Mike finishes the job Harold Weston, Jr. started before sustaining his career ending torn retina, and decisions Hearns. At 154, few shorter opponents with a lesser reach might have been able to give Tommy a boxing lesson. Meet suspect number one, the guy Charlie Chaplin likely used as his roller skating inspiration for The Rink.
^^^ I don't think the 20 y/o 18 fight veteran was the best boxing version of Hearns myself...How about the version who outpointed the master counter puncher in Benitez? That's a whole different ballgame...
This is one matchup where we have a guy I have seen in just one fight and it was a quasi exhibition and someone I saw many times and almost always looked simply great. One advantage I give Gibbons is that he comes from the hardman era and of course his chin must be better. Hearns has height, speed, a lot of boxing skill as does Gibbons. Yes Gibbons era is tougher and a decent chin, a lot better than Tommy's but one clean power shot to anything but a great great chin and it's always lights out. I have to go with Hearns by knockout but I suggest Tommy not try what he did against Hagler, he has to box and his speed and reach will give him that win
This would be a very interesting fight. The knee jerk reaction is to say it would end up a boxing match but Mike was smart and would know he would have to take this fight inside. He was very good inside and Hearns wasn't. It would come down to how much the referee let them fight inside and when they were separate how long Hearns could keep him on the outside. I personally think 154 is both fighters ideal weight so this is kind of a dream matchup. Id lean to Gibbons but it would be interesting.
Off of what I've seen on the segments of Gibbons v McFarland and O'Dowd...I would pick Hearns to solidly outpoint Gibbons from the outside with his speed and reach...If Gibbons tried to close distance, which he may not be inclined to do...he would be dropped. Hearns is a terrible match up for Gibbons' style..IMO.
Have to agree. For all Mike's almost legendary abilities I've come across nothing to suggest he would have the answer for Tommy's straight down the pike punches being a taller and longer armed fighter.
Yeah I agree, I do not think Gibbons should go for a points win, not gonna happen, to win he needs to go for Tommy's weakness, his chin, sure some good hard body shots won't hurt, Gibbons not known for great stopping power but doesn't need it, what he needs is accuracy and a clean good shot to that chin, it may need a few more shots but that is the key for Mike, this fight ain't going the full 15 rounds.
when i read about mike Gibbons in ring Magazine, i got the Impression that this guy was some Kind of unhittable Genius. when YouTube came along and i actually got to see some one These "ring Magazine SUPERMEN", i realized i had been told fairy tales by RING MAGAZINE. same with mike Gibbons. in reality, he was a crafty, clever ringman. very solid. but a real Special Talent? he didnt have one Punch power. nor was he super fast. he was defensively clever, but hardly unhittable. Tommy was faster, hit way harder, better jab and bigger. so it has to be Tommy by wide UD or late stoppage.
interesting how the older generation the fight, the better they do in the head to head matchups. Older generations are given considerations just because it was older generation.
