BoxRec

The man he avoided at 154 would have ko'd him............


John Mugabi would have stopped Hearns inside a round at 154.

Mugabu would have been ko'd inside of four against Hearns. Tommy hit harder than Haglar, and Mugabi does not have Haglars chin. His aggresive style would alow trhe hitman to land devastaitng power shots. Remember, Hearns chin wasnt an issue until after the Haglar beating. Both Haglar and Leonard, a hard puncher in his own right, landed alot of punches to finish Hearns off. Mugabi would not get the chance to land that much.
Terry Norris, Julian Jackson ,Fernando Vargas, Oscar Dela Hoya, and Felix Trinidad would all get knocked out. Mike Macullem and Winky Wright would finish the fight but lose by decision. Both Sugar Rays, who were great boxers with great speed, solid chins, defensive skills, power and the ability to box and brawl at any time, would beat Hearns at Jr middle.

I'd pick Mike McCallum to stop Hearns late at JMW. The guy had an iron jaw, tenacity, and body attack unmatched in the division. I think Hearns would rock him pretty good over the first 4 rounds, but little by little he'd start slowing down the Hitman with hooks to his rib cage. Past the 10th round Hearns would just be trying to survive. Never ever underestimate a good bodypuncher !

Trinidad, Jackson and Norris could all conceivably KO Hearns, BUT they'd have to land the big punch first. Of those three I like Norris' chances the best.

I'd pick Mike McCallum to stop Hearns late at JMW. The guy had an iron jaw, tenacity, and body attack unmatched in the division.

McCallum indeed was a fantastic fighter. However he was mainly a counter puncher who had trouble with guy who were able to outbox him from outside and not rush him. His chin was good, but he was rocked on occasions and by fighters who did not hit as hard as Hearns. I see McCallem pressing and Hearns doing what Kalambay did in two fights and Curry did for the first few rounds in thier fight, but with much greater effect.
Hearns UD 12 or 15.

Trinidad, Jackson and Norris could all conceivably KO Hearns,

Agreed, but I believe Hearns would land first and more often. Trinidad and Jackson would be easier to land his right hand bombs against, but Norris would be ko'd easier once they land.

McCallum got wobbled by Julian Jackson and Donald Curry at JMW, but he recovered immediately, and Jackson hit arguably as hard as Hearns at that weight.

Milton McCrory was in the Hearns mold (though with less ability) and McCallum worked his lanky body until he was so weakened, his punches were like slaps the last couple rounds.

McCallum got wobbled by Julian Jackson and Donald Curry at JMW, but he recovered immediately, and Jackson hit arguably as hard as Hearns at that weight.

True, but Hearns was faster, and a much better boxer than Jackson and would land alot more punches.

I think at his best Emile Griffith would have a chance, sure he could get caught cold like he did against Rubin Carter, but that was somewhat of a 'fluke' result when you look at his career as a whole.

I think he'd have beaten Leonard at 154, just as he beat him at 168 (the judges in that fight notwithstanding). Hearns did have one weakness at any weight, though, in that he could be knocked out. Duran at 154 was tailor-made for Hearns because Duran didn't have much power at that weight.

Hearns would probably win more than he lost against just about anyone at 154, except for Robinson. But he isn't unbeatable against anyone with a real junior middleweight punch.

No way he'd lose to Mugabi. You have to remember that Hagler had lost a half-step when Mugabi pushed him so far, and even then he eventually got stopped. Hearns at 154 against Mugabi's conqueror, Terry Norris, would be interesting, but Hearns would beat him 8 or 9 out of 10.

I think at his best Emile Griffith would have a chance, sure he could get caught cold like he did against Rubin Carter, but that was somewhat of a 'fluke' result when you look at his career as a whole.

Not only could Hearns catch him like Carter, but Griffth was outboxed a few times in his prime, by fighters who were not as good as Hearns. So Hearns could beat him either way. Griffith was not a very hard puncher and would have to outbox Hearns. And thats almost impossible for any fighter at that weight to do.

I would say Winky Wright would stand a good chance against him at 154.

Hearns would win most fights, but Julian Jackson COULD have beaten him at 154! At his best he only lost to McCallum and he was still green. This fight could very well go either way, but if Jackson caught him even once, the fight would be over!