Tommy Hearns Vs James Toney

Hearns knocks him out in the second or third

 

Well, if they were just as big i'd put big money on Hearns. He has a great style to face Toney: long reach, quick snappy jab and power to keep him honest. That always works well against defensive masters without big power.... just watch the Jones fight.

However, Hearns' best weight was 154lbs whereas Toney was a natural light heavyweight or even cruiserweight. I think Toney is just too big and his chin neutralises The Motorcity Cobra's power.

 

This is an intriguing match-up. Pontius has cogent points as usual, though I disagree that Toney is a natural LHW. Headcase Toney was a natural MW who happened to either

A. have an eating disorder.
B. lacked the discipline to regulate his diet.

Take your pick. The man was 5'10 with a medium frame. In boxing lingo, that's a MW. I think he surrendered to his gluttony when he was a full-grown man at 24. Psychologically, James Toney was a fat man waiting to happen.

The question here is whether 1985 Hearns had enough hand speed and offensive machinery to neutralize the flawless defensive and countering capabilities of 1991 James Toney (McCallum I).

I'd say he did. I'd also expect Hearns to start fast to test that chin of Toney, and then if the chin holds, control the fight thereafter with those long laser-shots that hurt. Toney would have to be very careful about opening up on a 26 years old Hearns like he did on a 34 year old McCallum. Hearns would do far more damage. This could look like the Jones fight with Hearns proving to dangerous for Toney to control the pace.

 

Toney by KO.

 

Toney by KO in the 7th or 8th

 

Im picking Toney here, maybe just because of natural size, there may not be as much of a difference as on paper would imply there, but i'll still pick him in this h2h 1

 

What I liked about Hearns is what I didn't like about Toney, and it's already been touched on here, but Tommy Hearns had an intensity in the ring that could be Herculean in effect. In an even up match, that can be the deciding factor. It's something I've seen in the eyes of other fighters, Roberto Duran and Oscar DeLahoya spring to mind, whereas Toney sometimes looked as though there were plenty of other places he'd rather be. No one lacking of heart will last too long in this business, but there is that heart for the game ...

 

Good point. When has Hearns ever walked into the ring without a sixpack? He was always ready and well-armed with more character in his chest than Toney had cake and ice cream in his belly.

 

Hearns is just a different class of fighter than Toney. I would put my money on the Hitman every time - his only problems with Toney would come from size, but we're talking a matchup at 154/160 here so it won't be too much of a factor.

 

If Toney thinks to fight off the ropes and slip & counter against Hearns.....

in the immortal words of Omar Suarez
"Eeeeee Pobresito...my boss is gonna stick your heads up your asses faster than a rabbit gets ****ed!"

Love Toney & his defence, Just don't see him winning a defensive type fight Vs. Hearns, he would have to go all out and toe to toe. and that is just hard to belive considering we are talking about Toney the undisputed layed back counter punching champ of all-time.

Hearns by UD

 

Counterpunching Toney doesn't have the hunting skills to catch up with Hearns. Toney could be hurt and dropped at middleweight too. Hearns early or he cruises to a decision.

 

The 1985/1886 Hearns was a destructive force at middleweight and still retained all of his speed and reflexes. Hell, he supposedly retains most of his speed and reflexes even today. It's possible that Tommy gets Toney out of there early because although Toney has a good chin, it's not quite Haglerish (who's is?). As per usual Tommy will go all out in the first 2 rounds for the KO and then settle down after that if he can't get the job done early. Toney's natural ability to counterpunch will be undone here because he won't be busy enough to outwork Hearns and he won't be inclined to expose himself too much to the Hearns' arsenal. Another factor is the long range hooks to the body from Tommy - James will not like those at all.

Tommy wins a competitive fight by a comfortable UD, but don't rule out an early KO.

 

Toney by late KO, after trailing on points. Very much alike the Nunn fight. Hearns always fades late in the fight.

 

No early KO; just a fast yet steady lesson from Thomas Hearns, supposing the fight is a contest of middleweights.