Sugar Ray Robinson 1949 v Thomas Hearns 1984

Robinson has a very, very, very good chin. He is able to take Hearns´ best. Hearns on the other hand is not able to take Robinson´s best. That´s all you need to know.

 

This was Tommy's best weight, but it was Ray's natural weight division as far back as 1945. Hearns didn't take body shots well, as SRL and Hagler proved. We've all seen how Robby had the taller Dykes breathing hard as early as round two from surgically thudding rights to the ribs, and he dominated Bobby on the inside right from the start. Tommy wasn't particularly strong in the championship rounds, and I don't see him getting to the final bell here.

 

This. It wouldn't surprise me if Robinson falls behind early, still weary of Hearns' power and trying to negate his combination of height, speed and technical skill. But eventually Robinson - being the great composite puncher he is - gets to him. In other words, similar to Leonard I in that sense, though I don't think he leaves it till the 14th, and I think he might recover from losing early rounds and be slightly ahead at that point.

 

Nor would it surprise me if Ray went after Tommy early, like he did Dykes, in a bid to eliminate or reduce the threat posed by Hearns quickly.

Cuevas made a fatal mistake against Tommy. He came into the ring wearing leather soled shoes which denied him traction, while Hearns had rubber under his feet. Tommy and Steward developed a plan which hinged on making Pipino give ground, and Cuevas used footwear which left him with no other option but to atypically concede territory and retreat to the ropes. If Pipino had used rubber soles and went after Hearns right away, how would Tommy have responded to getting his body whacked by those hooks? Duran obviously didn't like it, but El Cholo could recover as well from getting hit downstairs as he could dish it out.

Assuming both Hearns and Robinson enjoy the same footing, it's not a given that Ray would give away the early rounds. Hagler proved that even a peak Hearns could be eliminated quickly. I can't see Robby tearing after him like that, but I could certainly envision him going to work immediately in the measured way he started with Dykes.

 

I pretty much agree with you for once, although a fighter of Hearns magnitude gets dismissed a little easily, hes a dark horse in this race imo, no pun intended :yep

 

I always say how strongly i feel about Robinson beating Hearns at 147. At 154 Hearns wasn't only better physically suited the weight imo, he was more composed, less wild, and probably even a better technician, but that last point is a close call. Anyway, i'd still take Robinson, but i say so with less conviction than i do on the fight at 147. I just think that if Hearns boxes, he'll do well, because there's hardly anyone in history he wouldnb't do well against, but Robinson will be landing combos eventually. I don't see any defences that could offset or avoid Robinson's shots fully, and Hearns doesn't even posess a great defence imo. The best bet for any fighter to beat Robinson imo is to use strength, and be all offense. Hearns' offence is sublime but it's all punches rather than marauding through strength, if you're going to try to blitz Robinson with shots, he's going to be hitting you as well. Hearns doesn't have a glass chin but i think Robinson would stop him.

 

I'd say SRR takes this in the later rounds, provided he survives that right hand.

 

I know that I'm in a vast minority here, but I think if Steward made a plan to outbox Robinson, Hearns could do it. In a 12 round fight, I would pick Hearns. In a 15 round fight, it's either Hearns by decision, or SRR by tko.

 

Gotta agree here..I loved The Sugarman..If he could take the first right hands early,he could possibly stop The Hitman late..but thats a big "if"..My main man Tommy was a beast at 154..power and speed...I don't see him using his feet for 12rds staying away from Ray...plus Ray was a master at using his feet...The Sugarman was a very hard puncher as well..fast and hard..with alot of combos..the most beautiful combos in the history of this game IMHO..and Tommy might be taken out early..

I'd give give my right arm to see this one..What a fight it'd be.

 

I think Hearns would dictate the early rounds fighting behind the jab. With Robinson fighting a little cagey to avoid being caught with the big right hand. As the fight progresses SRR will start to take more chances to get inside to land his own combinations. By the 9th or 10th round Robinson would be in control of the fight, backing Hearns up and I feel he would at some point get the stoppage. Once he has him hurt he'd stay hurt.

I don't think Hearns would risk going at SRR like he did with Hagler.

 

A very good point about Cuevas. I also thought Pipino was well used up by that time and never really recovered from abuse in the Randy Shields fight.

 

People mention Hearns as 'The Hitman' but in this fight it would be Robinson's role, with those sharp, pin-point combinations of his snapping out and landing on Hearns chin repeatedly.

Hearns may be able to outbox Ray early with that long jab, but Robinson will get inside with those combo's and scythe him down in the mid-rounds.