Hearns vs SRR 147

Damn right he did, and when he decided to make himself the #1 contender for the title (even though he'd beaten the Champion four times already), he went on a god damn Rampage throughout the division.

08/49: Steve Belloise W-TKO7**
09/49: Benny Evans W-TKO5
09/49: Charley Dodson W-KO3
11/49: Vern Lester W-KO5
01/50: George LaRover W-TKO4
02/50: Al Mobley W-TKO6
02/50: Aaron Wade W-KO3
02/50: Jean Walzack W-UD10
03/50: George Costner W-KO1**
04/50: Cliff Beckett W-TKO3
04/50: Ray Barnes W-UD10**
06/50: Robert Villemain W-UD10**
~ Makes final defense of WW title against Fusari and has trouble with weight having fought in the 155 range the previous 10 months ~
08/50: Jose Basora W-KO1**
09/50: Billy Brown W-UD10
10/50: Joe Rindone W-TKO6**
10/50: Carl Olson W-KO12**
11/50: Bobby Dykes W-MD10 (toyed with this guy relentlessly)
11/50: Jean Stock W-TKO2
12/50: Luc Van Dam W-KO4
12/50: Jean Walzack W-UD10
12/50: Robert Villemain W-TKO9**
12/50: Hans Stretz W-TKO5**
02/51: Jake LaMotta W-TKO13**
04/51: Holly Mims W-UD10
04/51: Don Ellis W-KO1
05/51: Kid Marcel W-TKO5
05/51: Jean Wanes W-UD10
06/51: Jan de Bruin W-TKO8
06/51: Jean Walzack W-TKO6
06/51: Gerhard Hecht W-KO2**
07/51: Cyrille Delannoit W-KO3
07/51: Randy Turpin L-UD15** :yikes
09/51: Randy Turpin W-TKO10** :hi:
03/52: Carl Olson W-UD15**
04/52: Rocky Graziano W-KO3**

That's Middleweight Robinson. When he came back in 1955, he'd still take out Rindone again (KO6), Castellani (SD10 :yep), Olson twice (KO2, KO4) and of course Fullmer (KO5), win an absolute war in the rematch with Basilio (SD15).

 

I guess I'm swimming against the current on this one. I still say that Robinson faced nothing like Hearns in his career at WW. When did SRR ever have to overcome a 6" reach disadvantage at 147? Not only that but a 6" reach disadvantage against someone who may have the best jab(to the head and body) and right cross the division has ever seen...not to mention a severely underrated left hook(to the head and body). Hearns , at least, fought Leonard and had considerable success so one could envision him having success against Robinson. Give me some SPECIFICS on how SRR would wade through this typhoon of pain...

 

That's one way of describing it. Another is that he dominated until caught flush on the chin by a hard right followed by multiple hard hooks to the rib cage.

 

On the one hand I can't see why Robinson wouldn't be able to do what Leonard did. On the other, there just isn't enough footage of prime Robinson to feel certain here IMO.

I'd like it to be at 154, though. I think that weight probably brought out the best in both.

 

As usual that goes both ways. The closest to a prime Robinson that Hearns met was Leonard in 1981, and we all know what happened then.

 

The fact that Robinson has never faced a guy like Hearns means we don't know for sure he could beat him... it doesn't mean he could not beat him. Rocky Marciano didn't fought in the 1900's, so we don't know if he would've been good in fights lasting more than 15 rounds... but I bet he'd do as good as Jim Jeffries. If we reverse your logic, Hearns never fought someone as good as the generally accepted GOAT of boxing. The other "sugar" he fought KOed him.

Hearns can get dragged in a slugfest, where his great attributes would be lessened. He could outbox Robinson, but he wouldn't because he was Thomas Hearns, one of the most entertaining guy we've seen. He'd stun Robinson for sure, but get stopped in the later rounds.

 

Boxing wise, it`s pretty even. While I think SRR is a more complete boxer, I give Hearns the egde in pure speed. Powerwise, again it`s close. However, you just can`t compare chins... While I KNOW that SRR whiskers could hold up tp Hearns` explosive power. I seriously doubt that Hearns beard could hold up to Robbie`s power. SRR, was nail tough and could win a war of attrition. I think he stops the Hitman about rd 9. I just think SRR`s chin and resliency would make him the favorite.

 

He had a MUCH better chin than Hearns. and,how would SRR survive ??? He took everything from top middle`s and never was stopped. How SRR would get to Hearns( and I am a HUGE Hearns fan) is with patience, toughness ,boxing ability and inevitably his power. Sorry, but if SRL could hurt,drop and stop Hearns. What do you think Robbie with all those KO`s would do against Hearns chin ?? As for how could SRR hold up ?? Are you kidding ? He ALWAYS held up, that was one of his greatest attributes...

 

I dont see that. Hearns was fast but Robinson looks faster to me even at middleweight. The handspeed is pretty close but Ray had much faster footwork not to mention better balance.

 

Good point.

Its not just a matter of chin though. IMO it would be more about recovery ability. SRR could be hurt or even dropped but he always found a way to get through it. Much like Ali.

Hearns chin was decent but to me when he did get hurt badly he didnt recover that well. Even if he got through the moment his legs never cameback to him. They were rubber.

In a matchup like this both guys are gonna get hurt or at least stunned. Robinson would be the one standing at the end.

 

Good debate... I think the speed was close. But I do agree that SRR had better footwork and better balance...

 

The thing to note is SRR had tough staying and recuperative powers against middle`s as well. And we are talking about serious middle`s as well. I do think that Hearns could sting SRR, but not finish him. While once Robbie hurts Hearns, he absolutely finishes him ...

 

Against Leonard, Hearns was a sitting duck the second he got hit. Ray let him off the hook, then in the late rounds, decided he did in fact want to win, and parked Tommy like a truck.

Ray almost walked through Tommy when he hurt him. He ripped him up to the body, and Tommy had no clue how to respond.

Hearns is not mature enough to survive Robinson at 147. He'd get hit, eventually, and it'd hurt, and it'd be all over but the crying.

 

Leonard made Hearns body give out. Heat had nothing to do with the perfect left to the chin in the 6th.

 

This seems likely enough.

What do you think about 154?

Both were probably a bit more comfortable at this weight. Hearns was not really tested here despite meeting some stellar opposition. Robinson often came around this weight as well during his peak.