Thomas Hearns
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{{Infobox_Boxer | name = Thomas Hearns | nationality = American | realname = Thomas Hearns | image = HearnsTommyonmywall.jpg | nickname = Hitman, Motor City Cobra | weight = Welterweight | birth_date = November 26, 1971 | birth_place = Memphis, Tennessee, USA | home = Detroit Michigan | style = Orthodox | total = 67 | wins = 61 | KO = 48 | losses = 5 | draws = 1 | no contests = 0 }} Thomas Hearns (born October 18, 1958 in Memphis, Tennessee) is an American professional boxer. His promotional fight names are "Thomas Hit Man Hearns" and "The Motor City Cobra".
Hearns began his professional boxing career in Detroit, Michigan under the tutelage of the legendary Emanuel Steward in 1977. Hearns has continued to fight into his 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 Knock Outs. He has won seven world championships in six weight classes during his pro career, beating such notables as Jose 'Pipino' Cuevas, Roberto Duran, Virgil Hill, Michael Olajide, Dennis Bolton, Mark Medal and Wilfred Benitez. He is known best for his devastating right hand.
Hearns won his first championship by KO'ing the legendary Pipino Cuevas in the second round of their fight in 1980. After defending the WBC welterweight championship successfully three times, he suffered his first career defeat at the hands of Leonard in 1981.
Despite having a solid career, Hearns was frequently overshadowed from his losses to Sugar Ray Leonard and Marvelous Marvin Hagler, pitting better than stellar performances against both. In his 1981 welterweight unification fight against Leonard, Hearns was ahead on the scorecards before losing by TKO. Four years later, Hearns was pitted against Hagler, he was KO'ed in the third round of a fight many observers called "the greatest three rounds of boxing in history". Hearns had to wait until 1989 for a rematch with Sugar Ray Leonard, in which much of the public believed he won the fight, flooring Leonard in both the 3rd and 11th rounds. However, Las Vegas judges scored the fight a draw.
The Hearns family is a fixture on the Detroit sports scene. Thomas' mother, Lois Hearns, is a fight promoter. She owns, with her son, Hearns Entertainment, a company that has promoted many cards, including the Mike Tyson-Andrew Golota bout in 2000. Hearns' son Ronald Hearns is a rising boxer, and has fought on the undercard of his father's recent fights. Hearns is a popular figure and participates in many charity and celebrity events in Southeastern Michigan. As far back as 1983, Hearns sponsored events to help support the Detroit Public Library, and during Super Bowl XL in 2006, he helped benefit the The Greater Detroit Charitable Foundation gala dinner.
Trivia
- Thomas Hearns' nickname "The Hitman" was also used by Bret Hart. During his WWE Career, Bret got the chance to meet Thomas Hearns, and had told him that he took his nickname. Hearns, however allowed Bret to take his nickname with his blessing, saying "Well Bret, you've done great with the nickname".
- Hearns is famous for carrying his left arm low, a risky technique if not sharpened to perfection, designed to maximize jab speed and invite another exchange. This is portrayed in the manga/anime Hajime no Ippo, where it is called the "flicker jab". Steve Fox from the Tekken game series is also able to execute this move.
See also
- List of male boxers
- List of WBC world champions
- Marvin Hagler vs. Thomas Hearns won Ring Magazine fight of the year in 1985
- Sugar Ray Leonard vs. Thomas Hearns won Ring Magazine fight of the year in 1981
External links
Template:Championshiptitlede:Thomas Hearns ja:トーマス・ハーンズ sv:Thomas Hearns