Dick Tiger vs Thomas Hearns Hearns At 160

[cotto20]

Discuss..............

[Sweet Pea]

Tiger is a much better boxer than many give him credit for. He wasn't just some mauler, or even a pressure fighter. He was just a very clever, skilled counter-puncher who used his squat frame as an advantage to gain leverage and work his opponents inside when he was able to stun them. Great, great fighter.

If Hearns won it would be by boxing behind the jab and maintaining his distance. Honestly, I'd probably count on the fight going down something like that, unless Hearns tried to test out his power and left himself open in the process.

[the cobra]

I'm not convinced of Tommy's ability to hold up under real pressure from a true, elite Middleweight. I think Tiger gets to him late and stops it.

[Wu-Gambino]

if hearns stuck with the left hand, used his reach, and created distance he might be able to work to a UD. probably wouldn't though. hearns liked to trade and often times looked vunerable at 160 against guys who applied pressure and went to the body (roldan, dewitt, and of course hagler).

imo, tiger is quite possibly the greatest inside fighter ever at 160. even though he wasn't really a pressure fighter or volume puncher he did like to press the action and had some very fast and heavy hands and i think prime for prime he'd be able to overpower tommy down the stretch, possibly while down on points.

[laxpdx]

One of two things happens. Either Hearns puts him down with the deadly right early, or Tiger finds a way inside and gradually wears Tommy down through a rib attack. I'm leaning toward the latter.

[Sweet Pea]

I doubt very seriously Tommy's even hurting Tiger, and I doubt Tiger is able to put on the kind of sustained pressure necessary on Hearns to really fluster him. He just wasn't that kind of pressure fighter. I think this fight is mostly fought with Tiger looking to counter, albeit unsuccessfully in the middle of the ring due to Hearns's physical advantages. If Hearns keeps his head, he should win a decision. I'd bet on it more often than not, just a styles thing.

[Wu-Gambino]

btw, found this article in an old boxing mag:

[Only registered and activated users can see links]
[Only registered and activated users can see links]

[TheGreatA]

btw, found this article in an old boxing mag:

[Only registered and activated users can see links]
[Only registered and activated users can see links]

I can agree with Joey Giardello's and Mickey Duff's views.

[the cobra]

Originally posted by Sweet Pea
I doubt very seriously Tommy's even hurting Tiger, and I doubt Tiger is able to put on the kind of sustained pressure necessary on Hearns to really fluster him. He just wasn't that kind of pressure fighter. I think this fight is mostly fought with Tiger looking to counter, albeit unsuccessfully in the middle of the ring due to Hearns's physical advantages. If Hearns keeps his head, he should win a decision. I'd bet on it more often than not, just a styles thing.
I don't see why he wouldn't be able to apply steady pressure if he knew that's what would be needed, which he probably would given the disparity in height and reach. I think Tiger does enough to gradually wear Hearns down over the course of the fight, probably losing most of the rounds before taking over and stopping a fatigued Hearns late.

[McGrain]

Tiger would win a 15 round fight, I feel sure. 12 rounds would be very interesting. What's funny is, if you were a big Tiger fan, you wouldn't be keen on his meeting Hearns...and if you were a big Hearns fan you wouldn't be keen on his meeting Tiger. So it's an interesting fight.

[My2Sense]

I didn't like Hearns' legs above 154. It seemed like the added weight slowed him down and took away a lot of his mobility. At 160 and upwards, it seemed he was a lot more hittable than at the lower weights.

Hearns might have a shot at holding off a pre-'64 Tiger, the one that was outboxed by Giardello for the title. But the improved '65 Tiger, that whupped Giardello to regain the title, would get to Hearns and stop him IMO.

[My2Sense]

What's funny is, if you were a big Tiger fan, you wouldn't be keen on his meeting Hearns...and if you were a big Hearns fan you wouldn't be keen on his meeting Tiger. So it's an interesting fight.

I believe Tiger has all the tools to beat Hearns, the question really is does he put them all together. For Hearns, I believe his prospects of winning rest mainly on Tiger failing to make full use of his tools.

[Mr Butt]

hearns builds up early lead but later in the fight slows and gets caught tiger wins by very late stoppage 13th or 14th ,not sure though

[Minotauro]

I think Tiger would stop Hearns late in the championship rounds.

[McGrain]

I believe Tiger has all the tools to beat Hearns, the question really is does he put them all together. For Hearns, I believe his prospects of winning rest mainly on Tiger failing to make full use of his tools.

I think that Hearns would struggle a bit mentally, too. He'd be in with a guy who could hit really hard and who absolutley could not be discouraged even by Hearns's best punches. I think Tiger would turn him form a box-mover into a runner or a slugger sooner or later with his pressure.

[red cobra]

Tiger would be way too strong for Hearns..he would wear down Tommy in 10 rounds, with 2 kd's before the end.

[teeto]

I always felt that in terms of pure boxing on the outside, and keeping away from danger, Hearns was more effective at the higher weights like middle, dare i say he had a better defence. Anyway i'm still backing Tiger to stop him at some point, Tiger's power is not as good as Hearns', but if he catches him with something clever, his hands are so fast he can finish it imo.

[Ted Spoon]

Hearn's would do very well to bargain with Tiger. He was terribly strong up close. Strong enough to continually threaten rather than merely push like Roldan did; more of a Hagler situation this one. A man of stone he was, that right would sting, not smash.

