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The Kings, Showtime’s new boxing documentary collection about Sugar Ray Leonard, Thomas Hearns, Marvin Hagler and Roberto Duran, debuts this Sunday, June 6, on Showtime. We reviewed the excellent sports doc here, and Tim Ryan and Barry Tompkins shared some ideas concerning the 4 Kings with The Huge Lead.
Tompkins and Ryan have been fortunate sufficient to cowl a few of these fights in particular person and each labored ringside with Leonard. Tompkins labored alongside Leonard and Larry Service provider on HBO Boxing. He has additionally finished play-by-play for boxing on ESPN and FOX Sports activities. Ryan known as fights with Leonard on CBS and in addition known as Leonard’s fights in opposition to Hagler and Hearns.
This is what they instructed us about Duran, Hagler, Hearns and Leonard.
Cocky, relentless, aggressive for all three minutes of each spherical. When in form mid-career, there was no different boxer on the identical weight who punched more durable. By no means backed up and was mentally robust — till the “No más” loss to Leonard. It was outstanding that he made such a robust comeback after that — at the very least till boozing acquired one of the best of his boxing. – TR
A flat-out murderer on the decrease weights. Didn’t simply need to beat you – he wished to destroy you. If appears may kill – his did. Like Ray Leonard, he mellowed with age. Machismo each carried him a good distance and resulted in his most devastating loss. He was a stalker and, like the opposite three, if he damage you – it was over. In contrast to the opposite two, he and Ray Leonard now have a really shut friendship. – BT
A shy, nice man exterior the ring, he was an incredible puncher contained in the ring. He used his peak and attain successfully and his proper hand energy could be one in all boxing’s biggest pound-for-pound. He was an ideal competitor in a quiet method, and his willingness to take punches to hang-in with counters has little question taken its toll in his post-boxing life. By no means did TV commentary. – TR
Nice welterweight, strange middleweight. Excellent expertise as each a boxer and a puncher. Not a scholar of the sport like the opposite three. Due to his size and excellent jab, was nearly unbeatable at 147 kilos. I actually consider he wasn’t certain he may beat Hagler and at all times have thought he merely determined to only go for it within the first spherical and exit on a defend. However he was a giant a part of the best spherical of boxing I’ve ever seen. – BT
Might he relaxation in peace — it by no means got here in the ring. Gave strong performances in each struggle — at all times in form — greatest at middleweight. Intelligent counter-puncher with good, punishing energy. Labored the physique higher than most. Wore opponents down, relatively than searching for the one massive knockout shot. Clever, considerate, quiet man exterior of the ring. Served as a visitor analyst a few instances with me and Gil Clancy — made good feedback, however in his personal quiet method. – TR
The yin to Ray Leonard’s yang. Blue collar man who I consider won’t ever get his simply due as one of many biggest middleweights ever, due to the struggle with Ray Leonard. Beat everybody there was to beat in his period (with the one notable exception). Loyal to the Petronellis, perhaps even to a fault. A very terrific human being who had some chops as a colour analyst as properly. – BT
King of the Kings, he had the entire qualities of a fighter that the opposite three had: cockiness of Duran, workmanlike intelligent model of Hagler, punching energy (nearly) of Hearns and the persona of all three, a showboat however pleasantly so. He served as visitor commentator on a number of fights with Gil and me at CBS and introduced his glamor to the cameras. We’ve stayed in contact through the years. – TR
I labored with Ray for ten years. Like a youthful brother to me. Nice scholar of the sport. A killer intuition that belies the Bambi appears. Nice finisher. Survived some robust instances and got here out the opposite facet a greater particular person. I consider he at the very least belongs within the dialog of the best ever at any weight. – BT
THE KINGS, a four-part documentary collection, premieres on Sunday, June 6, at 8 p.m. ET/PT on SHOWTIME with new episodes to observe each Sunday. All 4 episodes can be obtainable on all Showtime On Demand platforms on the day of premiere.
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