I think so...EMM is the better all around fighter but Hill's workmanlike attitude and consistency could see him do a lot better then expected here. I just wouldnt pick him more often then not against the very best version of Eddie.
Eddie was certainly capable of stopping Hill the way RJJ did. His body attack was lethal, came from both hands, and was highly effective from the outside. If in shape and highly motivated, as he was for Lotte Mwale, he could effectively slip and counter Virgil's jabs and pummel away below. Bobby Czyz showed that Hill's chin could be dented, and that he could be dropped by a head shot. (When Hill fell down early against Bobby, the referee ruled an obvious knockdown a slip. To Hill's eternal credit, he admitted after their match that he was legitimately hurt and floored. Lacking a killer instinct, Czyz deferred to the officiating mistake and failed to follow up. Years later, in a similar situation, Duran ignored the referee's ruling of a stunned opponent's fall as a slip and promptly finished his victim off.) I think a primed Eddie would make Virgil miss, counter, and slow him down enough with his body attack to take a decision or produce a late stoppage. MM had heavyweight power, and never took a backwards step against Snipes. Though badly out of shape at 201, the few times he got Renaldo on the ropes both hands thundered to the bigger man's sides. Eddie could generate some serious leverage with his punching technique.
Great post. Mr Bill tried to tell me the other day EMM was a very average puncher, a post i will be addressing at great length in the next few days. I mean wft
He showed big power vs Martin too, stunned Galindez a few times and his KO of poor Mwale was frightening. He's better than solid even. Great puncher cocooned a bit in an often too passive and uninspired mindset.
Yeah, the Galindez fight is a perfect example of that. Couldn't be bothered to take the fight to Galindez although showed brilliant flashes
I like Virgil Hill, and have always appreciated him, but he would stand no chance against the version of Eddie Mustafa appeared in the Marvin Johnson and Jerry Martin fights, and even the one that lost to Michael Spinks. He'd deck Virgil and stop him within 10 rounds.
ANY fighter would benefit greatly from watching the Mustafa-Johnson bout...Eddie was a master that night.