Hearns V Mayweather at Welter

[johnswan1]

Do you you think would win? Two master boxers, but Hearns with the advantage in size, reach and power.

I think Hearns would win by KO, but would be interested in hearing the view of anybody who thinks Floyd would win, and what tactics they think he could win with against a prime Hearns.

Here's an extract from an interview with Hearns back in 2011:

Hearns’ thoughts on Mayweather:

“Floyd Mayweather Jr. is an excellent fighter. I will give credit where credit is due. I can not take anything away from Floyd Mayweather.

“Floyd Mayweather is a very smart fighter in the ring. He feints well, and he punches pretty good. I mean he’s pretty active while he’s in there.”

On what his strategy would be in a fight against Mayweather:

“Against me, I would have to respect him. I think that he could go the distance with me. I would have to out-think him and definitely out-jab him. He’s a shorter man, so he can’t get to me.

“I would have to keep the jab on him and keep him at a distance and force him to use his head movement all of the time. Somewhere down the line, I would probably hit him with a couple of right hands.

“I would probably get him with a good right hand if not an average right hand. If I was to go to the body, you know that might play into what he is probably trying to do strategically.

“I think that if I got closer to him trying to land a body shot, that would be what he wants. So I think that my best thing would be to stay on the outside and just box him. But I think that he could go the distance with me.”

[Ricky_]

Hearns would f Floyd up. His reach jab and power completely negates Mayweathers entire game plan. He'd have nowhere to run and couldn't use his potshot tactics to keep Hearns off.


This isn't even close, a prime, welter Hearns is Ray Robinson territory - now that's a matchup.

[tiny_acres]

I have to agree with Tommy.
Hearns by a wide UD. This is one match up where
FLoyd is just out of his element. Stylistic nightmare for Floyd

[Datsue]

Uncle Roger is on record as saying he'd be against Floyd fighting a prime Vernon Forrest; I liked Vernon, but he wasn't nearly Thomas Hearns though he brings many of the same things to the table--height, reach, firing power, kick-arse jab, savage bodypunching. In Tommy's case, all those advantages would be exacerbated.

So: Hearns, every day of the week & twice on Sundays.

[jezzamundo]

Floyd vs Vernon Forrest is a much better matchup - I think that fight would end in a split decision.

At 147lb, Hearns wins a clear decision over Floyd. At 154lb Hearns knocks Floyd out. It's not exactly a fair matchup because Hearns is naturally 3 weight divisions bigger.

[Ezzard]

Wouldn't expect a stoppage but all the advantages Floyd usually has he loses in this one.

Hearns by a clear decision unless Floyd actually tries to win it...then he might just get stopped.

[davie]

I've got the Hitman by stoppage but it's one of those ones that almost gets filed under the "not a fair contest" category.

He was too big and powerful at welter and would bully Floyd. The guy was 6'1", 78" reach and hit like a sledge hammer at Welter.

[MachoTime]

If they fought don't see how Mayweather could beat Hearns. To much size advantage in favor of Hearns. At 147 Hearns was very fast and quick.

However I don't see Hearns knocking out Mayweather. I think Hearns perspective is on the money. Mayweather's punch is underestimated as well.

For that matter I don't see anyone knocking out Mayweather, including SRL.

I would favor Hearns and SRL to win by decision. Duran not sure. I'd give Mayweather a good chance at beating Duran.

[Chepppaaa]

if maidana made a draw with floyd and roughed him up, what would prime hearns at welter do to floyd? hehehe

[Ezzard]

See Hearns-Benitez for how this goes...

[Baby Face Finster]

Hearns would win. Just too much firepower for Floyd to deal with. We saw how troubled Floyd was with DLH's jab until Oscar abandoned it, now imagine what that piston jab of Hearns would do. Hearns would also be one of the few people who would have a reach advantage over Floyd.

[Syntax Error]

I just don't like the thought of little guys coming up to face the might of Tommy Hearns at Welterweight.

