Hearns could land fast accurate shots when an opponent least expected them and this is why he could still drop fighters as he moved up the divisions. I can imagine Hearns being way ahead on points and having his way with Toney. the late rounds would be tricky. over 12 it's Hearns after that it all depends if this version of Hearns has learned to hold...
Hearns by fairly comfortable decision win. Hearns uses good boxing ability, moving around the ring, behind the jab. Toney IMO is lazy in the ring, he only does what he has to. A good boxing opponent will move around the ring and keep him away. Toney will fight in spurts, but it's not enough. Toney has a great chin & will not get knocked out. I based this on how Roy Jones moved around the ring and easily beat Toney. & also Michael Nunn did the same thing up until late when Toney saved his hash with a late knockout.
I feel Hearns would be winning this great match-up into the mid rounds. Utilizing the excellent left jab, and maintaining a distance where he can touch "Light's out" and not be countered...but there is the rub, in picking Hearns... I'm afraid. Hearns had the mindset to engage everyone, sometimes to his detriment. I feel Toney with his accustomed style of rolling with right hands, and then countering with his own straight right, wins this fight for him. say what you want about Toney's condition (and more than likely it would be true) he almost always fought a smart fight and with heart. Hearns might see the end of twelve rounds, and if he does he wins! I don't think he would...In Toney's best wins, he came on late...he would here IMO. Toney TKO in 11. The size differential is key in this one I feel, along with Hearn's mindset to totally commit to his shots, Toney finds him eventually, and capitalizes.
Hearns was only outpointed one time in his career, and that was against Iran Barkley. Barkley was a totally different type of fighter than Toney. Hearns was not the type to get out boxed, especially by someone that likes to fight flatfooted and counter like Toney. Hearns by UD
Hearns by unanimous decision, probably minimum 3 points. I don't think it would be a total blowout because Toney is very slippery and has excellent movement on the inside. Toney makes it interesting probably for the first six rounds of a 12 rounder until Hearns starts to dominate with his jab and right hand.
Very intriguing match. At middleweight I pick Hearns by decision. Move up in weight and Toney would be too strong for Hitman.
What about the Toney of the McCallum fights? The one of the first fight was the best Toney I've ever seen.
Toney would get on the inside of Hearns and wear him out. Hearns could never deal with being roughed up and Toney would definitely get there.
.....but I don't think that is an endorsement of Toney. I was never THAT impressed with McCallum's stay at 160, & it was a DRAW-which seemed about right IMHO. In the rematch, Toney looked WORSE. What about the Toney from Tiberi? Wolfe? Sosa? Reggie Johnson?!? Toney will get in the inside of Hearns? How? He is not going to take a page out of Marvin Hagler's playbook-it's not his style. Toney does better where fighters come to him, & they do the work. Tommy's stay at 160 was spotty as well..... but not THAT spotty where I can see JT winning it. Tiberi.....Sosa..... Johnson(!!!).... I just can't see Toney winning it.