LaMotta, and I have no misgivings whatsoever about saying that. LaMotta was tough as ****, and was only ever knocked down by a light heavy. Hearns is not ready to fight someone who knows how to fight like LaMotta does, 3 minutes of every round for 15 rounds, and at full speed. Hearns would wilt from the attack. Hearns would give LaMotta a tougher than usual fight though, given his ability to box, he seems like easy prey for LaMotta, but he also has a lot of power.
Never thought about this fight before. I've previously said SRR would stop Hearns. I could see Hearns dishing out a beating on La Motta however it depends if the ref or ring doctor stop the fight. Of course Jake could pull out the late stoppage. Not confident in who to pick.
Hearns on pts if he puts his boxer hat on. If he goes in seek and destroy mode he gets stopped. La Motta was too strong, tough and granite to be stopped by any welter not called SRR imo despite Tommy being vastly more talented than him.
A prime example of a fight of match-ups. Hearns if he fights smartly wins this by ud probably easier than R.Robinson. R.Robinson would have an easier time with Hearns than with J.Lomatta.
If Hearns elects to box and move, he has a good chance to win a decision. I think he really puts on a clinic for about 3 rounds. But, the bull that is Lamotta would absorb it and keep coming. By the late rounds Tommy gets caught and starts to unravel. Lamotta is a great boxer too, and has a legendary chin. He is not noted for power, but late in any fight Tommy is vulnerable to even normal power shots. Lamotta more often than not KO's Tommy late. If they fought 5 times I would give 3 of them to Lamotta. This is a classic and epic fight between 2 ATG. I would pay good money to see it.
my instincts tell me Tommy, not because Jake couldn't take it, but because of Hearns' height & reach, SRR was taller than Jake and Hearns is not quite Ray... but Tommy is in the same top League, Taller and has great power. Jake could hang and maybe get lucky enough to wear Hearns out, but a lot of LaMotta's wins were against smaller welter/middles. he did go 10 (I think) with Marshall and lost, so Marshall is probably a better comparison than Robinson. I think Tommy beats Jake and though Jake's in it and could well ride out distance contests, I think Hearns' Skill, HEIGHT & REACH, secures the Victories.
