Would Hearns be the GOAT if he won a HW strap?

Truthfully, the only time I see a window in there where Tommy Hearns could've won a heavyweight title was in 1987 against Michael Spinks.

Hearns destroyed Dennis Andries for his light heavyweight title in March 1987. It was an amazing win. It kind of took everyone by surprise.

Michael Spinks was the "World" heavyweight champion in 1987. But he no longer had any belts. The IBF stripped Spinks of his title in February 1987 (before Hearns beat Andries) for failing to defend against Tony Tucker. Instead, Spinks had his sights set on Gerry Cooney and a big payday.

If the Cooney fight had fallen apart, maybe Michael Spinks vs. Tommy Hearns for the Ring "World" Heavyweight title was a possibility. I don't know if Hearns wins. Spinks had really bad knees at that point. But, who knows. Hearns displayed really good power against Andries in 1987.

Other than Spinks, the only heavyweight beltholder I can think of is Trevor Berbick. But, again, by the time Hearns beat Andries to win the WBC Light Heavyweight belt, Berbick was a former champ.

IF Berbick hadn't fought Mike Tyson in November 1986, and Berbick still had the WBC belt in the first half of 1987, I could see Hearns taking on Berbick and "possibly" outhustling him over 12 rounds. Cruiserweight champ S.T. Gordon did it to Berbick a few years earlier.

Otherwise, I don't see Hearns with a chance against anyone in the HBO heavyweight tournament in the late 80s or afterward.

And I don't see Hearns getting a heavyweight shot until he wins a light heavyweight belt first. And he didn't win one of those until he fought Andries.

 

In fairness, at 147, Hearns usually looked visibly skinnier than his opponents. Thinner arms and legs, smaller chest, leaner. Even when he moved up some. Check out the promo pics for Hagler-Hearns, and you can see Hagler's arms are noticeably thicker than Hearns's arms.

Despite this though, I also think he was drained down for a lot of fights, and was more able than most to handle rehydrating in the morning and fighting at night.

 

Catchweights Still had to be agreed at a certain 'max' and ALL Fighters fought Catchweight Contests unless called to make Championship Weights in either Elimination Contests or for the Title it's self!

 

Interesting. Personally I don't give Hearns a realistic chance at beating Spinks at LHW or HW. Including the Spinks who beat Cooney.

 

I don't either. But that's probably his best chance if the alternatives are Tyson and Holyfield, etc.

I think heavyweight is too big a mountain to climb.

 

Agreed.

 

I liked Morrison`s hook.

 

Tommy`s biceps measured around 15 inches to 15.5 inches when he fought Kinchen at super-middle the same size as Ali`s did in his early fights during the 60`s and they had the same reach too.

 

I think by the time he moved up to 168, he was around his natural weight. Moving up to cruiser, he gained some fat, something which he never had before.

And yes, Hearns had a ridiculous ape index. +5. Could probably scratch his knee without bending over.

 

I was always shocked about how well Hearns did at 175 beating Hill and beating up Andres ... I guess it showed the average talent in the division at that time ... I don't ever see him doing as well in the Saad/Mustafa/Johnson/Spinks/Qwai era ..

 

He knocked out quite a few guys with it.

 

I actually think Berbick beats him, he physically mauls Hearns down and stops him. I still think Seldon is Hearns best chance, mentally weak at the top level, head case, could be stopped. I still think Hearns is an underdog and its a big ask for him to compete with the 200+'ers

 

Ass.

 

ya but thats only half of it .. Hearns settled in GREAT at 175 .. style and body wise .. He was bigger than everyone at 154 .. and the WW division had a lot of talent before that ... But he probably felt the most comfortable at 175 .. because he was going up and down so much after 154 , didnt have his legs at 160 , dealing with 7 years of broken rt hand problems .. he looked good there at 175 , even though he did go back down again for Roldan .. I think the Hill win is a bit underrated actually
but there is no question in the talent level you mentioned .. but the flip side rings just as true imo

where are ya @PernellSweetPea ?
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