Thomas Hearns 1987 v Matthew Saad Muhammad 1979

I think either a behind-on-points type stoppage,or a relatively even fight before the stoppage for Saad is likely.Anyone who knows Saad knows he's not just going to pounce on Hearns from the get go.Saad was almost always a slow starter,and it was pretty common for him to drop a few early rounds.He'll work his way into the fight through the early stage,try to match Hearns with his own jab while selectively picking his body shots.


It's not Hearn's best weight,but it's definitely a weight that he is competitive at.I don't see him winning,or even lasting the distance,for that matter.But he still has the height,reach,jab and that right hand to make a very competitive showing.

 

Matt being a slow starter would allow Hearns to bag a few rounds early on if he avoids getting caught by simply boxing cautiously, but once Matt gets into his groove and finds his rythmn it will only be a matter of time until saad catches up with him and flattens him for the count.

One thing that must be always taken into account when discussing Saad in any fantasy matchup was his late round stamina, he is one of the few fighters I have seen in my lifetime who seemed to up the pace as a fight progressed and get stronger and more dangerous with each passing round.

Hearns late round stamina has never been great truth be told and with a fighter like Matt making him work hard every second of every round to keep him at bay will eventually wear on his endurance and as of the 8th round onwards if it goes that far I simply do not see Tommy surviving down the stretch, won`t happen against Saad anyway.

Matt by KO anytime past the 8th round methinks.

 

Hearns of 87 actually still had legs when he fought Andries and was quicker too than the Hearns who beat Hill in 91. So i do think he would have some big rounds early using movement,his jab, while also landing big shots early even cutting Saad and wobbling him a couple times.. By the 4th though Saad would be scoring and working his way in, although Tommy wouldnt take anything flush yet as he would still be scoring with his jab and keeping Saad honest.. By the 6th though Saad is working his way through hurting Hearns to the body and wobbling Hearns who is saved by the bell... Saad drops him in the 7th Tommy bravely rises,, Saad then kos him for the 10 count.
Saad would take punishment and look beat up but hes too strong and resilent.. Saad Ko7

 

I see it similar to the first Leonard/Hearns fight . Tommy uses his height and reach to pile up points, but he never hurts Saad as he employs a stick and move style. He knows he can't stand in front of Saad and trade punches, because Saad has the better chin. Also, Saad 's right hand is probably as powerful as Hearn's at 175 and Tommy will be wary of it. People forget Saad had a tremendous right hand and one punch ko power at 175. Tommy's chin couldn't take it if hit flush with it. Tommy does well to avoid it in the early rounds. But, Saad's underated body attack slows Hearns movement, which wasn't great at 175 to begin with. Around the 8th or 9th round, Saad corners Hearns along the ropes and stops him with a fusilade of shots.

 

his legs looked damn good when he was boxing a prime 10 title defense champions ears off and Hill was a far better boxer than Saad and had good stamina himself you dudes crack me up..atsch

 

Hearns did outbox Hill. But, Hill had a very different style and skill set than Saad Muhammad. Saad Muhammad had a much more aggressive approach than Hill and more punching power. He could notch it up in the late rounds and pressure Tommy. Hill didn't apply much pressure to Hearns. He tried to outbox Tommy, and when that wasn't working he didn't change. Tommy could outbox anyone - for a certain amount of time. A select few, like Leonard, Hearns and Barlely turned the table on him after being outboxed. All three soaked up some bombs, then turned aggressive and dented Tommy's fragile chin. Saad was the type of fighter that could also do this to Hearns. Hill was not. He never mounted the aggressive attack to walk through Hearns and was simply outboxed for twelve monontous rounds.

 

I don't even think Hill was a better boxer than Saad Muhammad, just far more conservative and boring. His jab wasn't even much better, if at all, and that was his bread and butter.

 

Hearns took a really good shot at 175 i've watched Saab get pounded on by far lesser oppositon he was a warrior and great puncher no doubt but what SRL and Hagler did it was certain amount of skill mixed with aggression that Saad didnt have Andries and Roldan tried that and they both got beat up then stopped,just agression would'nt get the job done.

 

I think your really overrating Saad's boxing ability...atsch

 

I think you, like most, are really underrating it.

 

! thing is for sure it would have to be at empire state building level for him to try to box with Hearns...

 

I think you should watch more of Saad's fights, not just the slugfests. He was actually a good boxer when he wanted to be.

 

A natural Welterweight? I think not. I agree with most of the posts in this thread on that topic. Hearns simply didn't have the legs at the weight to keep Saad off of him, so in a box-off in center ring he's more likely to be hurt more often than he'd be comfortable with, and he doesn't have a whole lot to fall back on in that case. Both men would be hit a lot, the difference being Hearns would not be able to deal with it for long.

 

Andries fought his share of top competition alright, Bobby Czyz, J.B.Williamson, Alex Blanchard, Tony Sibson, Bunny Johnson, Hearns and three brutal fights with Jeff Harding are testament to his toughness. Andries was in his 40s when losing to Hearns and claimed "The Hitman's right hand was the hardest punch he was ever hit with". Andries had a 19ins neck measurement and was as tough and awkward as they come yet no match for Thomas Hearns. Emmanuel Stewart was so taken in by Andries performance against Hearns that he persuaded Andries to move to Detroit and train at the Kronk Gym under his guidance.

 

He still did in the Andries fight and he was alot quicker, Tommy was barely past his prime at this time,still had some bounce and still was pretty fast..... When he fought Hill and Barkley II he didnt have much mobility, he outjabbed and outboxed Hill standing right in front of him.