BoxRec

Thought I'd ask the question, "What if, in some great matchups, a particular fighter employed a different strategy" How would it effect the outcome and would it change the result ? For starters I've selected the following.

1. Hagler vs Hearns. What if instead of going on an all out headhunting expedition from the opening bell, Hearns decides to put some distance between himself and Hagler by boxing more, using his strong jab and looking to nail Marvin when he comes in. What would have happened ?

2. Tyson vs Bonecrusher Smith. In 1987 Smith was a big powerfully built man with good power and a decent chin. What if at the opening bell he decides to go after Tyson with everything he has like he did against Witherspoon ?And keep in mind that Smith wobbled Tyson in the final seconds of the bout. What would happen ?

3. Trinidad vs DeLaHoya. I know I'm going to create some controversy here, BUT. What happens if Trinidad isn't so tentative for the first 8 rounds and decides to press the attack in a manner befitting a bout that's the most important of his career. YES, a thousand times yes, Oscar boxed very well over the first 8 rounds, but no one will convince that Tito brought his "A" game for the first half of the fight. A couple more scenarios can be added here as well. 2. What if Oscar doesn't go into shutdown mode the final third of the fight and continues with the same strategy. 3. What if Oscar decides the final rounds should be for closing the deal (i,e putting away Trinidad)

4. Whitaker vs Chavez. What if Chavez fights at a less frantic pace in the early rounds and instead tries to box more, uses his jab, saves his arms from going dead, and instead maybe flurries for the final 30 seconds of each round. What would happen ?

OK that's a start. Feel free to add more bouts with questions about different tactics.

I'll tackle the first three scenarios:

1) Hagler-Hearns: Tommy had NO CHANCE of boxing Hagler. At the bell, Hagler ran over to Hearns and nailed him immediately. The tone of the fight was set, and Tommy couldn't use a boxing strategy because of a hurt hand/shoulder (I forget which) that we found out about later, and the fact that Hagler was willing to take punishment to get inside. Hagler beats Hearns 8 or 9 times out of 10 and in similar fashion (early to mid round KO)

2) Smith-Tyson: This is interesting. If Smith came out fast, I think Tyson would have been surprised and on his heels for the rest of the round and Smith could have hurt Tyson in that round or even have dropped him. But Kevin Rooney makes great adjustments, and I think Tyson would have refocused his attack and KO'd Smith by Round 6 or 7. The difference in handspeed was too great, and Tyson took pride in his defense back then. Bonecrusher would have looked a lot better losing this way then the way he did by decision, if that makes any sense.

3) Tito-DLH: You present some great scenarios and I understand where you are coming from. If Tito pressed the attack, I think the fight would have been like the DLH-Vargas fight, with Tito slightly ahead. Tito would have won most of the exchanges with his power and De La Hoya's hand speed and flurries would have won rounds on many of the cards. It would have been a back and forth fight and the decision could have gone either way. I don't think Tito could overcommit on his punches and go for a KO blow because DLH was really fast and boxed well that night.

If the fight went as it did, but Oscar did not take the last 4 rounds off, I think Oscar would have been hurt and maybe even knocked down. He was getting tired by running, throwing punches would have tired him even more. However, I don't think that Tito would have been able to finish Oscar off after eating as many clean punches as he did. Oscar by decision, albeit in a more crowd-pleasing manner.

I agree that Hearns had no choice but to fight Hagler.
DeLa Hoya and Trinidad...I think that Trinidad did his part; laying trhat right hand out there daring Oscar to counter it with a left hook- DLH's best punch, too. But the couple of times that oscar tried he got countered and those hooks played a big part in his flight of four rounds. Oscar would never dare do such a thing as fight with Trinidad; had he continued the move and counter move pace of the 4th and 5th rounds he'd have lost UD by three or four points, and if he tried to go after Trinidad he'd lose by ko in that round.

I'm a big fan of Tommy as a boxer, although his faults are really quite obvious for all to see. Still, I think if his hand had not broken that he would have faired better. I think if he'd have got hsi rematch after the Hagler-Mugabi fight when Ray fought Marvin then he might have beaten him. Tommy was never outpointed so it all depnds on him being able to stay on his feet. i also think by then Hearns looked more like a middle weight than he did in the Hagler fight.

Maybe that first power right of Tommy's gave him too much confidence and he got drawn in. I still think that Hagler would have climbed all over him in 85, although cuts could have become a factor.

Bonecrusher could have pot-shotted as Tyson came in and who knows, he had the power to KO Tyson that's for sure. I still think Tyson would have got to him though. Smith didn't have a consistent enough jab to keep Mike off him.

1. Hagler vs Hearns. If Hearns boxes and uses his jab I think he probably lasts to the 6th or 7th round before he's KO'd.

2. Tyson vs Smith. I think one of two scenarios could have occured if Bonecrusher REALLY came to fight. In the first one, because of Tyson's great speed,power and head movement, Smith could get nailed with a big counter and once he was hurt Tyson would be all over him. So for that scenario, Smith barely survives the 1st round only to be finished off in the 2nd. The second scenario would be based of course on what might happen if Smith is the one who lands the big punch first. In this scenario I have to base alot on the Tucker fight, and even if Tyson was well past his best defensively, the Douglas fight. Perhaps no fighter in history benefited more from the fear factor than Mike Tyson, but deep down Iron Mike was a bully, a very skilled, very fast, hard punching bully, but still a bully, and when an opponent let him know they weren't backing up, he became a somewhat different fighter. So with that in mind in scenario two, if it's Smith who lands the big punch early, I think it becomes a great beginning for him, and for the rest of the fight he dictates the pace, drives Tyson around the ring like a blocking sled outworks him and either gets a UD or late stoppage. Have to cover two bouts later.