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| Thomas Hearns | |
| Statistics | |
|---|---|
| Real name | Thomas Hearns |
| Nickname(s) | Hitman Motor City Cobra |
| Rated at | Welterweight Super Welterweight Middleweight Super Middleweight Light-Heavyweight Cruiserweight |
| Height | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) |
| Nationality |  American |
| Birth date | October 18, 1958 |
| Birth place | Memphis, Tennessee U.S.A. |
| Stance | Orthodox |
| Boxing record | |
| Total fights | 67 |
| Wins | 61 |
| Wins by KO | 48 |
| Losses | 5 |
| Draws | 1 |
| No contests | 0 |
Thomas "Hitman" Hearns (born October 18, 1958, in Memphis, raised in Detroit), is an American 8-time world champion professional boxer.
Hearns became the first ever quadruple world champion in boxing history.
He would also become the first ever quintuple and sextuple champion in history winning World titles at welterweight, super welter, middle, supermiddle, light heavy and cruiserweight. Thomas Hearns is considered to be one of the greatest boxers of the modern era.
He has scored many memorable knockouts in his career, and is widely considered as one of the greatest knockout artists of all time.
He was voted the greatest Super Welterweight of all time by Ring Magazine and received the "Fighter of the year" award in 1980 and 1984.
Blessed with exceptional height for a welterweight (6'1"), a broad back, and unusually long arms, Hearns had a unique build combined with destructive punching power. His promotional fight name was the Hit Man.
He is known best for his devastating right hand, his powerful left hook and for carrying his left hand low—a stance he uses to lure foes into an exchange, as well as to maximize the speed and change the angle of his jab, a technique called the "flicker jab".
As a fighter, his aggression set him apart, controlling fights with his incredible reach, power and great boxing skills. He lost only one decision in his entire career, at the age of 35.
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Hearns had an outstanding amateur record of 155–8. In 1977, Hearns won the National Amateur Athletic Union Light Welterweight Championship, defeating Bobby Joe Young of Steubenville, OH, in the finals. He also won the 1977 National Golden Gloves Light welterweight Championship.
Hearns began his professional boxing career in Detroit, Michigan, under the tutelage of Emanuel Steward in 1977.
He won eight world championships in six weight classes during his pro career, defeating boxing hall of famers such as Pipino Cuevas, Wilfred Benitez, Roberto Duran, and Virgil Hill. Hearns started his career by knocking out his first 17 opponents and quickly became one of the most feared and respected young boxers emerging in the late 1970's. In 1980 Hearns carried his 28-0 record into a world title match against Mexico's dreaded Pipino Cuevas, WBA champion for 4 years, knocking the champion out cold in two rounds. Hearns was voted "fighter of the year" by Ring Magazine in 1980.
He defended the WBA World Welterweight Championship three times against Luis Primera (KO 6), Randy Shields (KO 12), and Pablo Baez (KO 4).
In 1981 a dream match had been made, with a 32-0 record (30 KO's), he fought World Boxing Council champion Sugar Ray Leonard (30-1) to unify the World Welterweight Championship in a classic bout dubbed "The Showdown". In this fight Hearns suffered his first professional defeat when Leonard stopped him in the 14th round. Still today a much debated stoppage by referee Dave Pearl, as Hearns was ahead on all three scorecards. Hearns and Leonard banked a combined 17 million dollars for the fight making it the largest salary in sports history. 3 months after the fight Leonard retired due to a detached retina and there would be no rematch until 1989.
He won the WBC Super Welterweight World Title from Wilfred Benitez (44-1-1) in New Orleans in December 1982 and defended that title against European champion Luigi Minchillo (42-1)(W 12),WBA world champion Roberto Duran (77-5)(KO 2),no.1 contender Fred Hutchings (29-1)(KO 3), and no.1 contender Mark Medal (26-2)(TKO 8). During his reign at this weight, the 2nd round destruction of the legendary Roberto Duran (in which he became the first person to KO Duran) is seen as his pinnacle achievement earning him his second Ring Magazine's "fighter of the year" award in 1984.
During his time as Super Welterweight champion Hearns also ventured into the middleweight division, losing a legendary battle to World Champion Marvin Hagler in 1985. Billed "The War" this superbout, hailed as the 3 greatest rounds in history, elevated both fighters to superstar status. Hearns broke his right hand in the first round of this fight.
Hearns quickly made amends by dispatching undefeated James "Black Gold" Schuler with a devastating first round knockout in 1986.
Other notable World Title fights included his 7 knockdowns of 3-time world champion Dennis Andries to win the WBC Light Heavyweight World Title in March 1987, his four-round destruction of the feared Juan Roldan (63-2) later that year to claim the WBC Middleweight World Title, his TKO "upset of the year" loss to Iran Barkley in his first defense of that same title, his win against James "the Heat" Kinchen (44-3) for the WBO Super Middleweight Title and his convincing decision against undefeated Virgil Hill (30-0) to win Hill's WBA Light Heavyweight World Title in 1991.
Hearns had to wait until 1989 for a rematch with Sugar Ray Leonard, this time for the WBC and WBO Super Middleweight titles, a fight which much of the public believed Hearns won, flooring Leonard in both the 3rd and 11th rounds. However, the judges scored the fight a controversial draw.
Later in his career Hearns also won 2 World Cruiserweight titles, making him the only man in history to have won the World Welterweight, Super Welter, Middle, Super Middle, Light Heavy and Cruiserweight World Titles.
Hearns fought 20 past or future world champions in 22 world title fights.
Hearns' family is a fixture on the Detroit sports scene. His mother, Lois Hearns, is a fight promoter. Their company, "Hearns Entertainment," has promoted many cards, including the Mike Tyson-Andrew Golota bout in 2000. His son Ronald Hearns is a rising boxer, and has fought on the undercard of his father's recent fights. He currently lives in Southfield, Michigan a suburb of Detroit.
Ryo Mashiba, a fictitious character from the Japanese manga Hajime no Ippo, is known for using Thomas Hearns' boxing style (which he refers to as the Hitman style, after Hearns' popular nickname), specifically the flicker jab. Mashiba, like Hearns, also possesses exceptional height, reach and power.
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| Preceded by Pipino Cuevas |
WBA Welterweight Champion August 2, 1980–September 16, 1981 |
Succeeded by Sugar Ray Leonard |
| Preceded by Wilfred Benitez |
WBC Light Middleweight boxing champion December 3, 1982–1986 |
Succeeded by Vacancy filled by Duane Thomas |
| Preceded by Dennis Andries |
WBC Light Heavyweight Champion March 7, 1987–1987 |
Succeeded by Vacancy filled by Donny Lalonde |
| Preceded by Vacated by Sugar Ray Leonard |
WBC Middleweight Champion October 29 1987–June 6, 1988 |
Succeeded by Iran Barkley |
| Preceded by N/A Inaugural champion |
WBO Super Middleweight Champion November 4, 1988–1990 |
Succeeded by Vacancy filled by Chris Eubank |
| Preceded by Virgil Hill |
WBA Light Heavyweight Champion June 3, 1991–March 20, 1992 |
Succeeded by Iran Barkley |
| Preceded by Robert Daniels Vacated |
IBO Cruiserweight Champion April 10, 1999 - April 8, 2000 |
Succeeded by Uriah Grant |
