At 168 or 175 pounds who do you see winning this fight? I think it could go either way. If Ward can get inside I think he can win the rounds by banging away. But I lean towards Hearns outboxing him with his reach and speed and maybe score a KO, but likely a UD.
No clinching with Hearns...and if Ward was successful at clinching I expect Hearns to put on some serious heat that Ward couldn't handle. I've got Hearns by KO
I think there are very few boxers in history that can outbox Tommy Hearns. Ward can't jab with Hearns, Hearns IMO has better footwork, a better 1,2, far better right cross. Ward would pay dearly for trying to come inside as Hearns was quick as well. He's very bad stylistically for Ward, I don't think he'd stop Ward at 175, but he outboxed Virgil Hill at LHW, that tells me everything I need to know about how he'd fair against Ward,
Hearns was a superb boxer and never lost a decision even at the higher weights. In fact most of his decision wins were pretty wide. Hearns outboxed the likes of Leonard, Benitez and Hill, all HOF. Ward has never been in with anyone with who could box at Tommy's level. Hearns struggled most with strong, brawling types and was vulnerable to being knocked out, but Ward isn't a big enough puncher.
Andre Ward is bigger and more technical than Hearns. Hearns wont be able to deal with Wards inside game and physical prowess. Ward has beaten legit and elite supermiddle weights like Kessler and Froch, those two alone would give Hearns a run for his money.
Hearns out boxed prime HOF caliber LHW champ Virgil Hill while well past his prime, Hill is on Kovalevs level. Not the kind of puncher that Kovalev is but such a good boxer that in his late 30s after two long LHW reigns he won a CW title. However 168 and 175 are not Hearns optimal weight and the version of Hearns at 168 and above wasnt Hearns at his peak either so prime Andre Ward would be a huge task
Take the very cloudy rose colored glasses off, Ward and it wouldn't even be competitive, and like @seck says, (I can't believe I'm agreeing with him on anything) anyone who thinks otherwise doesn't know **** about boxing.