The only way you could ever possibly beaten Thomas Hearns would have been to put him under severe pressure & Mayweather Jr just does not fight that way.

Hearns would win, no doubt, but I'd probably say on points, because I can't see Mayweather Jr getting KOd.

[Chepppaaa]

I just don't like the thought of little guys coming up to face the might of Tommy Hearns at Welterweight.

The only way you could ever possibly beaten Thomas Hearns would have been to put him under severe pressure & Mayweather Jr just does not fight that way.

Hearns would win, no doubt, but I'd probably say on points, because I can't see Mayweather Jr getting KOd.

welterweight wasnt floyds favourite weight and hearns was a monster at that weight, its not fair. hearns should be up against guys like tito, margarito, mccallum or forrest on fantasy fights. big tall opponents equal hearns.

floyds best days were at super featherweight/ lightweight/ super lightweight. fantasy fights against tszyu, chavez, duran, arguello are fair, similar height weight

[ClivePatrickLyons]

Hearns in 10

[KBB]

Hearns would f Floyd up. His reach jab and power completely negates Mayweathers entire game plan. He'd have nowhere to run and couldn't use his potshot tactics to keep Hearns off.


This isn't even close, a prime, welter Hearns is Ray Robinson territory - now that's a matchup.

Sure just as it did with the shorter SRL right?? It's amazing that Hearns says that he thinks Floyd goes the distance with him but we have armchair boxers here saying something totally different.

As I recall TH didn't fare too well on the end of that bout with Leonard and Tommy's power wasn't a factor in that fight either. Of course if you hate Floyd you'd say something that is the polar opposite of what Hearns would say himself.

[ElJefe]

Hearns would f Floyd up. His reach jab and power completely negates Mayweathers entire game plan. He'd have nowhere to run and couldn't use his potshot tactics to keep Hearns off.


This isn't even close, a prime, welter Hearns is Ray Robinson territory - now that's a matchup.

Sure just as it did with the shorter SRL right?? It's amazing that Hearns says that he thinks Floyd goes the distance with him but we have armchair boxers here saying something totally different.

As I recall TH didn't fare too well on the end of that bout with Leonard and Tommy's power wasn't a factor in that fight either. Of course if you hate Floyd you'd say something that is the polar opposite of what Hearns would say himself.

Hearns vs Mayweather would be completely different from Hearns vs Leonard.

Sugar Ray is 5'10 and has a 74 inch reach. Floyd is 5'8 and has a 72 inch reach. That's a massive difference, especially coming up against a fighter who is 6'1 and has a 78 (SEVENTY EIGHT) inch reach. Hearns had a big physical advantage over Ray, the advantage over Mayweather would be huge. Beside from the physcial advantages, Mayweather just doesn't have the style to bother Hearns. Leonard was more willing and able to mix it up than Mayweather is.

By the way, just because someone thinks Mayweather would lose doesn't mean he hates him.

[ElJefe]

4 people have voted for Mayweather. I'm interested to hear how they think he'd be able to beat The Hitman?

[jezzamundo]

Pointing out the Leonard fight as a reason why Mayweather could do well against Hearns is a bit shortsighted. Leonard was considerably bigger than Mayweather and had a much greater punch output, a more proven chin and significantly greater punching power. Leonard was also unable to outbox Tommy and had to take a lot of punishment in order to close the distance and out-slug him - something that Mayweather would never be able to do. I think Hearns is generous to Floyd in his assessment of the fight, but ultimately I agree with his call - Hearns wins a clear decision if Floyd fights his normal defensive fight. If Floyd tries to employ Leonard's tactics of walking Hearns down, he gets knocked out.

[Ricky_]

4 people have voted for Mayweather. I'm interested to hear how they think he'd be able to beat The Hitman?

KBB has 4 accounts. Floyd wins via Dave Moretti. Hearns gets Moretti'd.

[KBB]

Hearns vs Mayweather would be completely different from Hearns vs Leonard.

