THOMAS HEARNS VS TODAY'S WELTERWEIGHT

It’s a beautiful Sunny Friday afternoon here in Sydney , Australia  and as usual as per once a day my mind turned to boxing , and mythical mathchups.

Always fun for shits and giggles as Austin Powers would say..


Today’s Subject - The Motor City Cobra VS The Top 5 Welterweights


One of my favourite fighters ( And it appears a great many boxing fans ) , Hearns was pure excitement in a 6ft plus frame or pure rippling sinew and muscle. Wide as Sydney Harbour bridge across the shoulders , with a marathon runners legs Hearns had a devastating punch and exceptional boxing skills combined with a vulnerability. A fighter in a boxers body.


How would the Kronk beanstalk , who featured in brilliant wins ( Duran - KO 2 , Cuevas - KO 2 , Roldan - KO 4 , Shuler - KO 1 , Gazo - KO 1, Espada - KO 4 , Andries - KO 10 , Benitez - W 15 , Hill - W 12  ) And agonizing defeats ( Hagler - KO by 3  , Leonard - KO by 14 , Barkley - KO by 3, L 12 ) Fare against the alma mater of 2010?


1. MANNY PACQUIAO - 51-3-2(39)


There are few matchups in history at this weight as one sided as this one - and simply the Pacmans many strengths play right into the Hitman’s weapons.

Most will see this as Hearns against Duran redux.

Fair point , but bear in mind Duran was ill prepared on that night in 1984 and wasn’t at his very best - but still Hearns still beats Duran 99 Times out of 100 at 154lb one way or another - his best and most comfortable weight.

Pacquiao’s southpaw style , his agression , his smaller height , reach and overall size see him run head first into a Hearns right somewhere in the first four rounds. I’ll say round 3. If you want to argue with me watch Hearns against other overly aggressive pugs like Roldan and Cuevas...Perhaps different styles , non southpaws all , but no brawler at Welterweight comes out unscathed against Hearns  
HEARNS KO 3 PACQUIAO

2. SHANE MOSLEY - 46-5(39)

What a great match!

Warrior against warrior , speed against speed , heart against heart.

Mosley has a great speed , a fantastic body attack and shouldn’t be afraid to mix it up.

The obvious comparison from Shane’s past in this battle would be the late Vernon Forrest  , who beat Mosley 2 out of 2 and was a stylistic nightmare for Sugar Shane. This should be a similar bout , with Mosley unable to mount as consistent a body attack as he would like as Hearns dynamite right finds the mark first. By round 6 Mosley will be way behind and will win a few rounds later on ..too little too late. Hearns wins a close Unanimous nod and each fighter earns the others respect in a rousing tactical battle.
HEARNS W 12 MOSLEY

3. FLOYD MAYWEATHER JR - 40-0(25)

Mayweather is always mouthing off about being the best fighter since before or after Sugar Ray Robinson.
Time to prove it VS One of the greatest offensive fighters ever.
This fight would be a little similar to Hearns against fellow all time great Sugar Ray Leonard.
The difference is , I don’t see Mayweather having the guts to walk through the fire Leonard did to grasp greatness. In order to beat Hearns you are going to suffer some PAIN or the first order. Check out Hagler,Leonard and Barkley after wins over the Hit man. The look like they got their asses kicked royally , and they get a one way ticket to the Emergency room in victory!

Mayweather is a safety first defensive marvel. He doesn’t have the same blend of offense/defense Leonard had , or Leonard’s chin , and dare I say it Leonards’ cruel streak when it was needed. You need these qualities , or to be a pure rough as guts brawler - see Iran Barkley or Juan Domingo Roldan for evidence - who screws with Tommy’s rhythm.

Hearns outboxes Mayweather and then knocks him out face first in nine rounds. I’d bet my left testicle on this one.
HEARNS KO 9 MAYWEATHER

4. MIGUEL COTTO - 34-2(27)

Hearns is so far on a roll 3 for 3 against 2010.
It ain’t slowing down either against the pride of Puerto Rico.

Youv’e got to love Miguel Cotto - fantastic guy to watch , beautiful left hook - his variety of punches is consistently excellent and has shown great recuperative powers against Zab Judah , Ricardo Torres and DeMarcus Corley. He is probably overjoyed he isn’t fighting another damn southpaw.

Hearns size is a mathematical anomaly at Welter only Sugar Ray could fathom...and Cotto won’t get an A in Trig today.

Hearns simply jabs , jabs and then jabs again. Cotto can never get started and slowly gets beat down. Around round 11 his corner steps in with the native of Caguas busted up and passing for the Elephant man.
HEARNS KO 11 COTTO


5. ANDRE BERTO - 25-0(19)

Berto , at 26 and built like the proverbial brick outhouse has a great jab , decent skills and the automatic confidence that comes with being unbeaten in 25 bouts. He has gone 12 in his last three bouts as the opposition has upped the ante into the world class realm.

If we hypothetically match Tommy and Andre up at the 25-0 mark of their careers Hearns already has Clyde Gray(Evergreen contender ) in the win column , as well as former champ Saensak Muangsurin and decent Bruce Curry. Berto’s only signifigant win so far is over blown up 140lber Juan Urango.

I’d say it’s another Hearns blowout in 7 rounds.
I would hate to sound like El Presidente of the Hearns fan club , saying Tommy wins 5 out of 5 but film doesn’t lie.
Hearns truly was that magnificent.

Berto just can’t get past that pesky telegraph pole of a jab. And when the right hand lands flush , count to 200 ref...
HEARNS KO 7 BERTO


agree or disagree ?

I would hate to sound like El Presidente of the Hearns fan club , saying Tommy wins 5 out of 5 but film doesn’t lie.
Hearns truly was that magnificent.....