Thomas Hearns: from the Kronk gym in Detroit to world titles in four divisions | Ultimate Boxing Reunion

Why fans still care

THOMAS HEARNS won 61 of his 67 professional fights, and 48 of those wins came by knockout. He started at welterweight and won world titles all the way up to light heavyweight, and he was the first man to win them in four divisions.

His career is remembered for three nights in particular: two with Sugar Ray Leonard, Who’s Who number 16, and one with Marvin Hagler, Who’s Who number 5 that lasted about eight minutes.

Early life

He was born on 18 October 1958. The International Boxing Hall of Fame and The Guardian say Memphis, Tennessee. He grew up in Detroit, moving there around the age of five. His father, John, worked on a General Motors line, and his mother, Lois, raised nine children.

He began boxing at 10 at the King Solomon Gym. When his coach left, he moved to the Kronk, where Emanuel Steward trained him. He finished with an amateur record of 155 wins and 8 losses, and he was named the Most Outstanding National Amateur Boxer in 1977.

The early fights

He turned professional on 25 November 1977 and knocked out Jerome Hill in round 2 in Detroit. He stopped his first 17 opponents. The first man to go the distance with him was Alfonso Hayman, over 10 rounds. By September 1981 his fights were averaging under four rounds.

Asked about it in 1980, Steward said Hearns “was one of worst fighters” as a young amateur, that he lost three of his first four amateur fights, “but he wanted to be a fighter”.

Career chapters

1. 1977Wins the national amateur honour and makes his professional debut in November
2. 1980Stops Pipino Cuevas in round 2 to win the WBA welterweight title
3. 1981Loses to Sugar Ray Leonard, Who’s Who number 16 in round 14, his first defeat
4. 1982Beats Wilfred Benítez over 15 rounds for the WBC super welterweight title
5. 1984Stops Roberto Durán, Who’s Who number 13 in round 2
6. 1985Loses to Marvin Hagler, Who’s Who number 5 in round 3
7. 1987Beats Dennis Andries for the WBC light heavyweight title, then Juan Roldán for the WBC middleweight title
8. 1988Loses the middleweight title to Iran Barkley in round 3
9. 1989Draws with Sugar Ray Leonard, Who’s Who number 16 over 12 rounds
10. 1991Beats Virgil Hill on a unanimous decision to win the WBA light heavyweight title
11. 2006Fights for the last time, aged 47

Pipino Cuevas 2 August 1980

On 2 August 1980 he fought Pipino Cuevas for the WBA welterweight title at Joe Louis Arena in Detroit. Hearns was 28 and 0 and walked to the ring to the Rocky theme. He stopped Cuevas in round 2 to win his first world title. Cuevas said afterwards, “Hearns is too tall and long to be a welterweight.”

Sugar Ray Leonard, the first fight 16 September 1981

On 16 September 1981 he met Sugar Ray Leonard, Who’s Who number 16 outdoors at Caesars Palace. Hearns held the WBA title and Leonard the WBC, and UPI reported it was the richest fight in history, about $35 million. UPI measured Hearns’s reach advantage at four inches.

After 12 rounds Hearns led on all three cards, 116 to 112, 117 to 111 and 117 to 112. Leonard’s left hook staggered him in round 6. In round 13 a straight right put him down and he was given a count, and in round 14 the referee, Davey Pearl, stopped it at 1:45. It was the first defeat and the first knockdown of Hearns’s professional career.

Wilfred Benítez 3 December 1982

On 3 December 1982 he fought Wilfred Benítez for the WBC super welterweight title at the Superdome in New Orleans. Hearns was 34 and 1, with 32 knockouts, and UPI listed his reach advantage at eight inches and his height advantage at three inches. He won a 15 round decision, and each man was guaranteed $1.35 million.

Roberto Durán 15 June 1984

On 15 June 1984 he defended the WBC super welterweight title against Roberto Durán, Who’s Who number 13 at Caesars Palace. Hearns wore red gloves. He knocked Durán down twice in round 1 and once more in round 2, and the referee, Carlos Padilla, stopped it at 1:07 in front of 14,824 people. Hearns said afterwards, “He’s the best fighter I’ve ever been in the ring with.”

Durán had fought Hagler seven months earlier.

Marvin Hagler, The War 15 April 1985

On 15 April 1985 he challenged Marvin Hagler, Who’s Who number 5 for the undisputed middleweight title, outdoors at Caesars Palace in front of about 16,000. Hearns came in at 159¾ pounds and entered to the Michigan fight song. Hagler weighed 159 and entered to a military march. The LA Times said the two had a combined guarantee of at least $11 million.

The fight lasted about eight minutes. An overhand right put Hearns down in round 3 and he rose at nine. The referee, Richard Steele, stopped it at 2:01, after a time out in the round for Hagler’s cut. Hearns said later, “He was the better man that night.”

