Absolute peak versions of both. Can the Taylor of Chavez I beat another ATG pressure fighter in Armstrong? 12 and 15 rounds, separately.
Over 15 there is no way Meldrick is making it to the final bell. Definitely Hank there. Over 12 it could be closer..I could definitely see some early rounds going to Meldrick. But Armstrong was the type of fighter who could adjust to the shorter distance and just work harder if it was needed. I think you could argue it either way but I would always have my money on Armstrong.
Meldrick loved to stand in front of you and throw some lightning combinations. Hank would have welcomed that all day long. We gotta take the Chavez I fight as the closest litmus test to how this fight might possibly play out. Armstrong on his best night was a shade better than Chavez. Armstrong breaks him down in a thrilling fight. 11th round TKO with the scorecards pretty even. Taylor might be up a point or two. For some reason I can see Armstrong with a nasty gash on him when he stops Taylor.
Meldrick certainly had fast hands and that would serve him well in the early going, but over the course of the fight Henry's tenacity systematically wears him down and chews him up late.
Basically what I was thinking. Armstrong would be more effective and assert himself into the fight quicker and better than Chavez did. Armstrong was a quicker and better inside technician than Chavez IMO, and wouldn't be quite so disconcerted by Taylor's attack.
i see maeldrick throwing the flashy combos to take the first few rounds but Hank would start coming on and really turn up the pressure stopping him mid to late
Meldrick would do well for the first six, seven rounds, but afterwards, Henry would take over, and adminster a brutal beating that would make Chavez's look like kid's play.Armstrong KO 13 Taylor.
I hate this fight for Meldrick! I don't like the comparrison to Chavez, but it might be the closest thing to base this upon. I think Armstrong has a higher workrate than Chavez, but am not certain (Been a while since I watched my Armstrong footage) that Armstrong would do the damage to Meldrick that Chavez did. I also think Armstrong was quicker than Chavez and applied his pressure a little more intensely although less methodically. Due to that I don't think Meldrick's speed (nor do I think the gap is as large in this case) would trouble him early as much as it did Chavez, likewise I don't think it leaves Meldrick quite as systematically broken as Chavez did. Over 12 I favor a solid Armstrong decision...perhaps not lopsided but clear cut enough. Over 15 Meldrick is an unknown commodity, and I would lean towards Armstrong stopping himin the championship rounds.