Hearns vs Benitez = a boxing masterclass vs a prime master boxer !

Wholeheartedly agree. He's a nightmare for those "opponents that cooperate."

As such, there just aren't that many guys willing or with the skillset to remain in that dangerzone perimeter. A guy like a Starling could pull it off and avoid the tko, but still not convinced he would win. It would likely have to be a Nunn/Toney scenario with Mookie down 9 rounds to 1 and land the hail mary.

But me, I did not like the Benetiz chances 1 iota against Hearns at 154 due to his legs and negative style and thought it was free money gambling wise.


And like you said, I bet when Virgil Hill got back in the dressing room, he told his corner to get him an immediate rematch. Never going to get it Virgil & you had a chance and opportunities don't fall into your lap time and time again.

 

Yeah, Moochy would survive with little bother IMO, but bar him getting pissed off and cutting the range and keeping a consistent workrate with his brilliant inside game I can't see him even winning rounds let alone pounding away enough to earn a stoppage.

 

That Benitez/Hearns fight is one of my all time favorites, absolutlely sublime masterclass, I had it close, must be the "crack". I thought Benitez was absolutely brilliant, the way he beckoned Tommy in when on the ropes then ducked & weaved making Tommy hit air was just as he did SRL. There was a round where Wilfred said come on back in & Tommy just grinned at him & said no way, you come on out here.

 

Possibly???? A Certainty at 154 in my book:deal

Tommy's performance in that benitez fight would have romped home aginst Leonard who for me never carried the same speed or damage north of 154 & if the Kalule fight is the yardstick then Leonard could well get bombed out:yep

Benitez at 154 would also romp home against a 154 Leonard IMHO.

 

One reason why I'd vote Hearns as the best ever Light-Middleweight.

 

No way mate! Ray was still far better there IMO, as his win over Kalule is better than than Benitez's win over Hope. Wasn't there long admittedly (let's not bring the 90s up for JMW Ray, eh? ;-)) but he still showed enough there to give him the same clear edge over El Radar as he did at 147.

 

I think its fair to say that you need to carry some serious power to beat Hearns on his best nights. El Radar just wasn't that guy. Great performance.

 

Leonard was getting whacked about by Kalule & it was a do or die assault at the end of the 9th that got him a premature stoppage as he was GASSSSSSSSING OUT!!!deal:deal

Leonard is so obviously slower at the higher weight & thats something Benitez at 154 will handle all day everyday & Hearns knocks SRL out:bbb:deal

 

The Kalule fight was one of his best offensive displays imo.Great combos, showed middleweight strength and digging those hooks in beautifully.

I give kalule himself more chance of beating Benitez than i do of Benitez beating Leonard.

 

Ray had to put that kind of effort together to beat Kalule. Leonard pretty much laid out the blueprint, don't let Kalule get in a rhythm and tire the dried out bloke up!

Leonard was the first to beat him. Brilliant performance despite looking baffled for large portions of it! He just had to get rid of Kalule and he put it together.

 

I`d always pick Leonard over Benitez tbh, better chin, faster, better power & has the brains & the skill to stick to his game & not get caught up in the Benitez counterpunching trap.

I can`t argue with the rest really tho I wouldn`t fancy anyone to stop Leonard in his prime under 160.

 

Not even Marijan Benes?

 

For a little history lesson, if anyone is interested, we got the Benitez/Hearns pay for view in Cincy that night. 45 minutes before the bout, the cable went wacko and we drove over to their station to complain. (about a hundred cars were in the lot) Power restored and we drove home and watched it. It was Hearn's fight tho not by any wide margin. I had recently bet my first $500 on Wilfred against Duran and thought he could win this one.
I was at a friend's house and he invited a Hearns loving buddy who got in my face after virtually EVERY round trash-talking me. ONE RUDE SOB! Wish I could have watched it alone at home.

 

Especially not him