12 Legends of Christmas: Thomas Hearns

Heavy hands, huge heart and massive achievements

Name: Thomas Hearns

Nickname: Hitman/Motor City Cobra

Date of First Fight: 25th November 1977

Date of Retirement: 4th February 2006

Titles: World titles won at welterweight, super-welterweight, middleweight, super-middleweight and light-heavyweight

Biography:

Thomas Hearns was born on 18th October 1958, in Grand Junction, Tennessee. Young Tommy had a tough upbringing as his mother struggled to raise him and eight brothers and sisters. After the family moved to Detroit, Hearns began amateur boxing and won titles. His best moment came in 1977 when he won the National Golden Gloves at light-welterweight.

Once in Detroit, Hearns hooked up with legendary trainer Emanuel Steward of the Kronk Gym. Steward helped train Hearns to be a devastating puncher and he knocked out his first 17 professional opponents. In 1979, Alfonso Hayman took Hearns 10 rounds. It was the first time he had gone the distance.

Keeping very busy, fighting regularly every few months, Hearns eventually got his first world title opportunity in 1980 against WBA welterweight champion Pipino Cuevas. Cuevas was making the 12th defence of his title, but Hearns blew him away in two rounds.

Hearns made three defences of the belt before he unified in 1981 against WBC welterweight champion Sugar Ray Leonard. It was a fantastic fight between two prime warriors. Leonard eventually knocked out Hearns in round 14 of a 15-round contest. It was voted as Ring Magazine Fight of the Year.

Hearns moved up in weight and bounced back in 1982 by winning the WBC title at super-welterweight with a points win over a great fighter called Wilfred Benitez.

In 1984, Hearns defended the title in Las Vegas against Roberto Duran. In round two, Hearns landed one of the great one-punch KO finishes that knocked Duran out cold.

Hearns then moved up to middleweight and in 1985 fought Marvin Hagler for all three of the belts at 160 pounds. Hearns was knocked out in round three of an extreme war. The phrase “having a Hagler-Hearns” has since been used in boxing to describe an exciting fight.

Tall and rangy at 6’1”, with a 78” reach, Hearns climbed up in weight. He knocked out Britain’s Dennis Andries at light-heavyweight before moving back down to middleweight to fight Iran Barkley.

In 1989, Hearns fought a rematch with old opponent Sugar Ray Leonard. Hearns dropped Leonard twice, but the fight ended in a draw decision. Hearns boxed until 2006 and ended up competing as a cruiserweight. He fought in Manchester, England in 1999 on a Prince Naseem Hamed undercard.

Hearns finished up with 48 KOs from 61 wins and was a ferocious finisher with massive punching power, good boxing skills and a powerful jab. Another of his nicknames was ‘The Motor City Cobra’ after his links to Detroit.

He faced six undefeated fighters across a 29-year career and beat them all. Hearns ended up winning world titles in five weight divisions. He boxed as low as 144 pounds and as high as 191 pounds, as his lean physique carried the extra weight.

Tommy’s mother, Lois Hearns, was a fight promoter on the Detroit scene. Nicknamed ‘The Chosen One’, his son Ronald Hearns boxed for 11 years, ending with 28 wins.

Image Credits: The Fight City, PBC.