‘Sugar’ Ray Robinson vs Thomas Hearns 154lbs and 160lbs, could Hearns take it?

I've always said that SRR was a mix of Ray Leonard and Hearns. The footwork and roundedness of Leonard, with the power of Hearns, but with a better inside game and more fluid and creative combos than Tommy threw.

Ray Leonard would always be able to hunt down prime Hearns and SRR was his superior of power in combination with great footwork and a good enough jab to work his way to the inside when needed.

Put it like this, do I trust SRR to take Hearns' best? Yes, I think it plays out much like the first fight between Hearns and Leonard, except, I think that SRR is a more vicious, less calculated/hesitant reactor. Leonard was trying to solve the puzzle for far too long before deciding to go to body and Mano e Mano with Tommy. Robbi is going to taste that power and will recognise that he cannot let Tommy get that kind of leverage on his punches. Once Robbi whips in one of those wicked body shots and sees Tommy's legs tremble, do I see Tommy's body and head able to survive the wicked shots that Robbi could throw? Nah, I really don't.

I can't but see a conclusive KO or TKO in a fight that we all say, if only Tommy could've maintained the boxing he exhibited in the first three to six rounds and yes, if only ... but the difference is that Robbi will adjust and he will land and at either weight, I don't like Tommy's durability or his warrior mindset to ride the storm and get back to boring basics.

 

Fair enough JT, but Tommy certainly can't get the fast starting SRR out within five, and unlike opponents such as Benitez, Robby will be belaboring him, especially to the body (a la those surgically thudding rights which were making the durable Bobby Dykes breathe hard within a couple rounds), and when the Sugarman stops him, it will be no come-from-behind situation like SRL-Hearns I. (The difference will be that Robby doesn't go after Tommy's body late, but straight away at the opening bell like MMH did.)

 

Got to go with the original Sugar Ray in this one at Middleweight and any weight limit below.
Though Hearns would give him pure hell , and probably land more on him cleanly than he did against Ray Leonard because Robinson was more reckless with his defensive responsibilities.
But Robinson's combination of skills ,speed, power , and aggression, would eventually lead to him grinding Hearns down , stopping him in 10- 11 rds.

 

Personally i think Hearns is the most dangerous match at 147 for SRR and i pick him over everyone.

Robinson's aggression made him more susceptible to copping the odd bit of return fire. He could have played it safer but didn't. Hearns will crash his offensive party and liven the fight right up. Hearn's won't be losing round after round, he never did. Tommy Bell troubled him plenty if the early rounds and dropped him to boot. Art Levine the fight before almost knocked Robinson out. Robinson had a superb chin but it wasn't Hagler's. The early rounds are dangerous for Robinson.

Robinson's durability is the difference for me.