Thomas Hearns

Thomas Hearns (born October 18, 1958) is an American former professional boxer who competed from 1977 to 2006.

Nicknamed the "Motor City Cobra", and more famously "The Hitman", Hearns's tall, slender build and oversized arms and shoulders allowed him to move up over fifty pounds in his career and become the first boxer in history to win world titles in five weight divisions: welterweight, light middleweight, middleweight, super middleweight and light heavyweight.

Hearns was born in Grand Junction, Tennessee, on October 18, 1958, the youngest of three children in his mother's first marriage.

With her second marriage, six children joined the first three.

On her own, Mrs. Hearns raised Tommy and his siblings in Grand Junction until Tommy was five years old; then the family moved to Detroit, Michigan.

Hearns had an amateur record of 155–8.

In 1977, he won the National Amateur Athletic Union Light Welterweight Championship, defeating Bobby Joe Young of Steubenville, Ohio, 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.

Steward had changed Hearns from a light hitting amateur boxer to one of the most devastating punchers in boxing history.

He won six major world titles in five weight classes during his pro career, defeating future boxing hall of famers such as José "Pipino" Cuevas, Wilfred Benítez, Virgil Hill and Roberto Durán.

In addition, he won the IBO title at Cruiserweight.

Hearns started his career by knocking out his first 17 opponents.

Hearns was named Fighter of the Year by The Ring magazine and the Boxing Writers Association of America in 1980 and 1984; the latter following his knockout of Roberto Durán.

Hearns was known as a devastating puncher throughout his career, even at cruiserweight, despite having climbed up five weight classes.

He is ranked number 18 on The Ring's list of 100 greatest punchers of all time.

He currently ranks #78 in BoxRec ranking of the greatest pound for pound boxers of all time.

In 1980, Hearns carried his 28–0 record into a world title match against Mexico's Cuevas.

Hearns ended Cuevas's 4-year reign by beating him by TKO in the second round.

Hearns was voted "Fighter of the Year" by Ring Magazine in 1980.

In 1981, Hearns the WBA Champion, with a 32–0 record (30 KOs), fought WBC Champion Sugar Ray Leonard (30–1) to unify the World Welterweight Championship in a bout dubbed "The Showdown."

Hearns moved up in weight and won the WBC Super Welterweight (154 lb) title from boxing legend and three-time world champion Wilfred Benítez (44–1–1) in New Orleans in December 1982, and defended that title against European Champion Luigi Minchillo (42–1) (W 12), Roberto Durán (TKO 2), no.1 contender Fred Hutchings (29–1) (KO 3) and #1 contender Mark Medal (26–2) (TKO 8).

During his reign at this weight, the 2 round destruction of Roberto Durán, in which he became the first boxer to KO Durán, is seen as his pinnacle achievement, earning him his second Ring Magazine "Fighter of the Year" award in 1984.

While remaining super-welterweight (light-middleweight) champion, Hearns ventured into the middleweight division to challenge undisputed middleweight champion Marvin Hagler in 1985.

Billed "The Fight" (later known as "The War"), this bout has often been labeled as the three greatest rounds in boxing history.

The battle elevated both fighters to superstar status.

Hearns was able to stun Hagler soon after the opening bell, but he subsequently broke his right hand in the first round.

He did, however, manage to open a deep cut on Hagler's forehead that caused the ring doctor to consider a stoppage.

The fight, however, was allowed to continue at this point, with the ringside commentators remarking on the fact that, "the last thing Hagler wants or needs is for this fight to be stopped on a cut."

The battle did go back and forth some, but Hearns was unable to capitalize on his early successes against Hagler.

The following year, Leonard retired due to a detached retina, and there would be no rematch until 1989.

On June 10, 2012, Hearns was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame.

In the 13th round, Leonard, behind on points on all 3 judges scorecards, needed a knockout to win.

He came on strong and put Hearns through the ropes at the end of the round.

Hearns was dazed, totally out of gas and received a count but was saved by the bell.

In this fight, Hearns suffered his first professional defeat when Leonard stopped him in the 14th round.

Leonard, with his left eye shut and time running out, resumed his attack in the 14th.

Hearns started the round boxing and moving, but after staggering Hearns with an overhand right, Leonard pinned Hearns against the ropes.

After another combination to the body and head, referee Davey Pearl stopped the fight.

Hearns and Leonard banked a combined 17 million dollars for the fight, making it the largest purse in sports history at the time.