Pacman vs. The Hitman at 147 lbs
What would happen if two of the most powerful, explosive and dynamically offensive Welterweights in the history of the sport, each coming from separate high points in Welterweight division history, were to square off today in a winner take all battle?
Manny Pacquiao is currently at his peak. He is thoroughly dominating quality opponents such as Oscar De La Hoya, Joshua Clottey, Miguel Cotto and Ricky Hatton with absolute ease and is one of the most difficult fighters to predict. Nobody can seem to find an answer to Pacquiao’s hand speed, punching power and seemingly impossible angles and positions from which he is able to create offensive opportunities.
Tommy Hearns is one of the best fighters and most impressive physical specimens in the history of the sport. Hearns established himself as one of the hardest and most effective punchers in the boxing, earning impressive wins over the likes of Roberto Duran, Pipino Cuevas and Wilfred Benitez. His aggression was very well timed as opposed to a risky, go for broke style.
When Pacquaio and Hearns clash in the ring, one word comes to mind: Explosive. Both fighters are very talented boxers who like to turn up the aggression throughout the fight. Both fighters have very tough styles: Pacquaio with his blazing speed and incredible ability to create offensive opportunities and Hearns with his freakish height and reach for a Welterweight as well as his explosive punching power.
I see Hearns as being an extremely tough matchup for Pacquaio. As gifted as Pacquiao is, I feel like Hearns has too much range and too much aggression for Pacquaio to handle. Manny will have trouble landing quality shots against Hearns, who will start the fight off by trying to keep Pacquaio at bay with his long jab. Pacquiao will work his way inside a lot and tag Hearns a lot more effectively than Floyd Mayweather would be able to but not the the extent that it would do any severe damage to the Hitman.
Pacquaio will be slightly more aggressive in the early rounds, landing a few quality shots and possibly even making Hearns stumble a bit, but in the end, it will be Hearns who seizes the offensive opportunities.
As soon as Hearns finds an opening with his overhand right, he will unload on Pacquiao in similar to style to the way he unloaded on fighters such as Pipino Cuevas. This will be an explosive and aggressive fight with tons of action, but in the end, Hearns’s physical gifts and smart aggression will be too powerful for Manny and the fight will be stopped in the 9th round.
Prediction: Hearns by 9th Round TKO
