S. Ray Robinson 1949 v Thomas Hearns 1984

Ray by TKO in 13th, with a narrow lead on the scorecards.Tommy would definitely tag Ray, and it wouldn't shock me if Ray was down a couple of times.

 

Hearns. At this stage of his career, this short window of time, I find Tommy a bit too sharp and lethal, for even the original Sugarman, consensus choice as p4p #1. To watch Roberto get cut so easily and then watch Tommy slip in that first right that got in so quickly that RD could not brace for it, tells me that Robbie is in for trouble.

I feel that Tommy would actually defeat him being as dangerous as he was. One slip and you are toast. He has the tools, the strength, the youth. Add to that the agility and reflexes. He was just lightning quick.

Yes, Tommy can win the big one. Up until that point, Tommy always had the will but now he had the power to go along with it.

 

Tossing out some random thoughts here. Take 'em or leave 'em.

SRR takes Tommy out in the championship rounds. Ray's body punching would exact a deadly toll as activities progressed.

As lethal a welterweight as Hearns was, he was never able to put a one armed (due to a training injury) light welterweight Randy Shields down and out. If it wasn't for the cuts from repeated accidental headbutts, Randy would have remained on his feet and gone the 15 round distance. Given two healthy arms, Shields would have been considerably more competitive, though Tommy's decision would still be lopsided.

If Hearns couldn't catch the elusive but infinitely lesser Shields flush enough to put him down and out, he's not going to do it to Robby either. Ray was the same height and reach as Shields, and the visual I have of Hearns-Shields tells me that Tommy's stature would not have been the overwhelming advantage over Robby that some might assume.

Hearns took on Harold Weston early in his career, and Weston gave him some headaches for five rounds before a detached retina ended the fight and his days as a boxer. Weston was a superb stylist, but obviously no Robby, a massively harder puncher than either Weston or Shields. Granted, Tommy was relatively green against Weston, but Robinson had a lot more experience in 1949 than Hearns had in 1984.

 

Hearns was a beast h2h, but I see this fight going the way of Hagler/Hearns where Ray "solves" him. Thing about hearns is he doesnt like getting hit back and his warrior instinct makes him so vulnerable to a guy like Hagler, SRL even more so SRR.

Tommy will have to do his usual dance around and jab to win this fight

 

The 154 pound Hearns has a major chance, not the welter one though. But still i'll take Robinson to get the stoppage late likely.