Sugar Ray Leonard Vs. Thomas Hearns

Recently, we done a Boxing Analysis of the first encounter between Mike Tyson & Evander Holyfield and it’s inspired me to do more boxing analysis’ of older fights so since it’s near Christmas, let’s breakdown one of the best welterweight clashes in history -Sugar Ray Leonard Vs. Thomas Hearns.

Round 1

Hearns begins with a few jabs. Hearns goes for a few punches but misses, Leonard jabs him in the body, he mixes it up. Sugar is using his movement, something he is infamous for. Hearns hits him with a good left, bare in mind he’s an orthodox boxer, both men are. Hearns hits Sugar with a few shots.

My Thoughts: This was a good opening round to start off this 15 round fight.

Round Winner: Thomas Hearns (10-9)

Round 2

Hearns hits Leonard with a few body shots. Hearns hits a snappy body jab. Hearns is dominating this round, he hits a nice left jab and it lands. He hits a great combination.

My Thoughts: Not a lot of action in this round.

Round Winner: Thomas Hearns (10-9)

Round 3

Sugar throws a few shots early on. Hearn hits him with a left hand. Hearns hits a fast combination. Sugar starts to move back. Hearns continues to attack the body with punches. Sugar goes for some offence but Hearns shits that down. Sugar hits a left hand to the body. He picks up some momentum but Hearns is still winning this round with 10 seconds left.

My Thoughts: This was a great round for Hearns.

Round Winner: Thomas Hearns (10-9)

Score: Thomas Hearns (30-27)

Round 4

Leonard has been informed to work the body, there’s still possibly 11 rounds left, that’s great advice but it’s something he should’ve done early on to get the maximum affect. Sugar Ray hits and lands a jab. Hearns hits a combo. Ray Leonard hits a right hook. Hearns capitalises and hits several shots.

My Thoughts: This was Sugar Ray’s best round but I think Hearns edges this.

Round Winner: Thomas Hearns (10-9)

Round 5

Hearns hits a nice jab, cross. Hearns hits a left hook. Leonard hits a body shot. Sugar hits a quick combination. Hearns hits Leonard with another jab. Hearns is won this round again.

My Thoughts: Hearns wins another round.

Round Winner: Thomas Hearns (10-9)

Round 6

Sugar Ray is starting to land more now. He’s using his movement to his advantage which is always good to see. Hearns is still using that jab. Leonard slips a punch and attempts a left hook but just misses. Leonard has wobbled Hearns and is starting to outbox him. He’s throwing a lot of left hooks.

My Thoughts: Good to see Ray Leonard start to make a comeback.

Round Winner: Sugar Ray Leonard (10-9)

Score: Thomas Hearns (59-55)

Round 7

Hearns is trying to land at the start to set the pace but Sugar Ray is having none of it and is throwing big shots. He hits a nice body uppercut but so does Hearns. Sugar hits a great left hook. Hearns hits a combination. Sugar Ray is abusing that left hook to the body. Sugar Ray has stunned Hearns but Hearns quickly recovers. Leonard is starting to go to work now, he’s putting in a shift. Sugar Ray lands several uppercuts. Leonard starts to hit a combination.

My Thoughts: Another great round for Leonard.

Round Winner: Sugar Ray Leonard (10-9)

Round 8

Hearns is beginning to do better now but Sugar Ray, Hearns hits a left hook. Sugar Ray starts to land again. Leonard hits a nice left body hook. He hits a good right hook to close the round.

My Thoughts: Close round but I still think Sugar Ray took this round.

Round Winner: Sugar Ray Leonard (10-9)

Round 9

Leonard starts the round off with a body shot. Hearns delivers some head shots as well, this has been his best round in a while. Hearns hits a great body left. Sugar Ray delivers a left to the body.

My Thoughts: I think Hearn won this round.

Round Winner: Thomas Hearns (10-9)

Score: Thomas Hearns (87-84)

Round 10

Sugar Ray starts with a few standard jabs, nothing out of the ordinary. Sugar Ray hits another jab. Hearns lands a body shot. Hearns hits a good combination. Hearns is being effective with his strikes.

My Thoughts: A bit of a slow round.

Round Winner: Thomas Hearns (10-9)

Round 11

Ray Leonard begins the round with a right hand, bit of a sneaky punch too. Ray hits a body shot. Hearns lands a right hand and hits a combination. Ray hits a solid 1:2. Hearns hits a right hook and avoids getting hit.

My Thoughts: Hearns with another impressive round.

Round Winner: Thomas Hearns (10-9)

Round 12

Hearns with a good right body shot to begin round 12. He backs Leonard against the ropes and Leonard really needs a knockout if he wants to win this fight. Hearns throws some snappy jabs. Sugar Ray lunges in and hits an overhand.

My Thoughts:Another round in the book in favour of Hearns.

Round Winner: Thomas Hearns (10-9)

Score: Thomas Hearns (117-111)

Round 13

Ray hits a good combination. Leonard catches Hearns and Hearns loses balance but it isn’t an official knockdown. Hearns hits a left hand. Leonard hits a right hand and Hearns staggers. Leonard hits a crazy combination and Hearns falls it of the ring. Hearns gets back up. Leonard batters Sugar Ray towards the end of the round and he leans on the ropes.

My Thoughts: This can either be a 10-8 round or a 10-7 round. I’m going with a traditional 10-8.

Round Winner: Sugar Ray Leonard (10-8)

Round 14

Hearns begins with a few punches, he’s acting like he’s still winning the rounds. Ray keeps attacking the body of Sugar Ray for a knockdown because Hearns’ legs aren’t working whatsoever. Ray punches him and he damages him. He just keeps laying waste to Hearns and the referee calls it off.

My Thoughts: This was a great fight, credit to both men, especially Leonard for somehow managing to come back.