It's difficult to see Hearn's wrap this one up with his outside boxing, Tiger's automatic advances would eventually melt him down.

[red cobra]

Hearns' best hope would have been to strictly box, jab, jab and jab at Tiger, and give up any hope of a ko, and I still don't think he would be able to cope with Tiger's strength.

[Sweet Pea]

I don't see why he wouldn't be able to apply steady pressure if he knew that's what would be needed, which he probably would given the disparity in height and reach. I think Tiger does enough to gradually wear Hearns down over the course of the fight, probably losing most of the rounds before taking over and stopping a fatigued Hearns late.Possibly, but saying he could do this or that if the situation called for it, despite evidence to the contrary, doesn't hold much merit in my eyes. If Hearns knew that he wouldn't need to slug it out, and would have a much better chance on the outside, I don't see why he couldn't do it. I favor Hearns, that doesn't mean I think Tiger is without chance. In fact, this is a very close matchup, I'm just choosing a side based on my logic and what I've seen.

[McGrain]

Possibly, but saying he could do this or that if the situation called for it, despite evidence to the contrary, doesn't hold much merit in my eyes. If Hearns knew that he wouldn't need to slug it out, and would have a much better chance on the outside, I don't see why he couldn't do it. I favor Hearns, that doesn't mean I think Tiger is without chance. In fact, this is a very close matchup, I'm just choosing a side based on my logic and what I've seen.


What do you make of my thought as regards the affect of Tiger's pressure upon Hearns's mindset. God-damn hard getting pressured around the ring all night versus fighter that you can't discourage.

[he grant]

Hears has the style to beat him at 160 but not the chin or stamina ... maybe a ten round decison, doubtful but maybe ... 15 rounds, no way ...

[red cobra]

It took a lighthevy...a letahl, full sized lightheavy named Bob Foster to ko Tiger...IMO, no welterweight or middleweight in history could equal that.

[dpw417]

It took a lighthevy...a letahl, full sized lightheavy named Bob Foster to ko Tiger...IMO, no welterweight or middleweight in history could equal that.
I'll second this...and add that Tiger was also near the end of his career.

[My2Sense]

Possibly, but saying he could do this or that if the situation called for it, despite evidence to the contrary, doesn't hold much merit in my eyes.

Tiger actually did win fights with a steady swarming attack early in his career (see his fight with Victor Zalazar, for example) before he became a spot-picking counterpuncher, and he showed occasionally in later fights (ie: the third Fullmer fight) that he could revert back to that ceaseless attack if the need called for it.

I think it's important to note that Tiger fought a number of tall, rangy fighters in his career (ie: Zalazar, Benvenuti, Rousse) and showed he could get to them consistently. Even against Foster, he was able to land on Foster a number of times in the first 2 or 3 rounds, before Foster finally found him with that hook.

[TheGreatA]

The size difference between Foster and Tiger was ridiculous but I thought Tiger was actually doing a good job taking away Foster's height and reach advantage until he got caught with the left hook. He landed on Foster with some regularity.

[Only registered and activated users can see links]

[Only registered and activated users can see links]

[red cobra]

What do you make of my thought as regards the affect of Tiger's pressure upon Hearns's mindset. God-damn hard getting pressured around the ring all night versus fighter that you can't discourage.
That's essentially why I would pick Tiger to whip Hearns..not just beat him. The relentless pressure that Tiger would bring would have utterly discouraged Hearns, and his vaunted power would have been of no use..hell Hearns was powerful, but was no Bob Foster, who was also a natural lightheavyweight..and no middleweight, let alone a welterweight of any time in history was going to ko Tiger. Ironically Emile Griffith was the first to deck Tiger...but that was just one of those isolated one of a kind occurances that wouldn't be likely to be repeated, even by a harder punching middle than Griffith. That pressure from Tiger would have been too much for Tommy's mind, as well as for that long, slim torso of his.

[BUDW]

Tiger stays on top of Hearns negates his power,and takes to Hearns body,Tiger wins by tko.

[AREA 53]

Tommy's results above Lt Middle were often plagued with risk Michael Olajade seemed to put a very brief Tremble into Tommy's Legs,
Likewise James Heat Kitchen Stunned Tommy and Made Tommy produce a clinch so long i though the Ref had sent off for a Crowbar to part them ! Ray Leonard in the Return had Tommy in trouble in the last two rounds, and Iran Barkley og course bombed him out, and if even Earnie singletary can stand defiant against Tommy then i think Tommy may have to move like a Thomsons Gazelle after taking a dose of salts, or else The Tiger on his tail wuill catch him, I'd go for the Tiger to Mongoose that Cobra !

[GPater11093]

What do you make of my thought as regards the affect of Tiger's pressure upon Hearns's mindset. God-damn hard getting pressured around the ring all night versus fighter that you can't discourage.

great points

I think Hearns can take the early rounds fighting with Griffiths kinda style of in and out boxing he implemented in the Tiger fights.

But Tigers pressure does affect Tiger who sucks up the punishment and stops him in the middle rounds

[Sweet Pea]

Yeah, the more I think about it you guys are probably right. I just don't care enough to think before posting anymore. Gettin' rusty.

[GPater11093]

Pea im going to be getting you to explain all your posts now

haha