Tommy Hearns vs. Oscar De La Hoya

Luigi. De La Hoya's combinations have always been his best attribute. He does possess a very good jab, but never uses it enough in my opinion. He's never been the type to let the jab flow, like say Hearns or Holmes.

I'll hold my hands up here. De La Hoya has been my favourite modern day fighter, and I have followed his career with a magnifying glass since 1996. But I would never get unrealitsic about his achievements and skill inside the ring. I never gave him a prayer against Hopkins before a first bell rang.

 

Maybe, but I don't think so.

Watch Hearns Haggler.

Hearns was KO'd but he was still in the fight up to the last half minute or so.

He took a lot of serious shots in that one. Oscar has never had his chin tested like that so that's why I picked Hearns' chin.

 

Hearns TKO10

 

If anyone ever wants to see what a 5lb loss does to a fighter from one fight to another, watch De La Hoya fighting Sturm, then his next outing against Hopkins.

De La Hoya looked flabby around the midsection, with his speed and reflexes diminished against Sturm. He looked "sluggish" in all areas.

Next fight against Hopkins, handspeed blindingly quick, better defense and co-ordination.

I don't put the Sturm showing down to lack of motivation, it was coming it at 160lbs which made De La Hoya perform below par.

Hatton learned his lesson with Collazo when he came in at 147lbs. His father has talked about him coming in just over the light-welterweight limit for the Mayweather fight. He'll probably weigh around 143lbs.

 

He's one of my favorite active fighters, However, I watched Hearns when he was prime and I think the gap was too great. It wouldn't be a walk in the park. Oscar could, given the right circumstances, KO any fighter ever, at welter, or even eke out a UD over any of them.

But he wouldn't be the favourite.

I'm guessing The Hitman would take 8 or 9 out of a 10 fight series.

 

You are presenting me with Hearns' showing a good chin in one fight, and he was actually KO'd inside 3 rounds. When comparing Hearns' chin with De La Hoya's look past one fight when coming forward with a case, and you will see De La Hoya without question had a better chin than Hearns.

De La Hoya started off at super-featherweight, and Hearns started off at welterweight. Both moved up through the divisions, and Hearns obviously fought more bigger guys. Hagler, Barkley, Andries, Hill, etc.

If De La Hoya started off at welterweight and moved up to light-heavyweight, then our comparison would be very accurate to say the least. But thats fantasy talk.

The bottom line here is, De La Hoya showed a better chin than Hearns throughout his career. Not just recorded knockdowns on both sides, but also the ability to withstand heavy blows and not show any effects from the punches.

 

Hearns at his 147 peak would have done a Pipino on Oscar. Tailor made

 

Your not taken seriously, don't worry.