Roy beats them all. Too big and too fast. I suppose Hearns and Hagler would have the best chance but my money on Roy.
So at 168 ? Just plain too big for Duran and Leonard. I'm not liking Tommy at the poundage either. Too much of a puzzle for Hagler to solve, imo.
He’s a big light heavy. They were small welters. He wasn’t close to their greatness but these are mismatches.
I don't think he's a big light heavy, Bulldog. He was making 160lbs - albeit day before weigh in - aged 25. He's a big middleweight imo. No more.
I think Roy was a real phenomenon in his prime and I would have seen him as the favorite with all the best boxers in history between 160 and 175 pounds. It's a real shame he didn't retire after the 1st fight with Tarver, for me he would have been in the top 10 p4p of all time.
Hagler. The big man of the four. He made middleweight from first fight to last fight, on the day of the fight (usually a few hours before ring time). Heck Duran turned pro as a featherweight.
Sorry. Not sure I made my point clearly. I'm not disputing any of that, nor that Jones was naturally bigger than them. Marvin was probably a jnr middle in today's money. Tommy never looked right to me over 160. Ray topped out at 154 for me and, yes, Duran was (just) making 140 as late as 28. My point was that I don't think Roy was a big light heavy as you said. He weighed 193 to fight at heavyweight which is the sort of ballpark weight I'd expect a big light heavy to fight at once rehydrated having made 175. Roy looked considerably bigger at 193 than he ever did at lhw. My other point was that he was making 160lbs as late as 25 years of age so bigger than all the fab four, for sure, but not a big light heavy.
Absolutely. Once in a generation talent. Would have loved him to have had stiffer competition - McClellan would have been good as would the Toney of 93 or the Hopkins of 2001 - but he swept aside what he did face with ease. The eye test has him right up there and to have done it for as long is remarkable. I wish he'd retired after Ruiz tbh.
A few of Hagler's fights had weigh ins the day before the fight, including Mugabi and Leonard. I agree RJJ was bigger and would favour him at 168lbs, but by no measure was Hagler a "small welter".
RJJ never fought a dangerous puncher in his prime and Hearns still has the height and reach advantages to be a very dangerous opponent for RJJ. RJJ with his low hand style and occasionally leaping in would be a very dangerous tactic vs a sniper like Hearns who has genuine 1 punch KO power. So whilst RJJ would be a favourite over Hearns it's certainly not a formality. If Hagler engaged RJJ in a war like he did Hearns who knows but the smart money would be on RJJ being too fast and mobile for Hagler. I don't see Leonard or Duran beating RJJ. For me Hearns has the best chance of winning due to his height and reach advantages and 1 punch KO power.
RJJ is a bad style match up for Hagler. Hagler will have his moments landing a power jab, a big right hook etc. But Jones hits really really hard at 160 and he hits more than hard enough to earn Hagler's respect. RJJ by competitive decision. The rest? Jones is too good. Tommy could hurt him but the second Jones nails Tommy with a left hook, its over. RJJ stops Hearns. RJJ also easily decisions SRL and Duran.
