Hearns vs McCallum at 154

a lot of what ifs. Pre Hagler Hearns beats McCallum at 154.. He was a greater fighter than Mike, who had some good wins but lacks in speed. The Hearns everyone wanted to fight later was the post Hagler Hearns. Because he was more beatable.

 

It doesn't matter what Hearns it is the script for the fight will 100% be the same; Brawl and Mike can take the shots, Hearns can not.

 

Milt McCrory could for the majority of the fight. The same Milt who had been starched by Curry two years before. Tommy could take a fair bit of punishment before he went down and I can't see McCallum dishing enough out without going into Tommy's wheelhouse. And Mike just wasn't that kind of fighter. He was calm and clinical and would try to do a technical job while Tommy racks up the points with his jab.

I see a rather dull 12 rounder dominated ny Hearns' jab and afterwards McCallum moaning about a decision he never deserved because he wouldn't let it all hang out. And in this period, to beat Tommy, you had to be an ATG putting it all on the line. I never saw anything with Mike that he could do that, great boxer that he was.

 

McCallum can go in to Hearns wheelhouse survive those big rights, but Hearns can't survive a McCallum's shots. Plain and simple.

As for McCory he didn't brawl, Hearns could NEVER resist a brawl this played out over and over and over during his career. If you wanted to box Hearns would box with you, and if you wanted to brawl Hearns would brawl with you.

 

Tommy loved a brawl but I don't think McCallum would bring the intensity needed to overly trouble Tommy.

Iran Barkley brought it and he would give Hearns fits 10 times out of 10. Similarly, I think McCallum would box Iran's ears off 10 times out of 10. But that doesn't equate to Mike therefore beating Tommy. I think McCallum had the right style and attributes for Tommy to look brilliant with the fans coming for a Hit Man display going home disappointed. Styles make fights and all that.

 

Good points. Anyone would think Hearns was featherfisted the way McCallum shaking off his best shots is so taken for granted. I'm not so convinced. If Hearns never fought Duran at 154 nobody would envisage a shocking early KO. At 154 just about anything is possible with Hearns. He goes from outboxing an ATG slickster in Benitez to obliterating the granite chinned defensive warrior that is Duran.

 

McCallum can wade through anyone's shots at 154 and just decimate them. Except Sean Mannion....

 

Hearns hit HARD at Jr middle. And he was fast.
Curry almost dropped McCallum and Curry hits hard bit not like Hearns.
Hearns is too fast for McCallum.

 

Huh? Have you seen McCallum vs Jackson, Watson, Kalule etc? He was a savage finisher when he had to be

 

He had to be a savage finisher vs Mannion. That might have got him the profile to make a fight against him worth the risk. But he was clinical and did what he had to do to win without exciting anyone and he remained in place in the queue. Doesn't make him a bad fighter but I would question his finishing.

Not seen the Kalule fight but saw the other two. Not changing my mind, I'm afraid. Watson had been clinically and efficiently broken down and Jackson was firing back to a degree and was upset by the stoppage. Great performances, probably better than Hearns could have done with those two men, but it was still very ordered and measured.

I just don't see Mike overcoming Hearns' speed and reach advantages unless he bulldozes in a la Hagler or Barkley. And that wasn't the way Mike fought. Being orderly and measured wasn't the way to trouble Tommy. Once Hearns knows he can't blast Mike out, he sticks at long range and racks up the points. Tommy 116-112 in a fight for the purists is how I see it.

 

I dunno I feel like we are talking about 2 different McCallums. He was a savage finisher when need be

 

Mike is not Hagler, and he did not face a puncher who was accurate an experienced like Hearns. Hagler took a great shot, Mike outthought his opponents to avoid it usually. Big difference.

 

If Curry almost dropped Mike Hearns is going to be able to hurt him too.
This whole Mike could take Hearns shots is a stretch.

 

Proof of this claim would be helpful

 

Plus Toney was on the verge of stopping McCallum in their 1st fight had that been a minute more Toney might of finished the job.

If Toney and Curry can seriously compromise McCallum with single right hands then Hearns certainly can and could possibly do one further.