Tommy Hearns vs. Roy Jones (middleweight)

[Controversial]

As the title says, Hearns or Jones Jnr?

[SaadOffTheDeck]

Hearns would have him on the end of his jab and build a lead, somewhere along the way Roy lands a hook and stops him with a follow up barrage. It's a rare case where they are both up against it stylistically, but Roy's defense keeps him away from Tommy's bombs.

[tommo100]

id`e go for hearns,that evil jab would keep jones at distance
providing tommy did`nt get careless and caught late on i think he`d win on points

not to say jones would`nt have his moments,but hearns would be to arkward and unconventional

[Goodnight, Irene]

Jones just a bit too green at 160.

Hearns knocks him out at some point.

[yancey]

Interesting that the Hearns official website emphasizes the nickname "Hitman".

I always thought "the Hitman" was better than that "Motor City Cobra" stuff.

Then again, I always liked the old "Bullets" name for Baltimore in the NBA.

Hope Thomas is doing alright these days.

The right hand he laid on Duran was one of the most impressive punches I've ever seen.

Oh yeah, back to the topic. Flip a coin.

[Borinken25]

I really like Hearns here. The key factor here for me is Hearns hand speed. Jones had great reflexes but in order for him to land, he will have to open up and I don't think Jones could withstand the firepower that is coming back in return, and Hearns for sure will land. Leonard and Hearns eat a lot of leather from Hearns and they withstood that but I don't think Jones could. People always forget that Hearns was an excellent boxer with power not just a brawler. I think somewhere around the 6 or 7 round Hearns lands and knocks Roy down for the count.

[Bricks]

people have mentioned hearns supposed weak chin being a factor here but what about Roy Jones jnrs weak chin

Jones has never faced a man anything like the Hitman at 160. I think Hearns is just a narrow shade below Jones in speed here, has better power and far more seasoned and battle hardened. Hearns knocks him cold around the 9th

[SaadOffTheDeck]

people have mentioned hearns supposed weak chin being a factor here

[llabwons]

Hearns by UD.
Tommy's handspeed is up there with Roy's, Roy might just have the edge, but Tommy's has real venom behind it and his boxing skills are far superior to anyone Jones ever fought (Toney wasn't Toney when he fought Jones).
I see Jones going into a defensive shell after tasting a couple of Hit Man rights, lasting the course but stinking the joint out. Roy was an incredible talent but he didn't have the warriors heart of Hearns, Hagler & Co.

[NazNaci1]

There is every chance one of Jones's fast pot shots unhinges Tommy. However Tommy was tough & brave to go along with his other famous attributes. The jab, like always, is the key and Tommy had a great jab, which would negate any speed advantage (which wouldn't be huge), especially offsetting Jones's single hooks and crosses. Throw in that TNT right, behind that jab and I don't see Jones fairing all that well.

The fighters mentality is probably the biggest single factor in this match up. Jones was always a tad cautious where as Tommy would have no fear of 'putting it on the line'. Hearns's willingness to initiate the action can be viewed as both a positive and negative, though less so against someone like Jones.

I think a prime Jones, if he doesn't want to take chances, covers up, goes the distance but he loses big, in my opinion.

[loaded_gloves]

Hmmm, I don't think Roy is heavy handed like Hagler and Barkley. I would think Hearns would plant something crippling on Roy at some point, after a scare or two.

[Adamj1987]

Interesting that the Hearns official website emphasizes the nickname "Hitman".

I always thought "the Hitman" was better than that "Motor City Cobra" stuff.

i always remember him as the hit man, i think it was because i saw his fights where he was nicknamed as the hitman before most of his motor city nickname fights

also this image sticks with me:



to the OP RJJ at middle wasn't in his prime yet and hadn't made full use of his talent's yet so I'd say Tommy by UD

[King Carlos]

Hmmm, I don't think Roy is heavy handed like Hagler and Barkley.

I do. In fact I think he was more heavy handed than Hagler.

[Bricks]

people have mentioned hearns supposed weak chin being a factor here

yeah yeah
Theres always one at the back of the class who is slow. Let me draw it in crayons for you .

Hearns chin was dented by all time greats like SRL and Hagler, and even against Hagler he took some hellacious shots before he folded. He had a very solid chin at 160 until that crazy year from late 87 to 88 when he went up from 160 to 175 and back down and in the course was floored by the 175 divisions strongman Andries and also had his chin rocked another occasion, and than took some full blooded shots got his legs wobbled from Roldan who was u guessed it the 160lb divisons strongman,, add the hail mary Barkley punch which would have floored anyone under cruiserweight....and thats when his chin became a liability allied to his weak legs. Im not considering that fading Hearns. Im considering the peak 160lbs Hearns ie the 1985-86 vintage who had a better chin than Roy, the same Roy has been punched out more times by one shot than pretty much any all time great I can think of. In his prime his speed and reflexes and skill meant his chin was never tested because no one could land. Hearns with his speed, power , reflexes and skill would test Jones Jnrs chin at 160 mark my words and it would be a test ole Roy fails.

