Would Hearns shut Whitaker out at 147?

Hearns would handle Whitaker pretty easily. Whitaker would have to get inside those long arms. And he's not got the power to come forward and be aggressive, thus trying to close the distance constantly. He'd have to get inside, score, then get away again. And IMO, he'd always be leaving himself vulnerable when going to and from the inside. Whitaker's defense would need to be air-tight with a lot of feints and upperbody movement.

 

Pea would win 2 rounds at the most to be honest. He is just far too small and doesn't possess the reach to get inside someone with the range of Hearns. Not to mention Hearns circled to his left where as Pea primarily circled to his right. It would of been interesting to see how Pea would of responded from being taken out of his comfort zone.

No, there's never been a rangy lightweight who had the ability to outbox someone of the pedigree of Whitaker.

 

This is a good post.

 

Joe Brown was a rangy lightweight wasn't he? Very impressive skills on the outside, but i'd still pick Whitaker.

 

True, but while Whitaker is occupied with making Hearns miss when is he ever getting an opportunity to score effectively???

 

The question is what kind of chin dose Whitaker have? Whitaker's defense is sublime but at some point he is going to get hit by that right hand of Hearns. If anyone has a shot at beating a prime Whitaker hearns with his size advantage has as good of a shot as anyone. I'm not saying that he beats Whitaker. My reasoning is this. First of all to beat Whitaker other than scoreing a knock out. Which is Hearns best chance. I belive that you need to get Whitaker to come to you. I don't see Hearns being able to do this. The way to fight a southpaw like Whitaker is to lead with your right hand, as opposed to the left jab. Doing so will take away some of Hearns reach advantage. Whitaker should be fast enough to make Hearns miss with his lead right and counter him. Also in giving up his reach he gives up some of his power. Short of Hearns skoring a knockout I see Whitaker winning.
So to answer the original question no Hearns would not shut out Whitaker.

 

It must be remembered that Whitaker's angles are something special. Fast hands don't always mean they can't be avoided.

I'm not making direct comparisons to this bout, but think Hopkins negating Calzaghe's handspeed, and Whitaker himself doing so to the bigger De La Hoya. As already mentioned, not a direct comparison, as Whitaker is largely on the inside here, and that's no place to be with Thomas Hearns. I'd have to pick Hearns here.