I know it's just opinion, but I don't see any of those guys having great jabs. Very good perhaps. And the problem for Hearns against Hagler, Benitez and Barkley wasn't his jab, it was his right hand. Not that Floyd would rush in the way the latter two did anyway.
Maywether had the same reach as Andries. Hearns would have a 6 inch reach advantage. The way to take that kind of reach advantage away is to feign and jab to body when the opponent steps forward. I think Mayweather might be able to get a rhythm with mostly jabs to Hearns' body and then work off the jab.
It's a slightly unfair match-up, as Mayweather is right at the limit of where he can fight at the top level and Hearns is at a near prime weight. it would be much better putting FMJ vs Duran as a match-up. I don't see FMJ having much of a chance as Hearns is so much bigger and like olthers have said, no-one outboxed Tommy.
Context. Who did Floyd fight with Hearns’ style, size and ability? It doesn’t matter if Floyd was never knocked out. Tommy didn’t control Hagler’s jab, because Hagler wouldn’t box with him. He fought him. He went to war with him and tried to force a shootout. Floyd didn’t fight guys. He was a master boxer. Yes, Floyd took away those guys jabs. But apart from Oscar, Floyd had a reach advantage. He wouldn’t have been able to have taken Tommy’s jab away. Tommy was 6’1 with a 78” reach. Tommy would have had zero respect for Floyd’s power, whereas Floyd would have fought extremely defensively, where he’d have been very wary of Tommy’s awesome power.
Oscar, being 8-10 years past prime was the blue print and what exposed May ... May couldn't handle the pressure jab, but Oscar gassed ... And Hearns is on a whole new level ... In may's defense , this is 10 pounds plus over his best weight ... The Mayweather fans , for some reason, love to add the weight and Match him with Hearns , Ray , and SRR ... It just isn't realistic .. And if they truly followed May's career , then they already know May doesn't take these fights .... It is one of the worst style match ups conceivable for May, over his best weight and going against that ATG Prime motor city cobra jab and power right cross
Mayweather always found a way to win, I believe mayweather would counterpunch on the front foot whilst staying just clear of the devastating Hearns right hand, Mayweather couldn't counterpunch on the back foot because his counters would be falling short with Hearns knowing how to use his reach, but Mayweather would be on the front foot forcing Hearns to throw and putting him under pressure and countering his every move, Mayweather on points
c'mon man ... May would be up against the ropes fast trying his shoulder roll .. but it wouldn't matter because Hearns would have the distance measured fast and peppering him with the that jab... May aint going after Hearns its the other way around, there is no front foot for May
Mayweather could adapt to any opponent and change his style to beat them and I've seen Mayweather fight on the front foot before
I mean how many Hearns fights have you seen? May is not going forward in this fight, May is not going to be center ring trying to land his lead right, he is going backwards in this fight and fast ... And I would bet Hearns has the faster hands at 147 not May
Head to head Thomas Hearns would beat Floyd Mayweather. Why ? Because he was naturally the much bigger and stronger man. Floyd was a jr. lightweight who gradually ascended in weight over the course of his career. By the time he hit welter he was already in his early thirties. Hearns began in the pros as an outstanding welter and had success in higher weight classes going all the way up to cruiser.... now “ legacy wise” I rank Floyd higher but that’s an entirely different argument.