Why do people think Thomas Hearns would beat Floyd so easily?

[robertzimmerman]

Listen you're not taking the bar exam here. All this logical and illogical talk. What this thread is about is a fantasy fight. Height and Reach? I told you that is debunked by me applying Tyson (Fury), it's as simple as that, your original point was illogical.

You can waffle as much as you want but I stick ro my opinion that Tommy will get schooled and you stick to yours. Your OPIONION is not a FACT however many people agree. This is a hypothetical match up they haven't actually fought you know. You're ridiculing me for stating the best defensive boxer YOU have ever seen would take your boy to school. You really couldn't make this s*it up.

Put something forward then.

You haven't put anything logical on the table for us to look at.

What's happening here, is that you have put up weak arguments that have been countered, and then you've got all defensive and upset, accusing people of being biased and nostalgic, and accusing them of waffling etc.

It's absolutely laughable that you think Floyd would have taken him to school.

Ray Leonard and Floyd had equal skills and speed. But Ray was naturally bigger and stronger. He's taller, with a longer reach. Yet he quickly found out that he couldn't outbox Tommy.

Here are their stats:

Floyd is 5'8, with a 72" reach.

Ray is 5'10, with a 74" reach.

Floyd would not have been able to outbox Tommy. I'm not hating on him or being nostalgic. It's just illogical. Tommy was 6'1, with a massive 78" reach. He'd have stayed at range behind the jab.

Floyd couldn't have done something that Ray couldn't do.

Nobody can put forward a logical argument, of how a 5'8, defensive minded WW, with a 72" reach, could have outboxed Tommy Hearns.

It wouldn't have been possible.

After getting outboxed and busted up, Ray then had to change tactics with Dundee, which resulted in him going out and fighting Tommy toe to toe.

Floyd obviously could never have fought Tommy in the way that Ray did. Because again, he wasn't as big, he wasn't as strong, and he had no power at the weight. Ray's power was huge in comparison to Floyd's.

So how could he have won?

We know he wouldn't and couldn't have fought him, and again, I don't see how on earth he could have outboxed him.

So you tell us.

Put forward a logical scenario of how Floyd could have beaten him.

[IMDAZED]

- Agreed, I know PBF is one of the top defensive fighters ever..easily top 5, he is there with Sweet Pea,Pep,and Benitez in my book. But he has never faced a guy like Hearns. Bad analogy but look at what he did to Duran..a guy who was a killer at light weight..Hearn ran right through him. Those straight right hands from Hearns....were no joke.

Respectfully, it's a terrible analogy, like you said. I don't think that shows Mayweather would get KO'ed. I really think Mayweather's inability to make Hearns respect him, coupled with his inability to outwork him, would make it very difficult to mount an offense. But his defense, ring smarts and ability to adapt would keep him in the fight and able to hear the final bell.

[onetwopunch]

Respectfully, it's a terrible analogy, like you said. I don't think that shows Mayweather would get KO'ed. I really think Mayweather's inability to make Hearns respect him, coupled with his inability to outwork him, would make it very difficult to mount an offense. But his defense, ring smarts and ability to adapt would keep him in the fight and able to hear the final bell.

- Fair and good point, he is smart, and he might survive. But either way it will be a lop sided win for Hearns.

[robertzimmerman]

What is this based on?

What is it based on?

Do you seriously think he'd have taken a fight with a peak Tommy Hearns?

Seriously?

We're only offering theoretical opinions just for the sake of the thread.

I've watched Floyd an awful long time. He's one of the greatest to ever lace them up. But it seems obvious to me, that he'd have fought defensively, with his main aim to have not gotten hurt.

That opinion is based on how he fights and how he's carried himself over the years. We know he didn't have the will of someone like Ray Leonard.

If you don't agree, tell me why.

I think it's a fantasy to think that he'd have been willing to fight Tommy like Benitez and Ray etc did.

[robertzimmerman]

And was beat soundly by Iran Barkley.

What on earth has that got to do with anything?

[robertzimmerman]

Theoretically, yes, his stats are similar and he could have tried to carry out the same plan.

Theoretically.

But how about realistically?

This is what a few people are overlooking.

Their will and their difference in styles.

Would Floyd have been willing to fight Tommy, and would he have been willing to adopt that same strategy?

Many legendary trainers over the years, have stated that boxing is more mental than physical. And I agree with that.

Look at Floyd's actions over the years:

The whole Pac saga. Suddenly on a crusade to clean up the sport of boxing after 13 years as a pro. Arguing over cut off days, when there was zero evidence of any wrongdoing, with nobody else at the time having an issue fighting Manny.

Refusing the Oscar rematch, even though at every available opportunity he spoke of how he was in the cheque cashing business.

The CW against JMM that he purposely ignored, even though he's never had any issues making weight.

The unnecessary CW with Canelo, after originally telling the media how he didn't care what Canelo weighed on fight night.

The glove incident with Maidana.

The I.V. scandal, insisting to everyone that he was severely dehydrated for the Pac fight.

All the holidays and retirements he took at convenient times.


Are those the actions of a guy who would have signed to fight a peak Tommy Hearns at WW, facing enormous physical disadvantages?

Are those the actions of a guy who would have fought Tommy in the same way that Benitez did?

You're entitled to your opinion, but in my opinion, I'm going to say no way.

There's no way he'd have taken the fight.

[fanofslug]

What on earth has that got to do with anything?

Why don't you tell me, professor know-it-all?

[robertzimmerman]

Benitez neutralized Hearns in spots by cutting him short behind his own jab, and using his feet. Mayweather has a significantly longer jab than Benitez, in addition to boxing ability that at least rivaled, if not surpassed, the boxing ability of Benitez.

See post no.140

I respect your points, but the skill is no good without the will.

On paper, Floyd has similar stats and abilities to Benitez.

They're two great, great fighters.

Theoretically, yes, Floyd could have employed the kind of strategy that Benitez used.

Realistically? I don't think so.

I don't think he'd ever have taken the fight, but if he had've done (for the sake of the thread) I think he'd have fought in a defensive manner, which would have neutralized his own offence.

Benitez was more of an offensive fighter, and at WW, Floyd looked to pot shot.

I think Tommy would have had more respect for Benitez' offence, than what he would have done for Floyd's.

I don't think the fight would have played out in the same way.

[robertzimmerman]

Why don't you tell me, professor know-it-all?

I don't know it all.

Far from it.

But styles make fights.

Floyd is a master boxer. One of the greatest of all time.

Iran wasn't a boxer. He was a big, tough, powerful fighter.

How many people outboxed Tommy?

To beat Tommy, you had to fight him not box him.

Iran had nowhere near the level of skill that Floyd did. But he was a huge, tough MW, that was over 6ft, with a 74" reach.

He ended his career at CW and HW.

So I don't see the relevance in what you have typed.

Iran was huge in comparison to Floyd, and he beat Tommy at MW, which was 2 divisions higher than WW.

In their rematch, he beat him again, but that was at LHW, which was 4 divisions higher than WW.

I didn't mean to be condescending. But what has Tommy losing to Iran Barkley at MW and LHW, got to do with Floyd fighting him at WW years earlier?

It's of no relevance.

[kilojay505]

the hitman may have very well killed floyd in the ring and i like mayweather but if he was born 15 yrs earlier than he was the 49-0 Mayweather jr that we see today would not have existenced