BoxRec

Could this have been a great fight?

Whose chances do you like?

Tommy by decision, he builds up a lead and holds off the Kid late. I'll tell you one thing, a Hearns KO isn't happening here. Gavilan was greater, but the match up favors Tommy.

Absolutely could be great. Hearns jab would force Gavilan to forge his way inside past punches and he would do whatever it took to try and win.

The great Kid Gavilan wins this one on points or late TKO. Too strong for the great Thomas Hearns

Hearns was stronger than Gavilan, except for in his chin.

I like Hearns here. Hearns was an under-rated outstanding boxer puncher. I think he was the only one to clearly outbox Leonard until his chin and stamina failed him. Gavilan was also an outstanding boxer. However, he did not have the power to hurt Hearns. My pick will be Hearns be decision.

It is very likley that it would go the distance. Hearns didn't have a great chin, but it wasn't that bad. Gavilan didn't have the power to stop him.
Hearns had phenomenal power, but Gavilan is one of the few welterweights who could have stood up to it.

It would have been a close fight. Hearns would have the size and reach advantages, but Gavilan had great speed and boxing ability. Hearns probably wins a close decision.

I don't think the great boxers trouble Tommy too much. Tommy had the offence to close down great defensive fighters.

Gavilan was the greater welterweight but Tommy wins a very close decision more times than not.

Ezzard wrote:I don't think the great boxers trouble Tommy too much. Tommy had the offence to close down great defensive fighters.

Gavilan was the greater welterweight but Tommy wins a very close decision more times than not.

I thought Benitez did enough to warrant a draw against Hearns.

That surprises me, I thought it was a 10-5 or 11-4 kind of fight. And that probably doesn't surprise you.

SaadOffTheDeck wrote:That surprises me, I thought it was a 10-5 or 11-4 kind of fight. And that probably doesn't surprise you.

haven't seen it in ages, but it seemed to me that Tommy was close to pulling a shutout win until he hurt his hand (around the 7th/8th?)

after that benitez had him backing off the majority of the fight and maybe split the remaining rounds 50/50, which would tie in with a 10-5 type card

thats how I recall it.

SaadOffTheDeck wrote:Tommy by decision, he builds up a lead and holds off the Kid late. I'll tell you one thing, a Hearns KO isn't happening here. Gavilan was greater, but the match up favors Tommy.

Absolutely could be great. Hearns jab would force Gavilan to forge his way inside past punches and he would do whatever it took to try and win.

Excellent analysis.

Benitez earn a draw?? WTF?? That fight wasn't even close. Benitez won maybe 4 rounds. Hearns dominated that fight.

Haven't watched Hearns v Benitez in along time, but I think I had Hearns winning by 7. Seem to remember Benitez getting credited with a bogus knockdown as well.

Thought Tommy won with plenty to spare.

He'd have nothing spare against Gavilan but I think he'd shade it.

Robinson barely beat Gavilan twice. I reckon Gavilan beats Tommy by decision. Wouldn't really surprise me either way.

Gavilan TKOs Hearns late in the fight. Around the 12th or 13th round, Hearns wilts. Gavilan had one of boxing's greatest chins, and was as fast and durable like the greats Sugar Ray Leonard or Robinson. The only thing that the great Gavilan did not had was a punch. But the accumulations of punches on Tommy's chin would be it. Gavilan had more endurance, and was much tougher. It would be a hell of a fight, though.

It could be close, but Gavilan would win.

There is no way Hearns stops Gavilan, Sugar Ray Robinson claims that he hit him harder than he ever hit anyone and couldn't drop him.

As a matter of fact, due to Hearns' rather weak chin, it is possible that he may be stopped.

...not making a choice here...but do want to add that robinson did not "barely" win over gavilan. srr did keep up a fast pace though because gavilan liked to steal the last minute of a round...or even the last 30 seconds...with one of his flurries and robinson just didn't let him. however, sugar ray did say that he hit gavilan as hard as he ever hit anybody and it didn't even shake him.