As monster anticipation builds for Mayweather-De La Hoya, the actual fight may not live up to the hype. If styles, in fact, make fights, this one could be a tactical bore. I see Mayweather sticking and moving a frustrated and slower Oscar on his way to a 12 round boring decision win.One thing is certain; it will not be Hearns-Hagler or Leonard-Hearns….at least in my opinion. I



Hagler-Hearns…

In April 1985, these two participated in a super fight. The formidable Tommy Hearns was a devastating puncher who ruled the welterweight (147 pounds) and cruiserweight (189) divisions through the 80s and 90s. The War was the nickname given by promoter Bob Arum to this fight. At stake were the WBC, WBA, and IBF Middleweight Titles.

Unlike, Tyson-Lewis or Hagler-Leonard, this one lived up to expectations and was indeed a super fight in every sense of the phrase. This was World War One in the trenches. Maybe the most explosive first round in boxing history; simply unbelievable stuff. Many called it the “greatest three rounds in boxing history.” Hearns won the first round in ebb and flow malice aforethought, but Marvelous Marvin won the fight by savage ko in the third putting an end to the unmitigated violence.


Hearns-Leonard…

On September the 16, 1981, Sugar Ray and Tommy Hearns were paid handsomely as they put their titles on the line in an effort to unify the welterweight championship in Las Vegas. This one lived up to its expectations as Ray took an early lead only to surrender momentum to Hearns in a classic ebb and flow battle. With a loss staring him squarely in the eye (Angelo Dundee told him, "your blowing it son, your blowing it!" ), Sugar Ray reached down in the 13th and took it to the exhausted “Hitman” with savage shots both upstairs and to Tommy’s thin body. All of a sudden, Ray became the "Hitman" and decked Tommy. Showing great heart, Tommy held his own in the 14th until Ray cut loose with a big right followed by a brutal volley of unanswered punches to bring matters to a decisive and breathtaking close. Leonard was now the undisputed welterweight champion of the world.


I doubt we will be seeing this on May 5.