The Knockout: Hearns vs Duran...35 Years Ago

[elmersalsa]

On a Friday night in Las Vegas, NV of June 15, 1984, Thomas Hearns, Detroit, MI, 25, the WBC World Super Welterweight Champion, decapitated legendary champion Roberto Duran, 32, of Panama City, Panama in only two one-sided rounds.

It was The Hitman's defining win. He became the only man up to then to knockout the Hands of Stone. It was one of the greatest one-shot punch knockouts of the history of the sport.

Hearns retired Duran. The next day, it was Duran's 33rd birthday. A great retirement party gift for The Hands of Stone.

Seven months before that fight, Duran challenged the great Marvelous Marvin Hagler for Hagler's undisputed world middleweight title. He went toe to toe with the bigger guy for 15 rounds, but fell short. Marvelous won by unanimous decision. Duran came back to his old bad habits of drinking and fooling around with women and having "the good life", instead of having his ass inside the gym. Maybe the desire and hunger was gone after the Hagler fight. Maybe, he didn't had anything else to prove and was fighting by instinct and big money. It looked so. Because he was supposed to defend his WBA World Jr Middleweight crown against the #1 contender Mike McCallum of Jamaica. A terrific fighter in his own right. Duran ignored him and went for the bigger money. The WBA sanctioning bodies told Duran that he was no longer champion and that the title would be vacant the minute he steps the ring to fight Hearns. Duran ignored the WBA's rules, too. In his mind, he would rather fight for the bigger payday than to defend the crown against an unknown challenger. Fighting was not a issue anymore, but THE MONEY.

Hearns took care of Duran from early. It was not even a match. A total MISMATCH. Duran went down for the first time in 10 years to the canvas. Not by a left hook. But by a stunning right hand lead by the Hitman. It seemed before the knockdown that Duran was worrying about a cut in an exchange earlier in his left eye. Hearns pressed the attack and Duran went down again. He almost went out off the ring, but the ropes held him in. The bell rang and Duran was saved. But not for long. He went to the wrong corner. His handlers had to bring him to his. He was out. Hearns knew it. It was just a matter of time.

Round two came in and it was the same. A massacre. Hearns was too fast, too big and probably too strong for Duran, who was fighting in a weight class 20 pounds over his dominant weight. He was also in his 17th year as a professional and in his 80th fight. It wasn't a fair fight after all. Too many disavantages for the fiery Panamanian legend. The only highlight Duran had was a right cross to Hearns' chin, but Hearns didn't flinch. He kept the attack going and his speed was befuddling the Hands of Stone. A timely right cross to Duran's chin, and that was all she wrote! Duran went face first down to the canvas. He was out! You could have counted to 1 million. He wasn't going to get up. It was an extraordinary knockout punch by the Hitman. It was his greatest win of his legendary career. The knockout punch, became a legendary punch in the annals of boxing history. It was the first loss by Duran by knockout in over 80 fights!
The winner by technical knockout in round two and still the WBC World Super Welterweight Champion, Thomas "The Hitman" Hearns!

AFTERMATH: How many reincarnations the Hands of Stone had? You tell me. Duran had a brief retirement. He didn't fight at all in the next year, 1985. But made a comeback starting the year 1986. He lost and win some until he had a title shot in February of 1989 for the WBC World Middleweight Championship held by Iran Barkley of the Bronx, NY. Barkley became champ when he defeated Hearns in June 1988 by knockout. After 12 exciting rounds of slugfest action, Duran at 37 years of age, wins his fourth world title in The Ring Magazine Fight of the Year for 1989.

Hearns failed to beat Marvelous Marvin for the middleweight crown in an exciting slugfest of 3 rounds. The first round of that fight was called the best first round in boxing history. It was Marvelous Marvin Hagler's defining moment. But, The Hitman had other great days under the sun. He won 3 more world boxing crowns and became the first man in boxing history to win 4 world titles in four different weight classes. He won 5 world championships in 5 weight classes in his great and illustruos career.

[Syntax Error]

To this day, I still cannot believe that Hearns did that Duran.

A unanimous points win would not have surprised me, but that devastating flattening of Duran, no way.

Duran is a top 5 ATG for me and that doesn't usually happen to ATGs in or close to their primes.

[goose 5]

What still ticks me off about this fight is that I couldn't get the night off to go watch it. It's my favorite one-sided fight ever. I was rooting for Duran but thought Hearns would win by decision.

[elmersalsa]

Back then, I could see a knockout happening at that weight class. Duran returned to his old bad habits and paid the price. The weight class was too big for him in the first place. He wasn't the dominant fighter of years past anymore, and was in his 81st fight of a 17-year pro career.

One thing is to picture it. The other is to see it happening in your own eyes. It was an unbelievable and impressive knockout for the ages. I didn't know if to call it The Knockout or the Knockout Punch. But, to me it was the greatest knockout win of the entire 80s decade.

[BoxBuzz]

Fluke. A lot of reasons why that was a terrible night for Roberto.

I'm not sure Roberto could beat Tommy in a rematch, but I am sure he could avoid getting knocked out.
Just as well that he passed on finding out. But at that weight it's hard to call it for Duran, Bring in a weight drained Hearns at a lighter weight, both at their best, and this goes down quite differently.

