HEARNS vs MONZON at Middleweight ? (15 rds)

Monzon

 

I'll take the more solid Monzon by late stoppage, for the obvious reason.

 

Monzon better get rough with the somewhat fragile Hearn's... He wouldn't have a overwhelming size advantage over Tommy like he did with Napoles and co.

 

Hearns lacked a good amount of his mobility that he had at lower weights once he stepped up to 160. He would still make it difficult for Monzon with his handspeed, jab, and power, as well as actually having an inch or two in reach advantage over Monzon, but I'd pick Monzon to take control and stop Hearns around the middle rounds.

 

Monzon ko 10 Hearns. Monzon was stronger, and more rugged than Hearns, and was a better ring general. He would have ko'd Hearns very much like he did Benvenuti, with a big right hand.

 

I go with Monzon to win on a late stoppage,it would be a good fight and Hearns would have some good rounds im sure.

 

I don't disagree with anything said so far on here. Hearns would not make the final bell, despite having his moments. Monzon was supreme at 160.

 

Believe it or not, I think the only hope Hearns has here is to attack from the opening bell and hope he catches Monzon cold.

If he tries that, Monzon's chin keeps him in it and he regains rounds as a slower pace than Hagler had to. By the 6th round, Monzon is landing wih more accuracy and regularity than Hearns, and Tommy is stopped in the 7th.

If Tommy tries to outbox Monzon he lasts a few more rounds, but eventually he would be caught, hurt, and Monzon would methodically finish him off.

Not much going for Hearns in this fantasy matchup I'm afraid.

 

What really big fighter did Monzon beat?

Did Briscoe & Valdez hit harder than Hearns?

Was Monzon a better "boxer" than Hearns?

 

Monzon would be the one who wouldn't benefit from the boxing exchanges. It would be up to him to use his similar height and reach to get inside and make it a rough-housing affair with the frailer Hearns. If he does that successfully early on like he did against Benvenuti, he'll eventually break Hearns down the stretch.

 

Hearns is a great fighter and would not have done the all out attack strategy against Monzon as he did against Hagler. Styles make fights and Hearns boxing skills would make for a very competitive fight. Close decision for Monzon based on his determination is my guess, but maybe Tommy would pull out a decision.

 

Valdez knocked out Briscoe and knocked down Monzon. That puts him in a very select class as a puncher, so yeah, it's possible that Valdez hit harder than Hearns at Middleweight. Although I think it's somewhat like comparing Tyson's fast, sharp punches to Foreman's heavy, thudding punches.

Tommy is no walkover for anybody at or below 160, but I think Monzon's physicality would eventually take over and result in a late stoppage.

 

I favor Monzon. Hearns has 2 chances, go for broke with early KO (not likely), or box and defend himself which would be his best chance. He would have to establish a superior jab by using a lot of ring movement to keep Monzon from teeing off as well as establish his jab. I see Hearns doing well for the first 1/2 and then being ground down, as Monzon relentless pressure takes away Hearns suspect stamina, and KO'd late in the fight. Monzon knew exactly what to do and that's take Hearns into the deep waters and drown him.

 

Monzon was a beast. Strong, durable, accurate, hunting his man down. His chin was made of steel - checkout some shots that he absorbed from Valdez, that bombs could KO a rhino!