Thomas Hearns

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Thomas Hearns

Statistics
Real name Thomas Hearns
Nickname(s) Hitman
Motor City Cobra
Rated at Welterweight
Middleweight
Super Middleweight
Light-Heavyweight
Cruiserweight
Height 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Nationality Flag of the United States American
Birth date October 18, 1958 (1958-10-18) (age 49)
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 Hearns (born October 18, 1958, in Memphis, raised in Detroit), is an American 7-time world champion professional boxer. Hearns is considered among the great welterweights in boxing history.

Blessed with exceptional height for a Welterweight (6'1"), a broad back, and unusually long arms, Hearns has been known for his destructive punching power. His promotional fight names are "Thomas Hit Man Hearns," and "The Motor City Cobra."

He is known best for his devastating right hand, 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". He has scored many memorable knockouts in his career, and is widely considered as one of the greatest boxers of all time.

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[edit] Amateur career

Hearns had an outstanding amateur record of 155–8. In 1977 Hearns was named the National Amateur Athletic Union Light Welterweight champion, defeating Bobby Joe Young of Steubenville, OH , in the finals. He went on to become the 1977 National Golden Gloves Light welterweight champion..

[edit] Professional career

Hearns began his professional boxing career in Detroit, Michigan, under the tutelage of Emanuel Steward in 1977.

He won seven world championships in six weight classes during his pro career, beating such notables as Roberto Duran, Virgil Hill, Dennis Bolton and Mark Medal.

He won his first championship by KO'ing Pipino Cuevas in the 2nd round of their fight in 1980. He defended the World Boxing Association championship three times against Luis Primera, Randy Shields, and Pablo Baez.

He won the World Boxing Association junior middleweight title from Wilfred Benitez in New Orleans in December 1982 and defended that title against Luigi Minchillo, Roberto Duran, Fred Hutchings, and Mark Medal. During his reign at this weight, he also ventured into the middleweight division as well, where his rival was world champion Marvin Hagler.

Other notable title fights included his 10th-round TKO of Dennis Andries to win the World Boxing Association light heavyweight title in March 1987, his four-round destruction of the feared Juan Roldan later that year to claim the vacant WBC middleweight title, his TKO upset loss to Iran Barkley in his first defense of that same title, his convincing decision against Virgil Hill to win Hill's WBA light heavyweight title in 1991, and his rematch loss to Barkley in 1992.

Despite having a top-class record, including a 2nd round KO of Roberto Duran, Hearns was frequently overshadowed by his loss to both Sugar Ray Leonard and Marvin Hagler, despite putting in good performances against both. In his 1981 welterweight unification fight against Leonard, Hearns was ahead on the scorecards before losing by TKO. Four years later, he was KOed by Hagler in the 3rd round in a fight later dubbed "The War".

Hearns had to wait until 1989 for a rematch with Sugar Ray Leonard, a fight which much of the public believed he won, flooring Leonard in both the 3rd and 11th rounds. However, the judges scored the fight a draw.

Hearns continued to fight into his late forties. On February 4th, 2006, he beat Shannon Landberg at the Palace of Auburn Hills to raise his career record to 61-5-1 with 48 knockouts.

[edit] Accomplishments

  1. The 11th man to win three (3) different titles in three (3) different weight divisions (1987-03-07): 147 to 154 to 175 to be a Triple Champion.
  2. The first man to win four (4) world titles in four (4) weight classes (1987-10-29): from 147 to 154 to 175 to 160 to be the first ever Quadruple Champion in boxing.
  3. The first ever man to win five (5) world titles in five (5) different boxing divisions: (1988-11-04): from 147 to 154 to 175 to 160 to 168. The first ever Quintuple Champion in boxing.
  4. The first man to win six (6) world titles in six (6) different boxing divisions: (1999-04-10): from 147 to 154 to 175 to 160 to 168 to 190(200). The the first ever champion to be considered a Sextuple Champions in boxing.
  5. The first man to win a world title at welterweight (147) and then later win a world title at super middleweight (1988-11-04).
  6. The first man to win a world title at welterweight (147) and then later win a world title at light-heavyweight (1987-03-07).
  7. The first man to win a world title at welterweight (147) and then later win a world title (minor) at cruiserweight (1999-04-10).
  8. The first man to win a world title at super welterweight (154) and then later win a world title at super middleweight (1988-11-04).
  9. The first man to win a world title at super welterweight (154) and then later win a world title at light-heavyweight (1987-03-07).
  10. The first man to win a world title at super welterweight (154) and then later win a world title (minor) at cruiserweight (1999-04-10).
  11. The first man to win a world title at middleweight (160) and then later win a world title at super middleweight (1988-11-04).
  12. The first man to win a world title at middleweight (160) and then later win a world title (minor) at cruiserweight (1999-04-10).
  13. The first man to win a world title at super middleweight (168) and then later win a world title at light heavyweight title (1991-06-03).
  14. The first man to win a world title at super middleweight (168) and then later win a world title (minor) at cruiserweight (1999-04-10).
  15. The first man to win a world title at light heavyweight (175) and then later win a world title at middleweight (1987-10-29).
  16. The first man to win a world title at light heavyweight (175), win a world title at middleweight and later win a new light heavyweight title (1991-06-03): from 175 to 160 to 175.
  17. The 42th WBA world welterweight (147) champion.
  18. The 18th WBC world super welterweight (154) champion.
  19. The 11th The Ring super welterweight (154) champion.
  20. The 19th WBC world middleweight (160) champion.
  21. The first ever WBO world super middleweight (168) champion.
  22. The 14th WBC world light heavyweight (175) champion.
  23. The 36th WBA world light heavyweight (175) champion.
  24. The 8th WBU world cruiserweight (200) champion.
  25. The 7th IBO world cruiserweight champion.

[edit] Personal

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.

[edit] References

Ryo Mashiba, a fictitious character from the Japanese anime 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.

[edit] Trivia

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

Wikiquote has a collection of quotations related to:
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
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