Canelo is becoming quite the beast...but he still isn't ready for a Hearns level of fighter. None of these last half a dozen opponents have truly tested him and made him dig deep or work to get a decision. He'd get all of the above and more with Hearns along with a major reach and power disparity.
I think at Middleweight and above Canelo would get to Hearns especially in light of what Barkley was able to do to him. I think Tommy's best chance would be to use his speed and boxing ability to try and keep Canelo on the outside. But I like Canelo's pressure and strength and I think he has the chin to hold up to Tommy's power. At 154 and below I would take Hearns without hesitation. I think Canelo was still figuring out who he was as a fighter at that weight and Tommy was at his absolute best.
What Canelo like Barkley has going for him (But not much more) is a dedicated body job Iran took away Hearn's legs in the first fight and just smashed him. I am not making a prediction here but I do agree with Canelo being able to take shots from Hearns his chin can't be denied.
Canelo pulled the fat out of the fire Saturday night ,with his late stoppage of Plant,I had the challenger well ahead.We were saved from another Las Vegas robbery96-94,97-93, and a disgraceful 98-92 by Steve Weiskof.Canelo was able to ignore most of Plant's punches as there really wasnt much on them,especially that pit a pat jab.Hearns would be punching through the target and making Alvarez wary ,against that Tommy did not have the foot work of Plant ,so he would be engaging more. I'm going for a late stoppage by Canelo brought about by a steady bombardment of body punches ,which would slow Tommy down and force him to drop his guard enabling Canelo to apply the cruncher.Hearns didnt really do much at160lbs.
What tests did Hearns pass at160lbs? Dewitt ,Shuler,Roldan? I don't think Hearns hit significantly harder than Canelo at middleweight. If GGG couldn't get Alvarez out of there, Tommy isn't going to. Neither do I think Hearns would have beaten Golovkin. Reach? Canelo conceded 3 inches to Chavez,4 inches to Plant, 3 inches to Jacobs,5 inches to Fielding,and 2 1/2 inches to Kovalev.. He would be conceding 8 inches to Hearns,so he is going to eat a lot of jabs and they will be hard ones,but Leonard gave up 7 1/2inches of reach to Tommy and stopped him. Alvarez is pretty much accustomed to being the shorter ,out reached man.
Hearns is better than all those guys. His jab and dropping in the right hand would be trouble for Canelo and his height. Canelo looks great lately, but the guys he is fighting are not at his level, so he is doing what he should be doing.. He is a great fighter against contenders and ok fighters..
We know who Tommy fought and his record against guys the height of Canelo. Tommy would stick out the jab and land the right and stop Canelo. Canelo looks great, but he is handpicking well, but who can blame him for being in that division. He wants a good legacy and it looks good.. he is better than anyone at that weight, so he is outclassing most of them.. But someone who puts up offense also will land on him.
You make it sound like he is cherry picking opponents. As champion Canelo has beaten the number 2,3,4, and number one,[ now 8th contenders,] apart from Bienvanidez,whom has he missed? Hearns was on ***** street from crude Roldan, courtesy of a left hook,Canelo would have finished the job. I repeat whom did Hearns beat at 160lbs?
I love Hearns too but I think the deciding factor would be Canelo's chin. I agree: Canelo by TKO late.
Of course its always possible Hearns jabs his head off and stops him on cuts,but he aint knocking him out! imo.