hearns vs leonard at 154

Hearns by mid/late rounds KO...a bigger and stronger Hitman is doing what he did against Ray at 147, but eventually stopping him.

 

I pick Hearns

 

I'd go with Hearns as well, if they rematched at jr middleweight.

 

Hearns UD, outside chance of stoppage

 

Agreed. Hearns couldn't stop Leonard at 147 or 168, so I have no reason to feel strongly he'd stop him at 154. I think the length of the fight is important also. The longer the fight, the better Leonard's chances. I'll take Hearns by decision over 12. Over 15, Leonard might still be able to stop Tommy although i wouldn't bet on it.

 

Leonard TKO14.

BTW, when did Leonard KO Hope?

 

I don't think the result would be the same as the first fight. Taking into account this fight is at jr middleweight, we are more or less talking about a rematch here around 83/84 after Hearns moved up. And IMO Hearns would have learned to hold rather than cover-up or exchange his way out of trouble. That was something that was instilled into him by Steward after he lost to Leonard. I can still see Hearns playing the aggressor role behind his jab, which he did over the vast majority of the 26 rounds they fought at 147 and 168.

 

Hearns by decision at 154 (his perfect fighting weight).

 

Leonard didn't ko hope, me thinks that was Benitez.

The weight of this fight is not the key, 12 or 15 is the key. Leonard over 15 not over 12.

 

hearns flattens weak chinned leonard within five

 

Many believe that Hearn's had the perfect balance of speed and power at 154, and I'm inclined to agree.

 

Come to think of it, if this were a rematch I actually see Leonard winning a tad earlier than the 14th, as he'd know exactly what gameplan to implement from the get-go, whereas Hearn's movement decreased as he moved up. As big a puncher as Hearns was, he just couldn't handle Ray's combinations when he was within range.

Leonard TKO12.

 

I fancy Hearns to pull it off the second time around if the rematch occured at jr middleweight. His movement wasn't effected after he moved up IMO. Certaintly at the weights above jr middleweight he wasn't as fleet-footed around the ring. Probably because after he finally left 154lbs he was about 27 years, was moving up, and wasn't long away from hitting the slide. He started to loose his youthful athleticism around 87-88.

When it came to closing the distance he was brilliant against Duran when stepping in and out of punching range. Watch his movement prior to the blitz along the ropes which ends up with Duran getting brutally knocked out. Very swift on his feet indeed when landing a jab, then getting away before being countered to then reignite his attack with both hands.

Hearns never needed to show the type of movement at 154lbs that he did against Leonard during the mid-late rounds of their first fight at 147lbs. He wasn't seriously hurt or wobbled against anyone to have any need to get on his bicycle around the perimeter of the ring, or generally fight a point scoring type of fight, laterally, where it was he who was looking to increase the distance between himself and his opponent. It was usually the other way around. Just the styles he was faced with at that particular weight.

 

I think Hearns would win a decision he would have learnt from the first fight he was bigger and stronger at this weight without losing his speed, there would be some moments when Ray hurts Tommy but Hearns would survive them like he did in their rematch at 168. I see Tommy winning a competitive decision.