If Hearns had faced Mugabi at light middle?

Hearns almost killed Duran at 154 but who else do he brutally ko at that weight? I think the way that he dealt with Duran may have given the impression that he was equally devastating against everyone at 154 but I’m not sure that was really the case?

 

Hearns was only taken the distance twice at 154 (I think) and these bouts were during a period in which he was suffering from hand troubles. They were also very clear, decisive victories, one of which was over Benitez.

Whilst Knocking Out Marcos Geraldo was nothing new, Geraldo could be awkward and drag out decision losses. Hearns’ jab; use of long rights and lefts was incredibly sharp. Geraldo was also weighing in as a Middleweight; Hearns as a Light Middleweight.

Hearns also demolished Hutchings with a very crisp display of boxing.

There are very few fighters I’d back to beat Hearns at 154. He had the same power as he’d had at 147. But, was generally healthier and stronger. I think it could be argued that Hearns looked better at 154 than any other weight class he competed at.

 

Johnthomas1, has some excellent points. But I still believe Hagler ruined Mugabi. Not just the physical beating he took, but most importantly mentally. Hagler stripped that cloak of invincibility from Mugabi. Mugabi landed shots on Hagler that would've stopped most fighters,and when that didn't happen...... Well the results are their in the aftermath of the Hagler fight. (Pre Hagler Mugabi beats Thomas, and china chin Norris,sorry Red) Some fighters can come back from a rough loss. Some don't. Also the prolong beating Mugabi recieved, I think it broke him mentally. And its happened to other fighters, Mugabi wasn't the 1st to crash and burn after that initial lost. But be that as it may, I would still pick Hearns against a pre Hagler Mugabi. Hearns Jab would keep Mugabi at bey, that cruise missile of a right hand would land and end matters for Hearns in 7 or earlier.

 

Flash24 - i hear you mate but am happy to sit in the minority view on this one.

Mugabi never beat anyone as good as Thomas or Norris prior to Hagler so i can't give him a free pass vs guys of this level based on one impressive loss.

There's quite a few i give plenty of leeway to after losing for the first time but all of these guys had runs on the board prior to such a loss. The Beast doesn't have anything substantial before or after Hagler. Would he have if he fought someone lesser than Hagler? Maybe, maybe not. Like a Gerry Cooney he never proved it.

 

So you wouldn't agree sometimes a bad beating takes something from a fighter? Esp punchers who are usually fragile mentally? Because their's a number of cases of fighters who seemed to lose something after a 1st loss. And Cooney is another that loss something after that 1st loss,along with Garza . Boxing is a sport of milli seconds. If a fighter has self doubt , He hesitates, that split second can be the difference between landing a punch, and not pulling the trigger. Of riding a punch, or taking it full force. As I wrote earlier, I believe Hearns ( a ATG) would've beaten Mugabi regardless. Hearns had all the tools to beat Mugabi with exception of a great chin. But B rate and C rate fighters, like D.Thomas, China chin Norris, B,James, Begini, and Kelly. I'd pick Mugabi prior to Hagler to beat all those fighters.

 

Mugabi has a puncher's chance, of course. And Hearns was ko'd by Barkley so it's not inconceivable that Mugabi would do the same. But I think Hearns was a better light-middleweight than he was a middleweight and he'd have been a couple of years younger in 1986 than when he lost to Barkley. I'd pick Hearns 9 times out of 10 as he was just flat out better than Mugabi. But that tenth time...

 

I agree with everything you say just that in this one case i am a bit of a sceptic. Cooney too is unproven vs actual top ten opponents. It's personal judgement as to how he would go. He may have struggled or he may have gone thru some.

 

The 1984, 154 pound Hearbs was the best Hearns and I think he stops Mugabi early ..

 

Hearns