Who would win? My pick is Hearns by decision. This isn't prime for prime, unless you believe Hearns's prime was when he fought lightheavy.
The Hearns vs light heavyweights marathon continues lol. I could see Tommy winning this. I always liked Kov (I was on his bandwagon before he beat Cleverly) but I think theres now permanent questions about his chin, and its possible it was never that solid... I mean it never really got tested in his prime, except by Pascal, who buzzed him. I'll take Tommy by stoppage.
Can we please stop putting Hearns in with LHWs? Just put him in with WWs and JMWs. Anyway, I got the Krusher. But Hearns has a genuine punchers chance, but despite the questions about Kovalev's chin, I refuse to believe that he was the more fragile of the two.
Kovalev's chin got cracked during the Ward fight when his nuts got cracked. The Kovalev that beat Clev or Bhop stops Tommy within 8. Even though Kov's now shot, people forget how heavy his hands were. No way Tommy stands up to that. And he's not going to avoid Kov all night as he was no defensive genius.
Kovalev would starch Hearns inside of 6 rounds. Hearns had a garbage chin and the only reason he wasn’t ko’d more was because of the height and reach advantage he had over his opponents.
Thomas Hearns was dangerous at the lighter weights, but he had been on the canvas by Sugar Ray Leonard and Marvelous Marvin Hagler. I do think Hearns would be out boxing Kovolov early. But as the fight progressed, his stamina issued start to show as they did against Barkley and Leonard. Sergey can hit as he did against Bernard Hopkins. I see Kovolov catching Hearns in round 13 and ending it for the kayo.
Kovalev beat Ward in their first bout imo. Sergey is better suited to light heavyweight than Thomas. Hearns is dangerous of course, but doesn't dent Kova sufficiently and gets worn down over the course of the fight by the Russian's pressure and heavy shots. Kovalev stops Hearns in 8 or 9 rounds.
Hearns wins. I am saying Hearns because he is a much better boxer and Kovalev is not the aggressive type of fighter. But there is a huge question mark because of his weak chin.