[loaded_gloves]

Hmmm, I don't think Roy is heavy handed like Hagler and Barkley.

I do. In fact I think he was more heavy handed than Hagler.

Based on what? Nice KO of Thomas Tate, but Tate is a B level guy. Hagler and Barkley would knock guys brains out. When did Roy show himself to be some deadly hitter?

[The End]

I'd lean towards Roy in this one.

Yeah Hearns chin isn't glass like everyone makes it seem but the same could be said for RJJ.

Both have power and are able to hurt the other.

[keithmoonhangover]

I'm a Hearns man through and through, but watching him against Roldan and Barkley wasn't an easy watch.

I don't think Hearns stops Jones, but I do think Jones could stop Tommy. I just can't see his chin holding up for 12 rounds.

So I'll take Jones by stoppage.

[SaadOffTheDeck]

people have mentioned hearns supposed weak chin being a factor here

yeah yeah
Theres always one at the back of the class who is slow. Let me draw it in crayons for you .

Hearns chin was dented by all time greats like SRL and Hagler, and even against Hagler he took some hellacious shots before he folded. He had a very solid chin at 160 until that crazy year from late 87 to 88 when he went up from 160 to 175 and back down and in the course was floored by the 175 divisions strongman Andries and also had his chin rocked another occasion, and than took some full blooded shots got his legs wobbled from Roldan who was u guessed it the 160lb divisons strongman,, add the hail mary Barkley punch which would have floored anyone under cruiserweight....and thats when his chin became a liability allied to his weak legs. Im not considering that fading Hearns. Im considering the peak 160lbs Hearns ie the 1985-86 vintage who had a better chin than Roy, the same Roy has been punched out more times by one shot than pretty much any all time great I can think of. In his prime his speed and reflexes and skill meant his chin was never tested because no one could land. Hearns with his speed, power , reflexes and skill would test Jones Jnrs chin at 160 mark my words and it would be a test ole Roy fails.

Nobody called his chin weak. As usual, your reading has failed you.

[Controversial]

If you had to give Hearns and Jones marks out of 10 for their chins what would you give? As a point of reference lets assume Haglers chin was a 10/10

[SaadOffTheDeck]

If you had to give Hearns and Jones marks out of 10 for their chins what would you give? As a point of reference lets assume Haglers chin was a 10/10

I'd give Tommy a 6.5 or 7, his heart more than made up for any chin issues. He never took a ten count.

Jones is difficult to gauge because he rarely got hit in his prime. But I'd guess that Tommy had a better chin.

[keithmoonhangover]

If you had to give Hearns and Jones marks out of 10 for their chins what would you give? As a point of reference lets assume Haglers chin was a 10/10

I'd give Tommy a 6.5 or 7, his heart more than made up for any chin issues. He never took a ten count.

Jones is difficult to gauge because he rarely got hit in his prime. But I'd guess that Tommy had a better chin.

So you give Jones less than 6.5 for chin?

[SaadOffTheDeck]

If you had to give Hearns and Jones marks out of 10 for their chins what would you give? As a point of reference lets assume Haglers chin was a 10/10

I'd give Tommy a 6.5 or 7, his heart more than made up for any chin issues. He never took a ten count.

Jones is difficult to gauge because he rarely got hit in his prime. But I'd guess that Tommy had a better chin.

So you give Jones less than 6.5 for chin?

I don't know, like I said it's difficult to gauge. But my guess is closer to 7 for Hearns and closer to 6 for Roy.

[keithmoonhangover]

I'd give Tommy a 6.5 or 7, his heart more than made up for any chin issues. He never took a ten count.

Jones is difficult to gauge because he rarely got hit in his prime. But I'd guess that Tommy had a better chin.

So you give Jones less than 6.5 for chin?

I don't know, like I said it's difficult to gauge. But my guess is closer to 7 for Hearns and closer to 6 for Roy.

It is a tough one. As a fellow Hearns fan, you've gotta admit that he looked fragile at Middleweight.

[SaadOffTheDeck]

He did after he came back down from Light Heavy. But he looked strong against Singletary & Geraldo. I think Roy wins this personally, but I'd love to be wrong.

[Syntax Error]

Pound-for-pound, Hearns kills Jones Jr - there just isn't anyway that Jones Jr can beat Hearns with his single shots & no jabs etc, on the other hand; in real time, at 160, it's completely different story.

Although Hearns is much taller, he would be the 'little guy' in this fight & I just think that Jones Jr would stop Hearns at some point late on.