Winky Vs Hearns at 154

What for?



Hearns via murder.

 

But that would be the downfall of Wright. That's why I said that he has no way of winning. He can stay entirely defensive and simply lose an easy decision, or he can employ his normal strategy, which you have just layed out. However, when he comes out of his shell, what is he going to do? Pressure a taller, faster, harder punching fighter who has a better jab and better boxing ability? If he was a body puncher with a great chin and enough power to stun or stop Hearns (I just described Mike McCallum) then it's a different story.

 

:good And a fine choice he is, in fact the only fighter to have fought at 154 that I'd favor over Hearns.

 

I see this fight going somewhat like Jermaine Taylor vs Winky Wright when Taylor was able to bust throught Winky's guard at times. As a boxer/pucher, Hearns is wwaaaaayyyyyyyyyy more advanced then Taylor. Taylor hits like a mule but he's dumb as one as well. Hearns doesn't let Winky score because Winky won't back him into the ropes and Hearns doesn't keep his hands low. Hearns has the advantage on the outside and the inside as I think he can outbox Winky. I just don't see Winky able to score points against Hearns without taking punishment.

 

I think this fight would be closer than the majority of you want to admit. Winky would have the heft advantage, as in, the larger body overall, height not included...
Winky doesn't try to OUT-JAB his opponents, he TIMES their jab and counters, there is a difference, a jab contest, the two try to throw the jab at the same time and someone's lands first
Winky's counter is-- Thomas throws a jab, winky blocks it on his gloves, then as hearns loads up the right hand, winky is already there with his counter jab

I don't think you guys are overestimating Hearns, but I do think you're underestimating a prime Winky at 154, it was not unusual for him, during his championship stretch, to win every round against someone that was not an elite fighter

 

Wright would give Hearns a decent tussle at 154lbs. He's just too good defensively to get totally out-gunned IMO. However, he'd probably get beaten on points.

 

That happened once, against a past his prime, always limited Tito Trinidad.

Your points on Winky's style are well taken though, but the bottom line is, his reach is lesser than Hearns's, and Hearns has the clear quickness advantage here in terms of handspeed. He flicks out his stinging jab, he doesn't use it like Winky does, he uses it to create space, to create a diversion, and to stun the opponent, he doesn't use it as his offense.

While Winky will land some jabs at points, he will be landed on with the harder blows, and the larger variety of blows. Winky's defense is not as effective on a fighter of this caliber. Hell, Taylor was hitting him often, he is by no means hard to hit for a skilled boxer. Trinidad was just made for him, a come-forward puncher who couldn't adapt.

Hearns holds every edge in this fight, if Winky countered his jab, Hearns would come back with more than a jab. Winky simply doesn't have the power nor the offensive arsenal in this fight. Winky against any other 154 pounder is very intriguing, but Hearns has his number.

 

Hearns too tall and long would just stand outsid of the peekaboo and blast rights and jabs all night long. Winky has to score points and must come out of hiding for that.

Hearns eventually blasts him on one of those occasions and its all over.

 

Wright was a monster at 154. I wouldn't be so quick to say Hearns all the way. I know people's opinions of him have changed since the Hopkins fight but let's not forget what weight he fought at. It would be interesting.

 

Hearns' jab was the bread and butter of his offense, excluding his right hand. He did jab to create space and to confuse his opponent, but it was very much his number two tool when it came to attacking. I could see your point "he doesn't use it as his offense" if he was a backfoot slipper and slider, ala Cory Spinks, but he wasn't. Everything flowed off Hearns' jab. The right hand came behind it, and his body punching flowed off it as well.

Hearns created space behind the jab when he was looking to strictly box, move laterally, and not throw anything with real authority. Like he did against Leonard during the mid-late rounds of their first fight. Don't forget, it was also used to decrease the space between himself and his opponent. If you watch the first 6 rounds against Leonard, he came forward aggressively while cutting the ring off. Positioning himself, pumping the jab, and bringing over the ocassional right hand down the pipe. The jab set up Duran's funeral during the first round.

 

That's true, I should've said he used it to set his offense up, because that's what a good jab is, especially for a big puncher. He used it to perfection on the first and last KD against Duran, by going body with the jab, head with the straight right. My point was, Hearns had a lot more in his arsenal, Winky doesn't.

 

My opinion of him has not changed in the slightest since the Hopkins fight, I called that to happen. First of all, he is nearing the status of "shot" and that was nowhere near his best weight. Bottom line is, while he would not get blown out, he was too good for that, he is still outdone in most every area here, and his offense doesn't contain what is needed to take Hearns off his game.

 

Hearns feinted to the body with the jab, I call it a "feeler" as the jab was thrown, but with zero behind it. Nothing behind that jab to the body, as it was just used as a range finder for the right hand, also to confuse Duran downstairs before coming over with the right hand.

Hearns' jab was flowing well against Duran during the first round. I can mind he landed it flush from long range after he knocked Duran down during the first.

Hearns's jab was special for two reasons. 1) It was his main weapon which set up his heavy bombs while he was being aggressive 2) It was a brilliant point scorer when he decided to get on the balls of his feet, move side to side, and simply box.

If it wasn't for Hearns' brilliant boxing ability behind the jab when he got on his bike against Leonard between rounds 8-12, he'd have been TKO'd earlier. And obviously wouldn't have been the multi dimensional fighter he was without it.

Its alright having a great jab, but the special ones use it often. Hearn's did just that.

 

Hearns wide UD or KO late. winky has nothing whatsoever that poses a threat to hearns. he's a feather fisted counter puncher who will get outboxed by a master boxer. he has nothing in his arsenal to threaten hearns with. even his best weapon the jab, is nullified by hearns better jab. movement = hearns, power = hearns, boxing ability = hearns, jab = hearns, power = hearns, length = hearns, athleticism = hearns. the only area winky is better in is his defense. hearns would outbox him from the outside where winky wont be in a good spot to counter. he'd probably take points in rounds hearns decides to rest in, but when hearns opens up winky is at a disadvantage.

 

Agreed, it was a perfect set-up punch. Jones used to do that as well. He'd paw to the body a few times to get his opponent to switch up his defense a little, and unleash a straight right after the opponent's defense had dropped to the body. He even set up a left hook with it against Thornton. He'd also wait to counter the counter-punch at times, like against Malinga. He was using the same pawing jab to the body, moving slower than usual to allow Malinga to try for the counter, and as soon as Malinga left the right go, Jones slipped it and landed his own straight right at lightning speed. Brilliant.

But I'm getting carried away.

:good