I know this matchup has been done countless times before, but it has never been done at 160lbs, Hearns was a lot more vulnerable at this weight and McCallum was still strong at this weight Who wins this matchup?
I've got the Body Snatcher all day over Hearns at 160. McCallum had the defensive ability and chin to handle Hearns who was not nearly as dangerous at 160 as he was at 147. I think McCallum grinds him down to the body and stops him late.
I like Hearns over McCallum in general but I'm not sure Hearns would do that well against MM's body attack. 50-50 to me.
I think Hearns by decision. Tommy gets underrated at middleweight because of the Hagler fight and degrading in the years after when Mike was thriving, so naturally it looks like Mike would win. But Tommy fighting a cautious jabbing fight is trouble for Mike.
Tough match up. Even at 154 Tommy lost a lot of his natural abilities. McCallum may not have beat him but Tommy would for sure have his hands full.
Picking McCallum to beat Hearns has become sort of chic these days. But, I see Tommy beating him,, not easily mind you.
The key for me is Tommy's jab and hand speed. I think this would carry him to a very close decision win. I do not see Mike as a big puncher at 160 although his body punches would slow Hearns down and give him some moments later in the fight. But probably too little to late.
Depends on what Hearns comes to the fight that day. The stalking, knockout seeking Hearns would probably be in trouble against McCallum, but if Hearns decides to Stick and move I'd give him the fight, albeit challenging.
I think Mike got better as he moved up. Don't see him getting kayoed by Iran like Tommy did. I think Mike pulls out a close UD over the distance.
Hearns decision. Counterintuitively Mike would have a better shot at 154 lbs where his power was more effective.
Hearns as a middleweight who moved up organically through the weights ie Tommy of 85-86 wins on points and fairly easily for me. Mike was very solid but didn't have Tommy's x-factor; blinding speed. And I don't think McCallum hits hard enough to stop that Hearns. Don't forget Mike took 10 rounds to put McCrory away who was neither particularly durable or Tommy Hearns. When Tommy started jumping from 154 to 175 and back to 160, some vulnerability came with it, but largely to guys who brawled and crowded him, the way that Roldan, Barkley and Kinchen did. Mike didn't fight that way; going balls to the wall wasn't his style. So given room and time, Tommy jabs, hooks to the body, shoots the odd straight right and wins a comfortable decision in this time frame also. Mike did things Tommy couldn't do, in my book. Survive a Julian Jackson onslaught, go neck and neck aged 35 with peak Toney. I don't see Tommy pulling either of those off (not to say he couldn't beat Julian but if JJ landed on Tommy what he landed on Mike, Julian wins). But I just think that McCallum is all right for Tommy as long as Tommy doesn't try to please the crowd and go for the KO.