Mike McCallum stopped Julian Jackson in 2, although Jackson was a bit inexperienced at the time. Jackson himself knocked out Terry Norris.
I can't choose between Hearns or McCallum for THE best @ 154. Tommy's Power was awesome at that weight and McCallum was a master-boxer with some of the best in-fighting skills I've ever seen. BTW, wasn't it rumored to be that it was Tommy Hearns himself (or perhaps it was Steward), who gave McCallum "The Body Snatcher" nickname after a torrid sparring session?
SRR, though when he was fighting at 154 there wasn't a JR. Middleweight division but him aside i'd say Hearns
exactly true. I think Hearns before Hagler was a great great fighter in skill and he had experience by this point. He was fast and strong and perfect. After Hagler, Hearns started to brawl more. I think the 154 pound Hearns outboxes McCallum and wins a decision. At the higher weights I still think Hearns could knock out McCallum but he would have been harder for Hearns since he would tired out and get sloppy, but at 154 he was still the old young Hit Man.
After sparring Mike oneday he laughed and said, man he hits to the body so well he is a body snatcher.