Dennis Andries and Juan Roldán 1987

On 7 March 1987 he fought Dennis Andries in Detroit for the WBC light heavyweight title and won by a 10th round technical knockout at 1:26, with the referee Isaac Herrera. He put Andries down in round 6, four knockdowns by UPI’s count, though UPI said the fourth was “more of a slip”. He was the first man to rise from welterweight to light heavyweight and the 12th to win titles in three divisions. Andries said afterwards, “Maybe I underestimated Tommy Hearns a little bit.”

On 29 October 1987 he knocked out Juan Roldán in round 4 at the Las Vegas Hilton for the vacant WBC middleweight title. He was the first man to win world titles in four divisions. He had said, “I want that fourth title.”

Iran Barkley 6 June 1988

On 6 June 1988 he defended the WBC middleweight title against Iran Barkley at the Las Vegas Hilton. Barkley was a 4 to 1 underdog. Hearns, 45 and 2 at the time, was in control until a right hand in round 3 ended it. The crowd was 8,541 and the referee was Richard Steele. Hearns said afterwards, “Even though I was defeated tonight, even though tonight Iran Barkley was the better man, I’m still happy.”

Sugar Ray Leonard, the second fight 12 June 1989

On 12 June 1989 he met Sugar Ray Leonard, Who’s Who number 16 again at Caesars Palace, with Leonard’s WBC super middleweight title on the line. Hearns put Leonard down in rounds 3 and 11. The fight was ruled a draw: one judge had it 113 to 112 for Hearns, one 113 to 112 for Leonard and one 112 to 112. Leonard has said, “I love Tommy and I told him that he beat me.”

Virgil Hill 3 June 1991

On 3 June 1991 he fought Virgil Hill at Caesars Palace for the WBA light heavyweight title. Hearns won a unanimous decision over 12 rounds with his jab and counters, with no knockdowns. The crowd was 8,145. The LA Times reported purses of $3.5 million for Hearns and $1.3 million for Hill. He said afterwards, “I’m still the Cobra, and I’m still the Hit Man.”

He lost the title to Barkley on a split decision on 20 March 1992 at Caesars Palace, in front of 4,250. Two judges had it 115 to 113 and 114 to 113 for Barkley, and one 114 to 113 for Hearns.

The long finish 1999 to 2006

Late in his career he won an IBO cruiserweight title and lost it to Grant in April 2000. He retired that year and came back in 2005.

His last fight was on 4 February 2006 at the Palace of Auburn Hills in Michigan. He stopped Shannon Landberg at 1:35 of round 10, with Dale Grable the referee. Hearns was 47 and Landberg was 40. His son Ronald won on the same card.

Style, technique and the corner

How he fought

He was 6 ft 1 in, and the Guardian described him as “tall and rangy with a thin waist and long, ostrich-like legs”. Cuevas said he was too tall and long for a welterweight, and UPI listed his reach advantage at four inches over Leonard and eight over Benítez.

His left jab came first. Steward said, “He does everything based upon his left jab, everything works off that.” A straight right hand was the finisher. Sugar Ray Leonard, Who’s Who number 16 said that if Hearns had boxed Hagler, “he would have beaten him, no question”.

Training

The Kronk was a basement gym behind a red steel door in Detroit, with a room kept at 90 degrees, and the Guardian says it produced 30 world champions.

The corner

Emanuel Steward guided his prime and was at his side for the major victories. When Hearns came back in 2005, Steward would not work with him. Steward said in 2006, “Of all the fighters I’ve worked with, he’s still my favourite.”

Stories people still tell

1. Ring walks.

   He came to the ring for Cuevas to the Rocky theme, and for Hagler to the Michigan fight song.

2. Three knockdowns.

   Against Roberto Durán, Who’s Who number 13 he knocked down a man who had fought Hagler seven months earlier, and it was over at 1:07 of round 2.

3. Eight minutes.

   The Hagler fight lasted about eight minutes. People still call it The War.

4. Four Kings.

   ESPN groups Hearns, Leonard, Hagler and Durán as the Four Kings, arguably the last great era in boxing. Hearns fought each of the other three.

5. The comeback.

   When he came back in 2005, Hagler’s one word on it was “Pride”, according to the Guardian.

Legacy

He won 61 fights, 48 by knockout, and world titles from welterweight to light heavyweight, plus an IBO cruiserweight title late on. He was the first man to win world titles in four divisions. He was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2012.

Sugar Ray Leonard, Who’s Who number 16 called him “a freak of nature”, and Bernard Hopkins, Who’s Who number 9 (story coming soon) said Hearns was never really the same after the Hagler fight.