I'm in love with him too. He's all but my favorite fighter. Robinson would rip him a new *******. Get Real
Lets be a little real. Many far lesser welters went the distance with Robinson,lets not vaunt his arsenal too much. He also struggled with a few guys at welter and was knocked down at 147. Durans defense,chin and grit are far too good to get stopped at 147. Its not like nobody could hang at all in the trenches with Robinson. Robinson doesnt have the range,power,jab and speed of Hearns. This fight is gonna come down to who wants it more in the last 5 rounds,plus who is defensively better over 15.
I can see a respectful chess match that turns into Duran backing off with a false smile on his face after finding himself slightly outgunned. Robinson 9-6 with the more telling rounds on his side.
Well Sugar Ray doesnt have quite the freakish height and range that Hearns had but he certainly had similar power and probably better speed. His combinations and punch variety were greater than Hearns. He certainly had better footwork and movement.
I think Robinson wins by comfortable UD or possibly by late TKO. A war for sure, but SRR lands the more damaging punches, the kind SRL couldn't quite get Duran's respect with.
Yeah, I've used the "lesser fighter" line once or twice too in trolling Robinson for fun. Fact of the matter is he hadn't completely grown into a full-fledged welter until around the mid-40s, he likely carried several of those lesser fighters and fought on a schedule that wouldn't exactly allow him to be at his peak on the night of several. Categorize all you want, Robinson was a superior fighting machine to Thomas Hearns - Speed and Power? I beg to differ, though I would Most Certainly agree Robinson's sheer force increased when moved up in weight. ETM also pointed out other factors such as punch variety and selection, superior movement, footwork which I agree with. He's also got a much higher resolve, vastly more experience, a much better chin, better recuperative powers, much better stamina...
Nobody is disputing robinson has more attributes overall than hearns. What i am disputing is that he doesnt have the jab,height and range of hearns. Ray leonard was a much better overall fighter than Hearns,but in terms of 'effectiveness' hearns was a match for anyone simply because of the freakish attributes and size he posessed. I hope the point im making is understood. Hearns basically shut out benitez,duran and leonard for long periods because of his tremendous attributes. Nobody else has these freaky attributes at 147,robinson included. And please dont mention carried this and carried that,Robinson was knocked down in his title winning effort over 15 at 147,was that carried? Cuevas or Leonard had no chance of outgunning duran,even barkley and hagler couldnt. Only Hearns did,and stylistically Robinson is not Hearns.
Split decision in favor of Robinson... but make no mistake he could be beat.. and this beast could get it done