Henry Armstrong vs Tommy Hearns @welterweight

I feel Hearns would KO Armstrong, Leonard was able to start coming forwards against Hearns because of his glove positioning defensively deflecting blows plus his power and chin. Armstrong slipped punches well but trying that coming forwards vs a fast long puncher like Hearns is mad, Armstrong was a sharp volume punching he didn`t put full force, speed and zip into punches the way Ray did and he didn`t take punches ever from a puncher like Hearns although he did take Ray Robi`s punches Hearns hit even harder Robi if you discount the brilliantly timed Fullmer KO.

 

SRR carried him.

I agree Hearns might well stop Hank. He's much bigger and will ko the vast majority of welters he can hit cleanly.

 

Agreed. Not many are going to beat the motor city cobra at WW, srr and srl.. but not hank and it's a bad style matchup for him..

 

Hearns by decision. Too big, too tall, too much power to go along with elite speed. I could see a late stoppage as well. Hank was an awesome fighter but perhaps `47 against Hearns just not his night.

 

Its' Hearns early or Armstrong late. I'd pick the first one.

 

Hearns by knock-out. Probably early. Short pressure fighters were tailor made for Hearns, esp when considered Armstrong's best fighting weight was probably below welter weight.

 

Armstrong is clearer the greater p4p but head to head this would be ugly for Armstrong. The size difference would have made it all but impossible for Armstrong to get inside and do his best work. Hearns would catch Armstrong coming in and nobody could survive that repeatedly. But Hearns had the skill to keep Hank at armslength and outbox him so I pick Hearns by a wide, unanimous decision.

 

This.

 

Have to go with Tommy. Henry is greater p4p, but Tommy is much bigger and has all of the stylistic advantages.

 

Great pot. I enjoyed that explanation. I would only take issue with one sentence. I think Henry is at a major, rather than very minor, disadvantage in that he was about 7" shorter and a good 10lbs naturally lighter without a speed advantage to negate it. And I don't think there's ever been a boxer who was 'by far greater' than Tommy Hearns. There have been greater, and Henry is one, but not by that much of a margin, imo.

 

If the bell rings for round 7, Hearns would be dead meat