New boxing analogies, and the Democratic race. First, Hillary Clinton.

[Colobo]

After watching the debate, I think:

-Hillary Clinton reminds me of Thomas Hearns. One of the greatest even to lace 'em up, he almost had everything- despite his skinny frame, he had SICK one punch KO power and, most importantly, brilliant boxing skills. He could outthink you, outsmart you, outbox you and, if the chance came up, KO you with a single right hand. He was truly a man that could have beaten pretty much any top welterweight in history in a mythical matchup. Same thing with Hillary- she knows how to box, and she does know how to fight and, if necessary, put you to sleep. Ask Wilfredo Benitez, who reminds me of Barack Obama, by the way. Apparently, both have no flaws when they feel comfortable in the ring/podium.

However, Tommy had a problem only a few great fighters were able to exploit- his chin. Tommy didn't handle pressure well, couldn't fight against the ropes, and a moderately decent punch could put him out. If you were able to back Tommy up, you could win the fight. Ask Leonard and Hagler. Hillary showed us yesterday that, despite her natural abilities and gifts, she does not handle constant pressure well, and she can be rattled. Her performance last night got worse and worse as the pressure mounted. Granted, her chin is still holding up, but it is very possible that a bit more pressure will cause her to crack up, regardless of the huge lead she has right now, just like Hearns cracked up after having a huge lead against Sugar Ray Leonard going to the 14th round- already shaken from a rough round 13, he is against the ropes and gets caught with a brutal right hand that marks the beginning of the end.

The question is: Will Hillary regroup after this bad round and go back to the center of the ring to pop out her viper-like jab and keep her opponents at bay? Like Hearns, she has what it takes to do just that. Quality fighters, after all.

Next: Barack Obama, our Wilfredo Benitez.

[Kurt_and_Hunter]

1. I think Hearns had an awesome chin. He had no defense.

Everyone goes down from a perfect punch.

There were times I thought Hearns was going to die in the ring, yet he somehow came back and finished the fight. (In the Leonard draw he was actually unconcious twice in the fight without going down)

The man had no interest in defense, is all. (Probably a bad habit developed early on precisely because he had such a good chin)

I see hillary as Ricky Hatton... non-stop action fighter who gets hit a lot.

[Colobo]

2. Well, his defense was not that bad.

I would say his chin was OK, but he lacked recuperative powers. Once hurt, he was basically done.

[Kurt_and_Hunter]

6. I can think of instances of that (vs Hagler, for instance) but I always felt the chin issue

was a bum rap because the shots that put him down were usually DEVESTATING shots.

Yes, he did suffer a few weak-looking flash knock-downs... I'm not disagreeing entirely. But he took so much punishement that I think he was all but shot before some of his well known later fights.

I know you'll object to this, but I see Obama as Chris Byrd. (I love Chris Byrd, but his grace was misplaced among heavyweights)

[Colobo]

3. The only truly big puncher that stopped Hearns

was Barkley. Regardless of his KO ratio, Hagler was not a KO puncher (heavy handed, yes) and neither was Leonard.

[Kurt_and_Hunter]

7. Agreed. Hearns was an action fighter, not a power guy

[wyldwolf]

4. As Gerald W. McEntee, President of AFSCME International said today...

... about last night's debate:

Six guys against Hillary.

I’d call that a fair fight.

[Colobo]

5. Well, it was a debate, wyld.

Had Obama been the frontrunner, he would have gotten all the heat. Still, I'm being fair in my analysis of Hillary- Thomas Hearns was a superb fighter.

[wyldwolf]

8. I didn't say you weren't being fair

But then again, the Hit Man never had to take on Hagler and Leonard at the same time.

[BeyondGeography]

21. Her problem wasn't 6-on-1

it was her strategy to reserve all her punches for Bush. One haymaker to Obama or Edwards would have solved the problem. The others would have said, "noted," and been more careful with her. But she was wearing her inevitability outfit last night and she wouldn't get it dirty.

Next time, she'll be more prepared. If she learns how to answer straightforward questions in a straightforward manner, she'll be in even better shape.

[Kurt_and_Hunter]

9. Obama-Byrd Hillary-Hatton Edwards-some1950s cheap shot artist

[Colobo]

11. Obama is more like Benitez.

That's coming up next.

[IndianaJones]

10. Early stoppage for Leonard in the first fight, behind on the cards and BS draw...

in the second after being put down, I believe, twice by Hearns.

[wyldwolf]

12. didn't Leonard have Hearns on the ropes and about out in the final round, though?

Not that it should have mattered for the final decision...

[Kurt_and_Hunter]

14. I thought Hearns was robbed, then I rewatched the fight and scored it, and Leonard won on my card

because I gave him two 10-8 rounds for the two times Hearns was actually beaten unconcious, but held up by the ropes.

It was a tricky fight to score.

[wyldwolf]

15. ya know, there aren't any boxers today that interest me

Evander Holyfield was the last one.

[IndianaJones]

16. 14th round stoppage. Hearns ahead on all score cards. nt.

[Kurt_and_Hunter]

17. might be two fights being discussed (Leonard/Hearns 1 and 2)

[IndianaJones]

18. second fight was a draw. Hearns knocked Leonard down twice...

most experts feel he beat Leonard. Not the first time Leonard got a generous decision.

[Kurt_and_Hunter]

13. on reflection... Hearns can't be the analogy because he was sloppy and reckless

Hillary is tightly contained and cautious... one of those fighters sticking to a game plan.

So I retract my Hatton analogy too, since he's willing to brawl. Hillary is never reckless...doesn't want to trade punches. She wants to control the distance with constant jabs in the eyes.

Maybe she's a de la Hoya type.

[Colobo]

19. Think about Hearns-Benitez.

Hearns was super slick against one of the masters of defense.

[Kurt_and_Hunter]

20. Fair point. The Hearns matches that get replayed the most are the wild ones

but he could box when he wanted to.

[Kurt_and_Hunter]

22. also, I was impressed with Hillary's chin

I have never seen anything like that debate, in terms of getting it from all sides. I thought she came off baddly, but most candidates would have melted down entirely. She got rattled in the last 1/2 hour, but stayed with the plan of not being drawn into brawling. (Think of the amount of oposition research stuff she has on the tip of her tongue... but she never snapped back at Edwards, or even addressed him, though her eyes showed how much she wanted to.)