I think Gavilan has all the tools to beat Hearns - the granite chin, the great infighting, the versatility, the willingness to walk through firepower, and of course, endless stamina. Gavilan TKO 13.
The only thing he’s missing is the punch. That’s a pretty big part of the equation when it comes to beating Hearns.
He stopped one elite fighter in his 143 fight career. That stoppage was due to exhaustion on the part of 21 year old Turner and an accumulation of blows from Gavilan. Turner still finished on his feet. Gavilan just wasn’t a puncher or a finisher, though he looked and fought like he should’ve been. He even punched like he should’ve been. He threw with conviction and bad intentions, but the blows had no force behind them. He was feather fisted, to be blunt.
I don't he has what it took to stop Tommy, although I can see him forcing Hearns to fight at a pace he isn't happy with and win on points through a late round surge. I wouldn't pick that though, I think Hearns' power doesn't let him fight like that, and he out-points him with the jab.
Might have to disagree with you Xplosive. Gavilan, for all his offensive tools, workrate, and flashy combinations, didn't have the power to hurt, let alone stop Hearns in his tracks. I can see Gavilan coming forward and being the aggressor while making Hearns uncomfortable at times but I just see Hearns being able to sustain boxing smart, using his jab and hard body shots to control Gavilan. I got Hearns by clear decision in an entertaining fight.
I would argue that he had other stoppage wins worth noting. -Walter Cartier was a ranked MW contender who outweighed Gavilan by about 9 pounds when the Keed came from behind to KO him in the last round. -Chuck Davey, while not a great fighter, was still a legit contender who had proven his ruggedness in two 10-round brawls with a young Basilio. -Tony Janiro was notoriously difficult to stop and had lasted just shy of 30 rounds over 3 fights with Graziano. Having said that, I would agree that it is questionable whether Gavilan had sufficient power to hurt or stop Hearns. However, I also think he was a better technician and infighter than Leonard, and I wouldn't rule out that he could outwork or smother Hearns at close quarters over enough rounds to win a decision. Still, any scenario that involves Gavi winning would be a tall order (figuratively and literally) for him.
We saw Barkley smother Tommy at a much higher weight with good results. Then again, the bulk of that success came from Barkley’s great size, strength, and power juxtaposed against Hearns’ declining physical attributes (length, power, speed, mobility, etc). Or, if not declining, then simply proving to be nowhere near as advantageous as they were at the lower weights. None of that applies to a matchup with Gavilan at Welter. I can’t see The Keed putting up anything less than a great effort, regardless. But Hearns is as wrong for Gavilan as Gavilán himself is for 99%.9% of the rest in Welterweight history.
Hearns fragility is way overrated. Took a hell of a war for SRL to take him out. And duran, for all his pressure and inside prowess just got obliterated (at 154 granted). Don't think Gavilian has what it takes to wins it
