Monzon would have shut Hearns down and knocked him out by round 7. Not as quickly as Hagler or Barkley, because Carlos wouldn't have had to resort to desperation like those two. Monzon would have out generaled Hearns and would have methodically shut him down, as I said...and would have finished the show as he did in the 12th round with Benvenuti. One big right to the chin.
Then why couldn't he crack the chin of the great Iran Barkley....a guy who would be lucky to crack the top 100 middleweight champions...or the great James Kinchen, who decked Tommy but somehow was never introduced to the canvas in his bout with Hearns?
I could be mistaken but I remember reading in, maybe in of the boxing mags at that time that Kinchen, after the fight, was tested positive for some kind of pain-killing drug/medication which meant that he was effectively unable to feel the full impact and pain from Hearns punches even when he was been hit flush by them and which swelled his face up. It seems so long ago now though that maybe I imagined it.
Monzon in most anyone's book that knows anything about Boxing is top 3 all time MW, in mine he is #2 to SRR with Hagler 3rd, Hearns couldn't beat Hagler so he does not beat either of the other 2, otherwise Hearns is then, top 3 all time MW which he is not top 10 at MW on my list.
I agree with you that Monzon is one of the elite Middleweight in history. At the same time styles do make fights and play a big part in the outcome. I feel that this is an interesting match up because both guys fight very well from the outside with Hearns having that great speed. I would probably wager on Monzon myself because he was more durable thoughout his career but Tommy Hearns poses a challenge always.
Rodrigo Valdez gave a Carlos a flash knockdown, and Hearns hits as hard, or harder than Valdez. Hearns would have his once chance to win; otherwise Monzon stops Hearns late.
Hearns builds up a small lead but gets stopped by Monzon by the time the last third of the fight is underway. Carlos too tough and good at 160 lbs for Hearns.
Would that help if he got one on the chin, though? Knockout punches don't hurt so much as concuss and switch opponents circuits off rather than hurt them in a way that pain control can help with. Tommy just didn't land the kayo blow on Kinchen. The drugs sound like they may have helped if Kinchen had a tendency to quit due to sharp pain - getting your nose broken maybe or cuts - but all the paracetamol in the world won't help if you get an accurate crack on the chin. Ken Norton, after getting knocked out by Shavers, wasn't in pain. He just said 'What fight?' He didn't need pain killers as much as an aide-memoire, if you'll pardon my French.
I am a huge fan of Hearns and, while I think he would make this a fascinating match-up, I very much doubt he could overcome Monzon at Middleweight. Monzon by mid-to-late rounds stoppage.
Maybe I'm missing something that others are clearly seeing. Hearns did well against fighters like Monzon. Monzon is a boxer puncher type. He isn't a swarmer or a counter puncher. He fought in a way that Tommy excelled at facing his entire career. I'm not seeing this lopsided fight most seem to envision. Mine is a much closer fight.