BoxRec

The Hitman vs The Upstate Onion Farmer. 15 rounds. For the World Welterweight Crown.

The Hitman's size and power would be too much for Basilio as Hearns outbox him behind his great sharp stinging left jabs and right hands to either take a decision or stopping him late.

Hearns by 13th round stoppage.

At this weight class, I have to pick the great Carmen Basilio. Basilio would have pressured the great Thomas Hearns like a stamp to a letter. It would be a brutal slugfest.

But, Basilio had much more heart, will, determination and grit than any other fighter, dead or alive. If Aaron Pryor, Sugar Ray Leonard, Marvelous Marvin Hagler and Iran "The Blade" Barkley beat him with pressure, Basilio certainly can. Hearns's legs would have betrayed him in an action-packed fast paced contest.

But, at 154lbs and above, it would be a different story. I would pick The Hitman over the Canastota Onion Farmer. There, Hearns was perfect.

I'd have to favor Hearns to stop Basilio. Probably by cutting him up badly or just battering him to a stoppage.

Basilio's relentless pressure and body work would definitely make it a tremendously tough pace for Hearns to keep, but Tommy's just too strong i think for Basilio.

This fight is a total war. It's going to take a Marine like toughness for Basilio to win. If he pulls it off, it exceeds his win over Robinson, which I think was a bad decision. What concerns me in this one is not Carmen's lack of height and reach but his lack of punching power. If I'm training Hearns, he's coming out blasting and not boxing. This one is either an early win for Hearns or Basilio winning it very late or on points.

goose 5 wrote: ↑08 Apr 2026, 20:37 This fight is a total war. It's going to take a Marine like toughness for Basilio to win. If he pulls it off, it exceeds his win over Robinson, which I think was a bad decision. What concerns me in this one is not Carmen's lack of height and reach but his lack of punching power. If I'm training Hearns, he's coming out blasting and not boxing. This one is either an early win for Hearns or Basilio winning it very late or on points.

If Sugar Ray Robinson that is one of the greatest punchers ever, couldn't deck Carmen Basilio in 30 straight rounds, at middleweight, Thomas Hearns would not stop Basilio at welterweight.

I think that Hearns hit harder above welterweight. At those weight classes, Hearns could stop Basilio. He is not stopping Basilio at welterweight.