A thunderous right hand vs a nigh undentable chin. Slow but slick pressure vs a grand outboxer who doesn't clinch well. How do you see this fight unfolding?
Tommy won't present many counter punching opportunities to Toney. He's too slick, quick and smart to get cornered often enough for Toney to do significant damage. If Tommy is up on his toes, and works off the jab he'll win a decision. Even if you have an undentable chin, if you take shots off Tommy Hearns it's gonna hurt you and back you up. I go with Hearns winning a unanimous decision, 117-111 personally
Imo, Hearns out boxes Toney from the outside for the first 8 or 9 rounds, but eventually Toneys superb body work will start to slow Tommy down. And although Tommy will land that right hand, Toney will land it more, although i don't think James has the power or aggressiveness to take Tommy out i do think he would take a decision 6 timed outta 10
IMO Tommy Hearns takes this by decision, if he can use lateral movements and use his jab and straight punches he will be able to outbox Toney
If Hearns was smart, I'm fairly comfortable picking him to win a wide decision just pecking away with jabs and quick right hands. James would struggle with his long style and terrific footwork, not finding many opens to counter, and I think his general tendency towards lazy fighting gets him in trouble in this matchup.
It is hard to really make a prediction on this fight because Hearns and Toney are good friends and like each other a lot. I think the pre-Hagler Tommy Hearns outboxes James in a very boring fight. Tommy would not be able to land a good punch on James so he would start boxing and it would be give and take without anything big landing and Tommy winning a decision . Post Hagler -Hearns might not last into the late rounds with James.
At 160 Toney was a good, but not an especially good fighter. He was miles behind Nunn before the stoppage, and sqeaked by guys like Reggie Johnson, Mike McCallum (first time) and should have lost to Tiberi. (He wasn't at his best for Tiberi, but still.) Hearns didn't stick around 160 too long, but in my eyes he's a level above Toney here.
IT's a very interesting match up but I don't really remember Hearns ever looking great at 160 ... it could go either way ...
Hearns could well outbox Toney to a UD, he almost certainly outboxes him early, the thing is as the pace slows as it will, TOney will be slipping and pressuring ala Toney-Nunn ala Hearns-Leonard. 15rounds certainly suits Toney better here although Hearns is 1 of the few who could potentially crack Toney's chin
