Just read the Thomas Hearns book by brian hughes. it says that this fight was in discussion in 1979 (before leonard got his shot at WB) How do you see it going? I see Hearns winning by decision in a really close fight.
Don't see it going much different really. Stylistically, this fight is pretty much a foregone conclusion.
Benitez never beats Hearns. Too much of stylistic disadvantage. You can't sit on the outside and wait for Hearns to walk in you'll get picked to pieces. The guys who had the ability to come forward and fire off heavy shots had the most success against Tommy.
Hearns would probably win, but it would be a tougher fight in 1979 than 1982 for Hearns. Benitez actually fought well at 154, the factor in this is Hearns and how he improved and learned the game in those 3 years.
Definitely a tougher fight for Tommy. Ray Leonard and Dundee wrote the blueprint for beating Benitez, and Hearns and Steward used this to great effect. Of course from memory we are assuming Hearns would be fighting without this knowledge as Ray fought Benitez at the tail of 79. I'd back the Kronk genius to come up with enough goods for a Hearns victory. Hearns could well stop him given he'd be more agressive, the flipside is he tires at stages (from potentially swatting air) and the fight is very close.
Hearns has all the physical advantages, hieght, reach, speed, He'd simply outbox the slower man for an easy points win. the good thing is that Wilfred didnt really have an offense that would damage Tommy. Even if he did he was too slow and would never get in the way Sugar Ray did. Really, what could Wilfred do? I'd say Hearns by a very wide margin.