Ryan Garcia picks Tommy Hearns over Mayweather at welterweight

Ryan Garcia has backed Tommy Hearns to defeat Floyd Mayweather in a hypothetical welterweight meeting between the two former champions at their best. Garcia’s choice gives the edge to Hearns in a contest involving two of boxing’s most accomplished fighters of the past four decades.

Hearns became the first boxer to win world titles in five weight divisions. His championship success began at welterweight and eventually extended to light heavyweight, underlining the range of his career across the divisions.

The Detroit fighter was also one of the four major figures of 1980s boxing. He shared that era with Sugar Ray Leonard, Marvin Hagler and Roberto Duran, with the group linked by a series of significant fights against one another.

Mayweather also collected world titles across several divisions, from super featherweight through to light middleweight. He ended his career with a 50-0 record and recorded notable victories over Manny Pacquiao, Oscar De La Hoya and Canelo Alvarez.

Welterweight became the division where Mayweather built his greatest commercial profile. A fantasy meeting with Hearns would most naturally be placed at 147 pounds, the weight at which Mayweather became boxing’s leading box-office attraction.

Garcia’s assessment carries the perspective of a current welterweight champion. He won the WBC title earlier this year and, when considering the hypothetical contest, selected Hearns, known as “The Hitman,” as the fighter most likely to prevail.