Like Roger Mayweather said in his vid. It's a dangerous fight for sure for Floyd. Would Floyd fight Hearns any different than he's fought other "big punchers"? that's part of the equations a lot of you guys are overlooking. Floyd would start the fight defensive and finish the fight defensive. Because he would come into it knowing Hearns was a big puncher. Hearns has the advantage in reach, and a killer jab. Question is, would his jab be actually scoring though, knowing Floyd would be moving and shelled up with his left arm over his torso chin tucked behind his left shoulder and the right hand up by the right side of his head, peeking, looking, reading and picking off any jab coming at him in range. I see him VERY defensive and moving around bending, dipping and going with that right hand stick to Hearns' body right behind Tommy's jab and getting out of there....Until he starts to time Tommy's jab and starts to pull counter on it and getting out of there again. Then getting Hearns thinking about that stuf and hit him with his own jab and be outta there again. The Chessmatch of the fight would be, can Thomas Hearns catch-up the Floyd Mayweather Jr. long enough to inflict damage?
There's been a lot of comparisons in this thread with Hagler, Leonard, Duran etc.and what happened against Tommy Hearns. But NONE of those guys fight the way Floyd fights in the manner of how he applies his defense. ALL of those guys come out to outbox or beat you up. ALL of them (Duran, Leonard, Hagler, Benitez) are offensive boxers with varying levels of defensive capability. Floyd defensively is better than each of those guys. So, the question really is.........How would Hearns actually be able to break down Floyd's HEAVY HEAVY defensive posture and different looks enough to outscore Floyd. As far as him catchingFloyd, sure its a very dangerous proposition, but then again how likely is that of happening when we all should be able to agree Floyd would be at his most defensive against a guy like Hearns knowing the devastating power he has? I see Floyd picking off shots from Hearns at range minimizing his scoring opportunities, tying Hearns up anytime he got close and maybe Floyd winning the inside game (Hearns' weakness). Does Hearns get frustrated by the constant movement and tight defense and open himself up to clearer counters down the stretch? Remember, guys only get knocked out when they're not on defense. Mosley caught Floyd when Floyd was thinking about something else and not respecting his power. Zab caught Floyd when they both were attacking. Corley caught Floyd at the same moment both attacking and much much less defensive prowess than the skill level of D he had when he fought Baldomir or ODLH. I get that Hearns hits hard, has speed, is tall and long, but how would he catch Floyd, with Floyd knowing at any moment Hearns could put him to sleep? They're both equally great boxers in their own right,and its by no mean an easy bought for EITHER fighter. But I just don't see such a mismatch you guys are seeing. for most people in history at 147 Hearns physical attributes would be a wrong "style" match-up for most. But Floyd is different and the guy at 147 that fought Baldomir isn't getting punished and would probably sneak his way through to a decision win. I like the best description that Andre Berto said, "Floyd 'cons' his way through rounds, and by the time you think your about to get to him the round is over and he scored more than you did"...
That dynamic to his game seems so different to the all out war assassin assaults Hearns has been in with the guys he's fought leads me to believe Floyd wins a close one every time.
Sugar Ray Leonard is a bit more crafty and nastier than Hearns, much better fight to watch against Floyd.
Duran isn't much of a contest. Roberto gets embarrassed by not being able to get off and do what he does, while Floyd pot shots him all night.
Hagler gets beaten by Floyd also. Same reason, Hagler doesnt get to do what he does and just gets taken out of his zone.
