OUCH,,, GASP,, lol
daddygab 4 years ago
What was Shuler's strategy?To out box or outpunch Hearns?He had the tools to do neither
ojsucksit 4 years ago
oohow tom selleck!
gdb488 4 years ago
Michael Spinks would have flattened Hearns at 175.
ojsucksit 4 years ago
Your statement could be turned around and still be true. I'am not sure Spinks wouldve been able to handle Tommys reach and if "Hitman" landed one of those right hand BOMBS !!??
mrdavidjames 3 years ago
One of the most ferocious right hands you will ever see. Hearns was one of the greatest fighters of all time and definitely, the most electrifying fighter, win or lose, of all time. And, he would have demolished Bernard Hopkins!
mrbad4151 4 years ago 4
Okay, the upside to Hearns was great, that's a given. But what about Hagler? Assuming he fought Hagler like he should have fought him. Who wins?
brixiafidelis1 4 years ago
Hearns by boring jab and grab decision.
ojsucksit 4 years ago
Hearns could have never beaten hagler because hagler had the great chin and the big punch. Eventually hagler was going to get to hearns and knock him out..
shire2005 4 years ago
Hagler still would've KO'ed him. It just may have taken a little longer if Hearns boxed and moved. But he would've eventually got to Tommy and wore him down. Marvin was strong and Hearns' chin is shaky at best.
preo2 4 years ago
I can't believe some people actually have the Nerve to compare Bernard Hopkins to The greats? Who the heck did Bernard Hopkins ever beat?.....Antwon Echols, LMAO! Hearns would have knocked out Hopkins or Mayweather like nothing (I know noone brought up Mayweather, I just threw his name in there). Don't even compare these guys who have fought and beat noone to the greats!
ckobo84 4 years ago
marvin hagler was a beast!!!! a very exciting boxer during his prime!!!!
skkinnyLordlife 4 years ago
Marvin Hagler was a great fighter no doubt, but he challenged Hearns and Leonard and Duran, yet he never ever wanted to fight Michael Spinks.. I wonder why? Was the weight advantage what he wanted? Had Hagler been a welterweight and Hearns a natural welterweight like he was when he fought Leonard the first time, I gaurantee you that Marvin would have had a different fight with Hearns. The weight advantage helped him each time he fought the 3 legends -Leonard,Hearns,Duran.
NathanHotDogs 4 years ago
Marvin's walking around weight was only about 163 or 164 pounds. He could've never made 175 to fight Spinks. Marvin never had to lose a lot of weight to get to 160 because he was a natural middleweight. he actually thought about fighting Dwight Braxton at one point, but said it would be too hard to get to light heavy.
preo2 4 years ago
I've said this elsewhere, but 15 lbs. is almost ten percent of a middleweights body mass. Putting on 15 lbs. is a lot for a HEAVYWEIGHT, so it's even MORE for a MW. I think the strain in going up would have slowed him down and taken some of the heat of his punches. There were LHs he could have beaten, but the LH division of the early 80s was DEEP with talent.
Odawg96 4 years ago
I agree. The LHW's were very exciting back then. I remember good fights like Braxton vs. Saad Muhammad and Spinks vs. Mustafa Muhammad and even the guy from prison James Scott was a decent fighter. That was probably the deepest the division has ever been.
preo2 4 years ago
Spinks vs Braxton was a WAR !!!
mrdavidjames 3 years ago
The light heavy division never had the excitement and paydays the middleweights had. By staying at his natural weight hagler was able to make a lot more money. It's not as common for a middle champ to challenge at light heavy as it was for welters to move up and fight the middle weights. Hagler at middle was able to fight hearns, leonard and duran.
shire2005 4 years ago
Beg to differ. The late 70s/early 80s light-heavy days were probably that division's BEST days. You had superlative champs in Spinks, Braxton, Mustafa Muhammad, and Saad Muhammad, AND superlative contenders like Yaqui Lopez, Jerry Martin, and former champs like Marvin Johnson, Mike Rossman, and Conteh. At that time, the light-heavies were probably THE most exciting division in pro boxing.
