Is there any 135 pounder in history that could beat Thomas Hearns

Roberto Duran does not deserve a mention.

 

Gans and Benny Leonard are our only hope, combination of power and science but they could work far more on the outside and with excessive lateral movement compared to Duran. Still wouldn’t favour them though, because Hearns just seems like a nightmare matchup for any 135er

 

No.

Pacman could throw some hard **** and potentially hurt him at some point. I think the movement would be weird and the angles could create an opening for Manny to land a really hard shot, and then you never know. But realistically, no.

 

I so want to say Henry Armstrong but he’s all wrong for the Hit Man.

In truth, I don’t see any lightweight beating Hearns, but if I had to pick someone who might pull off the ugly upset I would probably toss Sammy Angott in there and see what Thomas could do with such a scrappy spoiler. Angott almost certainly isn’t big enough at 5-7 1/2 (much less giving up so much natural size), but he went 30 rounds over three fights with Ray Robinson so he’s got the whiskers to survive.

His spoiling style could maybe — just maybe — keep the Motor City Cobra from fighting his fight and draw Hearns into an ugly slog that results in a disputed decision either way. He beat a big-time puncher in Ike Williams a couple of times iirc and even if you knocked Sammy down, he showed staying power and the ability to bounce right back up and keep it interesting.

 

Nope

 

How much is Hearns weighing in this scenario? Anyway they all get knocked out

 

Pacquiao, Crawford and Duran, the move up from 147lbs to 154lbs made a huge difference, for the better for Hearns and for the worse for Duran, Montreal Duran vs prime 147lbs Hearns could be interesting.

 

My position is that no, I don't think there's a 135'er that could move up and beat Hearns at WW.

One: none of them have they physicality to deal with Hearns' dimensions (which are that of a MW).
Two: none of them would have the frame to be able to attempt to outbox him (which never happened in his entire career)

I think Hearns is one of the most difficult puzzles in boxing history from WW-JMW.

 

OK

i think we can agree that it would be very hard for any lightweight to move up to WW or MW against Hearns.

How about the reverse? Hearns moving down to 135?

 

Nah he would be a carcass on the scales lmao

 

Mr. Frederick Pendleton

 

Jose Napoles

 

Excuse me?