Mugabi vs Hearns

Both men could bang. Hearns has the better skillset,and this would decide it. Providing he uses his 'Motor City Cobra' personna rather than be 'The Hitman' he'd outbox 'The Beast' and take it on points


At both weight limits

 

Mugabi is just as capable of taking Hearns out early as Tommy is of taking him out. A pick em fight. If it goes past 8 rounds Mugabi becomes favourite, with Tommy's skinny little legs leaving him vulnerable.

 

When did Mugabi ever thrive in the late rounds?

 

Fair comment.

 

Though hearns was definitely past his best versus big, tough chinned middles in Roldan kinchen and barkley, he destroyed Roldan who barring the wobble or 2, was bounced up and down like a yoyo before being kayoed with one shot in the fourth. Barkley was hurt terribly and was on the very brink of being stopped too before that shot from heaven landed. How kinchen stood up to some of those bombs for 12 rounds ill never know. not fair to say hearns couldn't stop an old leonard beacause it was hearns who was considered shot to pieces before that fight, and again hearns bounced him off the floor twice.
I believe that an anywhere near prime hearns would have too much in every area against mugabi whos reputation was built on extending a severely shop worn hagler.
Plus mugabi stood up straighter than the swarming barkley and Roldan and wasn't physically as big. I think be kept at the end of hearns power shots and hed walk into something big inside 4 rounds or so.

 

agreed, he was never good late, (well, more untested really) whereas hearns was never known for struggling with the distance, his stamina and concentration were always outstanding.

 

He doesn't need to " thrive " he just has to maintain his power. Something Hearns didn't do late in fights at either 154 or 160.

 

Mugabi was not as good as Nigel Benn. Would anyone pick Benn to knock out Hearns?

 

Mugabi is pretty flat-footed. Hearns would not be in range to get hit with counters like Hagler was.

Hearns beats him from the outside. Mugabi did not have the speed of foot to deal with him, nor was he cute enough to do uch but get hit from range.

 

Agree with this. I don't see Benn as being a better MW than Mugabi, no way. For example, I see no way that Benn goes 11 with even the Mugabi version of Hagler and I'm a big fan of Nigel, I knew him back in the day of the ABAs at West Ham ABC, going back to his fights with Wendell Henry, Roy Andre, Gary Finn & Rod Douglas.

I think pre-Hagler Mugabi was more robust and durable than Benn, and very likely physically stronger.

Benn was floored, hurt and stunned by much lesser bangers than Mugabi in Logan, Watson and Galvano...yes Galvano (although that was at SMW).

Pre Hagler Mugabi was a different animal than post Hagler Mugabi.

Hearns - Mugabi? Either could win this, either could knock the other out...I don't see how anybody could realistically pick a winner of this with any great conviction or confidence, there's too much power on either side.

My view? I think Hearns has more tactical choices available to him than Mugabi, so that should give him an edge. However, the paradox is that if he boxes this will take longer and Mugabi has a longer time to land a bomb, but if Hears goes the HitMan route he could get Mugabi out of there but takes a chance of getting tagged...tough one.

I give Hearns a 51/49% edge. I would pay big money to watch this, but wouldn't bet a penny on the outcome.