Odawg96 4 years ago
Victor Galindez was another one who was a solid fighter for years until he met up with Marvin Johnson. Also, remember James Scott from Rahway prison? Too bad he never got a chance at the title. I mean, why even allow him to compete if he wasn't going to be allowed to gain a title chance? Yeah, in retrospect, those were the glory days. Real wars!
brixiafidelis1 4 years ago
Yep, I definitely remember James Scott. Politics played a big role in him not getting a title shot. He beatdown top-rated contenders in Lopez and Mustafa. I think the WBA rated him at No.1, but there was no way the powers that were would allow an inmate serving life to fight for the title.
Odawg96 4 years ago
Galindez lost to mike rossman on the under card of ali spinks.. He won the title back from rossman but losing to a marginal fighter like that didn't impress me..
shire2005 4 years ago
I just mean he was in that group, although on the decline at that point.
brixiafidelis1 4 years ago
at the same time you said that Hagler was not in his prime vs. either man, against Hearns he was a great fighter and quick. If you really think about it when Hagler fought Hearns,Duran or Leonard he had the advantage in weight. That is a big advantage for him to fight welterweights.
NathanHotDogs 4 years ago
the tom selleck interview made the vid, removed one back to a time in one's life
instorebox 4 years ago
A lot of the problem with Hopkins is that he was ducked a lot of his career, tucked away at a time when the middleweights weren't particularly strong when he became champion. He constantly called out RJJ for a rematch, but that fight never happened. It wasn't until he trashed Trinidad did Hopkins ever get his due. Hopkins vs. Hagler is a Middleweight dream fight.
SalvyMic 4 years ago
Ray Leonard and Hearns were both better as welterweights.. Hagler was not even in his prime vs either man, yet he defeated both.. Leonard did not deserve the decision. Hearns vs Hopkins, who knows it certainly would have been a great fight.. But you throw any sensible arguement out the fucking window by saying Barkley is better than Hopkins.. HE couldn't carry his jockstrap even though he is underrated to a degree.
Nangus01 5 years ago
Hagler wasn't in his prime when he fought hearns in 85? That's bullshit! 2 years later after enduring both hearns and mugabe hagler clearly wasn't the same fighter but against hearns he was at the top of his game..
shire2005 4 years ago
Shuler was 22-0 with 16 KOs. He was the USBA middleweight champ and would have been the united states rep at 165 lbs for the 1980 olympics had we participated.
A couple of months after this fight shuler died in a motorcycle accident. Hearns flew to philadelphia and presented that USBA belt to shuler's family so he could be buried with it.
That's a champion!
shire2005 5 years ago
that's a great story
augustw3st 5 years ago
I didn't know that. Thanks for sharing that story.
azumah 3 years ago
BH may have beaten Tommy but it wouldve been a great fight because of Tommy. All of Tommy's fights are memorable because of his "lets fight" attitude. BH did enough to win, it was business. I dont buy this "Bernard would outbox Tommy" argument. Benitez, Duran and Leonard couldnt outbox Tommy. Even Leonard, in both fights, could not outbox Tommy. Tommy wouldnt have wanted to outbox BH though. He'd have wanted to take Bernard's head clean off at the shoulders and that makes it pick 'em.
Gidster1 5 years ago
Shuler was hardly some stiff with a padded record. He was one of the best prospects in boxing, with an outstanding amateur record going into this fight. The problem was he got caught early by one of the hardest hitters, pound-for-pound, in the history of the sport.
