In this interview Benn was talking about wanting to fight Hearns for the 160 title that Tommy held at the time, if Hearns hadn`t been beat by Barkley and then met Benn instead of Nigel fighting Watson who would have won, and would Leonard have fought the winner at 160? This content is protected
You have to favour Benn to ko Hearns at MW imo. And I pick Leonard to outlast Benn and do him on points or late ko
Hearns by brutal KO. Leonard loses to Hearns above WW, especially over twelve. He probably beats Benn though. If Watson can...
Unlike Hagler and Barkley Benn didn't take a great punch and wasn't defensively sound. Hearns jab would keep Benn at bay long enough to find his range to drop the right hand. In one of Benn's wild rushes Hearns jab, would stun him followed by the right rand. Fight over everyone going home after 4-5rds after Hearns ko's Benn.
But like Barkley, Benn could still fire heavy shots when under pressure. He was in possession of the very definition of fight changing power. For me it means Hearns has to get him out of there before Benn lands. And I don't think he would. Not in 1988.
Either Hearns brutally KOs Benn or Benn brutally KOs Hearns. I think the longer it goes the better it is for Benn, who I think would be particularly vulnerable early to Hearns' explosive speed and power.
Yes, and everybody knows that Hearns had a great chin lmao. Benn destroys Hearns brutally because he would be too fragile against natural bigger guys and much more against a killer puncher like Benn. Here we are not Talking about big natural 180 pounders like Eubank or Gerald
Hearns won championships all the way up to cruiserweight cruisersweights are heavier than middleweights. They are also bigger than middleweights...... So obliviously he wasn't as fragile as you seem to think he was.
It wpuld be slugfest ala Foreamn/Lyle or Benn fight with Gerald! Hearns would drop him 2-3 times but Benn would came back and knocked him cold! Benn is a MW while Hearns is only big WW and average sized MW! Benn is more powerful in MW while Hearns is more powerful as WW which mean that Benn could carry bigger power at higher weight class! Benn is not durable as Hagler or Leonard but his chin is alot better than than LW Duran and WW Leonard! He would not beat him like Hagler that fast but would scrap him ala Gerald! Simply Hagler is a beast and would do that good at any weight class due to his iron chin and skills! But while Hearns is strong WW Benn is even stronger at MW! Benn is alit faster and would maul Hearns inside! Benn maul Barkley and Barkley knocked Heanrs in 3rd round!Benn is not Hagler but is better than Barkley and would swarm Hearns except if he is too green to face him then Hearns would beat him by Ud or late TKO but In 1988 I would expect Benn KO Hearns in 5 rounds!
But he was not the brutal puncher that he was against midgets,in the heavier divisions he was only a Long guy with skill and fought more like a stylist not a puncher