Sugar Ray is 5'10 and has a 74 inch reach. Floyd is 5'8 and has a 72 inch reach. That's a massive difference, especially coming up against a fighter who is 6'1 and has a 78 (SEVENTY EIGHT) inch reach. Hearns had a big physical advantage over Ray, the advantage over Mayweather would be huge. Beside from the physcial advantages, Mayweather just doesn't have the style to bother Hearns. Leonard was more willing and able to mix it up than Mayweather is.

By the way, just because someone thinks Mayweather would lose doesn't mean he hates him.

You mean the same way Hearns' big reach advantage gave him the huge advantage over the shorter Aaron Pryor (who actually beat him), right??

You guys make me laugh, as far as you thinking that I was saying that to someone who doesn't hate him then obviously you don't know anything about Ricky (he hates Mayweather with a passion unequaled).

You cannot say that Hearns would win with absolute certainty no more than I can say Floyd would win, the bottom line is that you are just speculating like everyone else and you guys act as if Hearns was unbeatable/couldn't be touched or that he hadn't already lost to shorter/just as short men than Mayweather.

Hearns beard wasn't all that either so let's stop pretending this would be a whitewash because of his reach/size advantage because it wouldn't.

[MachoTime]

Hearns vs Mayweather would be completely different from Hearns vs Leonard.

Sugar Ray is 5'10 and has a 74 inch reach. Floyd is 5'8 and has a 72 inch reach. That's a massive difference, especially coming up against a fighter who is 6'1 and has a 78 (SEVENTY EIGHT) inch reach. Hearns had a big physical advantage over Ray, the advantage over Mayweather would be huge. Beside from the physcial advantages, Mayweather just doesn't have the style to bother Hearns. Leonard was more willing and able to mix it up than Mayweather is.

By the way, just because someone thinks Mayweather would lose doesn't mean he hates him.

You mean the same way Hearns' big reach advantage gave him the huge advantage over the shorter Aaron Pryor (who actually beat him), right??

You guys make me laugh, as far as you thinking that I was saying that to someone who doesn't hate him then obviously you don't know anything about Ricky (he hates Mayweather with a passion unequaled).

You cannot say that Hearns would win with absolute certainty no more than I can say Floyd would win, the bottom line is that you are just speculating like everyone else and you guys act as if Hearns was unbeatable/couldn't be touched or that he hadn't already lost to shorter/just as short men than Mayweather.

Hearns beard wasn't all that either so let's stop pretending this would be a whitewash because of his reach/size advantage because it wouldn't.

Pryor never beat Hearns.They never fought. Maybe in the amateurs but that don't count.

[KBB]

Pryor never beat Hearns.They never fought. Maybe in the amateurs but that don't count.

Sure the amateurs don't count, in your world but the fact of the matter is he fought someone who was significantly shorter than him and was beaten, that was the other poster's main argument.

That argument has been totally negated no matter how much you dislike Floyd.

[punchoutsb]

Pryor never beat Hearns.They never fought. Maybe in the amateurs but that don't count.

Sure the amateurs don't count, in your world but the fact of the matter is he fought someone who was significantly shorter than him and was beaten, that was the other poster's main argument.

That argument has been totally negated no matter how much you dislike Floyd.

He was 18 years old. That's like saying Hearns would definitely beat Mayweather because Augie Sanchez could and Hearns had more physical tools. Amateur and pro (especially young amateurs) are a totally different game.

[man]

i think this is a fight floyd would avoid as
long as he possibly can. prime for prime
i do not think tommy walks through him
but wins a decision with one round looking
like the second against shane.

[Ricky_]

Pryor never beat Hearns.They never fought. Maybe in the amateurs but that don't count.

Sure the amateurs don't count, in your world but the fact of the matter is he fought someone who was significantly shorter than him and was beaten, that was the other poster's main argument.

That argument has been totally negated no matter how much you dislike Floyd.

Hearns wasn't even a puncher til he met Manny.

Let's all agree Floyd could beat an amatuer Hearns for the sake of Brut's butt.