The reason why none of you ever heard from Shuler again is because this talented young man was tragically killed in a car cras just weeks after this fight.
hurikayne 5 years ago
try 10 days after this fight. like salvador sanchez, he ran into a much bigger vehicle on his motorcycle. and he was damn good. he beat james kinchen, at a time when kinchen was ranked number 1 or 2.
cstrait 5 years ago
James Shuler was a very well established-highly touted #1 contender. He was intimidated by Hearns' firepower, and he just have him the bazooka treatment. Too bad he didn't fight Hagler that way.
brixiafidelis1 5 years ago
you got that right boy.
jahck1221 5 years ago
you say he beats Tommy easily? Tommy Gallagher? I saw your page smeloldies. You are a Hopkins fan. So you are saying that to boast Hopkins creditials. The guy is good but Thomas Hearns fought great competition and all the guys Hopkins fought in his career, and none could punch like Hearns. Not even Trinidad.
Democratin2008 5 years ago
Bernard fought big punchers in Tito and Antwon Echols, and Antonio Tarver. Long lanky distance punchers could be argued to be Bernard's bread and butter. Tommy would have to pierce the defense of the naturally bigger Hopkins and Hopkins would take Tommy into deep water, where he had trouble. Bernard was also more versatile than two out of the three guys who beat Hearns, Iran Barkley and Marvin Hagler.
SmelOdies 5 years ago
You are absolutely crazy to think Hopkins was more versatile than Hagler. Hagler was an absolute beast as a puncher and a super skilled boxer. Take a look at more Hagler fights before dismiss just how amazingly good he was.
HeathInClearLake 5 years ago
Look how Hopkins fought Tito and Tarver. And Antwon Echols in their first fight. Amazing displays of science. As Democratin noted, I am a Hopkins fan, but don't you think Hopkins-Hagler would have been fiercely competitive? Not to mention that Hopkins went on to have tremendous victories at an advanced age, unlike Hagler who retired at 30 or 31. Hagler lost to Leonard and retired. Hopkins lost to Roy at 28 (not too much younger) and went on for over a dozen years more!
SmelOdies 5 years ago
Hagler withstood the Hearns cross, full on, and in rapid sucession. Take a look at what that cross did to Shuler and so many other contenders. There's no way your boy could have hurt Hagler. And he didn't have to Ray Leonard boxing skills to eke out a controversial decison. Ray fought Hagler brilliantly and barely won. Hopkins couldn't have coped with Hagler's all-around game. Not strong enough or fast enough to subdue hagler. And one last thing: no one ever clearly beat Hagler.
HeathInClearLake 5 years ago
I said it would be fiercely competitive, I didn't say Hopkins was a sure win. But Hopkins fought like Duran on the inside, and always had solid boxing skills from a distance. He had better stamina, chin, and intelligence than Hearns. Leonard and Duran gave Hagler fits, Hopkins would as well for both reasons.
SmelOdies 5 years ago
Hearns was always a highly vunerable fighter at middleweight. Iran Barkley ring a bell? Because he sure rang Tommy's. James Kinchen anyone? Hopkins was a naturally more physical fighter, and naturally bigger. He can brawl or box.
johntvette 5 years ago
Barkley was better than Hop. You say Hearns was vulnerable, I say that is crap. Hearns fought against a level of competition that is unfathomable to a guy like B_HOP. Shuler would have given Hop a good fight. Hearns would have KO'd Hop in 3.
HeathInClearLake 5 years ago
Barkley better than Hopkins?? Nothing you can say from this point on can be taken seriously.
johntvette 5 years ago
Quality of opposition. Hopkins fought 1(one) top fighter who was in his prime. And lost miserably. He fought a raw and inexperienced Taylor and lost twice. I'm telling you that a primed and ready Barkler was a better fighter than Hopkins, and B-Hop had a great run against opposition that wouldnt have been top-10 during Hearn's era. Let's not loose focus here. Hopkins was embarrassed by the prime Roy Jones. That was his only true, big fight.
HeathInClearLake 5 years ago
wow. You are clearly off your rocker. I guess Trinidad wasn't in his prime? DLH? And if you really think he lost both of those Taylor fights (at the age of 40) then you know even less than I thought. Barkley. I can't believe I am seeing this. I make an argument ending point about Barkley, and you want to try and say he is better than Hopkins. I'm baffled. Tell me, who did Hearns beat that was better than Hopkins, at middleweight?
johntvette 5 years ago