Tommy Hearns goes back in time, finds himself in the ring with 1951 Sugar Ray Robinson, 15 rounds.

Whenever I imagine a fantasy matchup, both fighters are at their very best (within whichever weight class is in view).

 

He has a lot of losses because the guy fought like every month and had over 200 fights. Most of his losses came when he was past his best and not at welterweight

 

I like this

 

Hearns' size and length can't be counted out. We know SRR is the MAN.

 

"Fine" meaning... using his length from the outside as much as possible.

 

Hearns vs Robinson prime vs prime at welterweight.
Robinson would face the same challenges as the 2nd best "Sugar Ray" had. That's how to get in range against a man with a reach longer than some heavyweight champs, height and power of a Lt. Heavy, with the speed better than most welterweights in history.
Oh yeah, Also don't forget, a very skilled fighter, with possibly the best jab in the divisions history.
Who could , when forced to dominate a fight on skills alone.
This would be the 2nd most formidable fighter Robinson could possibly face at welterweight. ( The 1st would be that other " Sugar Ray")
But Hearns had weaknesses that the original "Sugar Ray" could and would exploit.
Robinson and Leonard were practically carbon copies of each other. Almost the same height, Robinson had better power, Leonard had better speed. Both could analyze opponents, and learn in the heat of battle what it will take to win. Both could fight in a phone booth, Or at long range. Both were defensively sound, but knew when they had to take a few shots to give a few.
That's where just like Leonard, Robinson wins against Hearns.
I see Robinson being more aggressive than Leonard early on, taken more punishment, but doing more damage. Robinson would feel Hearns power early, become more selective with his punch selection during the middle rds and focus in on Hearns body with right hands counters when he jabs.
The combination of power, speed and timing would pay off for Robinson somewhere between the 9th and 12rds, as he again steps on the gas against the obviously weakened Hearns.
Robinson would stop Hearns more emphatically than Leonard did.
Hearns wouldn't be saved by the ref in this one, he'd be counted out on his back.
But Robinson would pay a very heavy toll for the victory. Possibly look worse than Hearns after the fight.
A fight of no real losers , and the biggest winners would be the fans who watched it live.

 

Yeah that's definitely his best bet, agreed.

 

That's not enough to give Hearns a 50/50 chance.

Hearns is not going to outbox Robinson and beat him on the points.

As for Hearns knocking him out... the only time Robinson was stopped was due to the heat when he had an unassailable points lead.

Instead of 50/50, I'd give Hearns a 3/97 or 2/98 chance.

 

No.

 

And Hearns...? Let's do the math on this number of fights and moves up in weight because I am pretty sure Hearns gonna come out on top here by win/loss ratio. People give Tommy so much BS and Robinson so little, I swear. It's not right. Especially when you cannot even compare dudes at welterweight that he fought to Leonard. Not Ray Leonard. SUGAR Ray Leonard.

 

Hearns is mainly given BS because of his chin, i cannot ever see Robinson getting knocked out out by Barkley

 

I cannot even see Robinson fighting someone that big and strong. Hearns' chin is fine. The idea that it is problematic after all the legends and weights he fought is goofy when it's relative to Robinson anyway. Go break Robinson's left hand on Hagler's dome also and watch him get run over too, frankly. Don't get me wrong: Great fighter and all, but I'll put Hearns' record up against Robinson's, I don't care about the flak. I can justify it H2H easily. Way too much forgiveness goes to one and way too little to the other. Hearns is a legend.

 

Unarguable .

 

Awesome fight. No comment on the winner

 

I like and respect Tommy. But he is not beating the King.