Could The Beast do at 154 what Barkley did, and Roldan came close to, at 160 - and Kinchen nearly did at 168?
I think this is a pick em fight. Pre-Hagler Mugabi was a monster, but Hearns was an ATG. I would just make Mugabi a very live underdog. Mugabi could actually take a good shot before Hagler ruined him.
Hearns was probably the finest 154lber on the Planet, ever. Mugabi was a bully at 154lbs, if things did not go his way, he quit. Things would not go well for 'The Beast' against 154lbs 'Motor City Cobra'...
Mugabi has a punchers chance and that's about it. Having a more durable chin means a little less when you're the one eating most of the leather.
I like Mugabi in this matchup. Hearns is the greater boxer but The Beast is dangerous and Tommy would war with him a little too much. I think he gets caught. Mugabi KO6
Mugabi had the same reach as Barkley and the same height (but probably longer reach) as Roldan. But I'd say he had a harder punch than any of them. A harder punch than anyone Tommy ever beat probably. And he had good set of whiskers too. Bad match-up for Hearns.
I'd back Hearns, but be nervous as hell while watching it. If i'd been Manny Steward back then, Mugabi is not someone i would have wanted to put Hearns in with. Booze where's the proof Mugabi was a bully at 154? surely not getting his eye horribly ****ed up by Thomas? After that he wasn't so much a bully as he was just a bit crap imo.
Hearns has the range and the power, but because he liked to war a little too much, his chin could get caught. I pick Hearns, but only tentatively.
I voted Mugabi to keep the score somewhat respectable, but actually I'd probably slightly favour Hearns. He's always vulnerable in match-ups like these, though.
Unless Hearns gets caught with a couple of big shots,a la Iran Barkley,I see him outboxing Mugabi,either stopping him or getting a clear decision.
But Hearns' defence in close was quite bad, so the strong guys with a big punch were always a danger to breach it.
Prior to March 1986 at 160 or down at 154, Mugabi probably KO's Hearns... However, the '87 version of Hearns who KO'd Andries at 173 pounds or even Roldan at 160 probably stops a ruined Mugabi....... Hagler and Duane Thomas basically took a lot outta the Beast..... Mugabi was trash come 1987...... Forget his title win over Rene Jacquot in 1989, Jacquot was a gimp.... MR.BILL:hat