Tiger is a much better boxer than many give him credit for. He wasn't just some mauler, or even a pressure fighter. He was just a very clever, skilled counter-puncher who used his squat frame as an advantage to gain leverage and work his opponents inside when he was able to stun them. Great, great fighter. If Hearns won it would be by boxing behind the jab and maintaining his distance. Honestly, I'd probably count on the fight going down something like that, unless Hearns tried to test out his power and left himself open in the process.
I'm not convinced of Tommy's ability to hold up under real pressure from a true, elite Middleweight. I think Tiger gets to him late and stops it.
if hearns stuck with the left hand, used his reach, and created distance he might be able to work to a UD. probably wouldn't though. hearns liked to trade and often times looked vunerable at 160 against guys who applied pressure and went to the body (roldan, dewitt, and of course hagler). imo, tiger is quite possibly the greatest inside fighter ever at 160. even though he wasn't really a pressure fighter or volume puncher he did like to press the action and had some very fast and heavy hands and i think prime for prime he'd be able to overpower tommy down the stretch, possibly while down on points.
One of two things happens. Either Hearns puts him down with the deadly right early, or Tiger finds a way inside and gradually wears Tommy down through a rib attack. I'm leaning toward the latter.
I doubt very seriously Tommy's even hurting Tiger, and I doubt Tiger is able to put on the kind of sustained pressure necessary on Hearns to really fluster him. He just wasn't that kind of pressure fighter. I think this fight is mostly fought with Tiger looking to counter, albeit unsuccessfully in the middle of the ring due to Hearns's physical advantages. If Hearns keeps his head, he should win a decision. I'd bet on it more often than not, just a styles thing.
btw, found this article in an old boxing mag: http://img245.imageshack.us/img245/3840/a79d2e80.jpg http://img216.imageshack.us/img216/9199/7d5e634b.jpg
I don't see why he wouldn't be able to apply steady pressure if he knew that's what would be needed, which he probably would given the disparity in height and reach. I think Tiger does enough to gradually wear Hearns down over the course of the fight, probably losing most of the rounds before taking over and stopping a fatigued Hearns late.
Tiger would win a 15 round fight, I feel sure. 12 rounds would be very interesting. What's funny is, if you were a big Tiger fan, you wouldn't be keen on his meeting Hearns...and if you were a big Hearns fan you wouldn't be keen on his meeting Tiger. So it's an interesting fight.
I didn't like Hearns' legs above 154. It seemed like the added weight slowed him down and took away a lot of his mobility. At 160 and upwards, it seemed he was a lot more hittable than at the lower weights. Hearns might have a shot at holding off a pre-'64 Tiger, the one that was outboxed by Giardello for the title. But the improved '65 Tiger, that whupped Giardello to regain the title, would get to Hearns and stop him IMO.
I believe Tiger has all the tools to beat Hearns, the question really is does he put them all together. For Hearns, I believe his prospects of winning rest mainly on Tiger failing to make full use of his tools.
hearns builds up early lead but later in the fight slows and gets caught tiger wins by very late stoppage 13th or 14th ,not sure though
I think that Hearns would struggle a bit mentally, too. He'd be in with a guy who could hit really hard and who absolutley could not be discouraged even by Hearns's best punches. I think Tiger would turn him form a box-mover into a runner or a slugger sooner or later with his pressure.