Here's a fantasy match-up to consider: 1945-46 Rocky Graziano vs. 1985-86 Thomas Hearns in a 15-rounder.
Could Graziano stand-up to Hearns' speed and power long enough to land his own patented haymaker?
Could Hearns survive a clean shot on the chin from Rocky?
Could this match-up possibly go the distance?
For the sake of the fantasy, the referee is from Graziano's era, which means a quick stoppage via TKO is less likely.
Any thoughts?
Thomas Hearns vs. Rocky Graziano
here's my take:
Hearns has the superior reach & handspeed and vastly superior skills & ring intelligence. He also has a tremendous punch in either hand. His chin is questionable, but his tremendous skills usually render that a non-issue.
Graziano has a pulverizing right hand and tons of heart, plus an amazing ferocity--but few boxing skills. He can be dropped, but usually jumps up swinging wildly. He's a true slugger--blood & guts all the way, real men don't dance, etc.
Hearns would have to be a huge favorite, and he would likely enter the bout with extreme self-confidence--and this would be his undoing. The "Hitman" would have a solid boxing plan and would probably win every round while it lasted, but at some point he would be confidently pecking away from long distance, hands held low--and one of Graziano's wild lunches would graze his chin. Hearns would be stunned for only an instant, but in that instant Graziano would be relentlessly throwing wild hammers that would drop him. Possessing great heart and willpower, Hearns would get up, but Rocky--now in his element--would pound him down again and again until the bout is stopped.
The only other scenerio would be for Hearns to decide to come out slugging and take Graziano out early. That would be pure excitement, and Rocky might be busted up and even dropped for a quick count, but Hearns doesn't have the chin of Zale, so I see the same result--Graziano KO Hearns, only earlier than the boxing from long range plan.
Hearns has the superior reach & handspeed and vastly superior skills & ring intelligence. He also has a tremendous punch in either hand. His chin is questionable, but his tremendous skills usually render that a non-issue.
Graziano has a pulverizing right hand and tons of heart, plus an amazing ferocity--but few boxing skills. He can be dropped, but usually jumps up swinging wildly. He's a true slugger--blood & guts all the way, real men don't dance, etc.
Hearns would have to be a huge favorite, and he would likely enter the bout with extreme self-confidence--and this would be his undoing. The "Hitman" would have a solid boxing plan and would probably win every round while it lasted, but at some point he would be confidently pecking away from long distance, hands held low--and one of Graziano's wild lunches would graze his chin. Hearns would be stunned for only an instant, but in that instant Graziano would be relentlessly throwing wild hammers that would drop him. Possessing great heart and willpower, Hearns would get up, but Rocky--now in his element--would pound him down again and again until the bout is stopped.
The only other scenerio would be for Hearns to decide to come out slugging and take Graziano out early. That would be pure excitement, and Rocky might be busted up and even dropped for a quick count, but Hearns doesn't have the chin of Zale, so I see the same result--Graziano KO Hearns, only earlier than the boxing from long range plan.
graziano was often called "the hardest punching middleweight in the welterweight division" as he was most damaging in that lower division. he wasn't a big middleweight himself. fought at around 154. i suppose he'd be called a junior middle or super welter today, though eventually he'd fight at middle too. big puncher, but not a physically strong guy, like zale or even close to lamotta. couldn't bull guys around inside.
i think hearns would take him,probably by kayo if they went to war. no way rocky could have survived that first round of hearns/hagler. if hearns chose to box he's win that way too. hearns didn't have a lamotta chin (who does) but it wasn't pure china either, and he was so tall rocky would have a hard time reaching it anyway, and he was mostly a headhunter.
i wouldn't consider barkley's success against hearns as a factor. barkley was a very strong fighter and mauler as well as being a good puncher.
some people think hearns was best at the super welter poundage, but i don't think it would matter whether he fought graziano there or at middle.
i think hearns would take him,probably by kayo if they went to war. no way rocky could have survived that first round of hearns/hagler. if hearns chose to box he's win that way too. hearns didn't have a lamotta chin (who does) but it wasn't pure china either, and he was so tall rocky would have a hard time reaching it anyway, and he was mostly a headhunter.
i wouldn't consider barkley's success against hearns as a factor. barkley was a very strong fighter and mauler as well as being a good puncher.
some people think hearns was best at the super welter poundage, but i don't think it would matter whether he fought graziano there or at middle.