[Onetimeonly]

I watched that on cc at the Baltimore arena. It was my two favorite fighters at the time. I remember telling a guy next to me that if anyone got stopped it would be hearns late.

[elmersalsa]

I watched that on cc at the Baltimore arena. It was my two favorite fighters at the time. I remember telling a guy next to me that if anyone got stopped it would be hearns late.

Ain't nobody beats Tommy Hearns at 154lbs. Maybe, only the great Mike McCallum or Sugar Ray Robinson. That's it.

[Onetimeonly]

McCallum wouldn't.

[Seamus]

That fight was no fluke. The guy with the bigger punch, faster hands, and longer reach, was looking for the KO early and making it rain powershots in the ring. He did it to Cuevas and Shuler and alot of others the same way. Heck, he even tried to take Hagler out in the 1st round and had him momentarily stunned.

[Ambling Alp II]

I thought it was always a fluke when Duran lost... all 16 times.

[elmersalsa]

I thought it was always a fluke when Duran lost... all 16 times.

Unlike Sugar Ray, Duran fought his fight, right?

[elmersalsa]

McCallum wouldn't.

I could see The Body Snatcher winning. He was a hell of a fighter.

[elmersalsa]

Fluke. A lot of reasons why that was a terrible night for Roberto.

I'm not sure Roberto could beat Tommy in a rematch, but I am sure he could avoid getting knocked out.
Just as well that he passed on finding out. But at that weight it's hard to call it for Duran, Bring in a weight drained Hearns at a lighter weight, both at their best, and this goes down quite differently.

To me, the fight should have been at Welterweight and in 1979 or '80. It would have been a much fairer and better fight. Duran of the Montreal night against the Hitman that knocked out Pipino Cuevas cold. Now, that would have been a great scrap.

[elmersalsa]

Ironically, back in 1984, The Body Snatcher, Mike McCallum was Tommy's Kronk Boxing Gym teammate. Either way, I see Duran losing to both guys.

How did McCallum ended up at Lou Duva's boxing stable?

[Onetimeonly]

Ironically, back in 1984, The Body Snatcher, Mike McCallum was Tommy's Kronk Boxing Gym teammate. Either way, I see Duran losing to both guys.

How did McCallum ended up at Lou Duva's boxing stable?

He left kronk.

[Ambling Alp II]

To me, the fight should have been at Welterweight and in 1979 or '80. It would have been a much fairer and better fight. Duran of the Montreal night against the Hitman that knocked out Pipino Cuevas cold. Now, that would have been a great scrap.

Wonder what the Duran excuse would have been after that one. Tummy ache? Too much partying? pet hamster died?

[BoxBuzz]

Wonder what the Duran excuse would have been after that one. Tummy ache? Too much partying? pet hamster died?

As far as I can remember Duran only had one night where he offered up an excuse. I doubt he would go to that well twice.
Or did he on the Hearns loss? I never thought of him as a serial excuse maker.

[elmersalsa]

Wonder what the Duran excuse would have been after that one. Tummy ache? Too much partying? pet hamster died?

At least Duran fought his fight.

[Ambling Alp II]

Thanks for your irrelevant comment.

[Ambling Alp II]

As far as I can remember Duran only had one night where he offered up an excuse. I doubt he would go to that well twice.
Or did he on the Hearns loss? I never thought of him as a serial excuse maker.

He wasn't on the scale of say Joe Frazier. But he always downplayed his losses; he just "wasn't right" etc. Never gave his opponent credit. Actually I guess it was his fans who were the one's with the ridiculous excuses.

[Seamus]

I've seen post New Orleans funk used to explain Duran's 5 fights between Leonard II and Cuevas, when he went 3-2 with 0 Ko's.

[elmersalsa]

Thanks for your irrelevant comment.

You still think Sugar Ray didn't fight his fight versus Duran in Montreal?

At least can Duran say that the fight was not at 147. At least he could say that he wasn't as dominant as the 70s decade.

What was the excuse for Sugar Ray when a washed up Tommy Hearns dropped him twice?

What was the excuse when Terry Norris snacked Sugar Ray all over the ring in NYC?

[Ambling Alp II]

Yes I think Leonard fought a stupid fight against Duran in their first fight. If you watch the video, you see that over and over he goes right at Duran. Seldom did that in the 2nd fight. Not an excuse, it's a criticism of Leonard.

Duran can say he wasn't at 147. That is true. He weighed 146. He could have weighed 147. That is the welterweight limit. Two years before the Leonard fight, Roberto "Always a lightweight" Duran he weighed 151 in a fight.

Leonard was officially knocked down twice against Hearns. Don't think Hearns was washed up. Why would he be washed up but not Leonard?
The first knockdown was not legitimate. It was a illegal punch to the back of the head followed by a push. The second knockdown was legitimate.

I don't think too many people take the Norris fight seriously when rating Leonard. He was 34 and had not fought in over a year.

[keithmoonhangover]

Wonder what the Duran excuse would have been after that one. Tummy ache? Too much partying? pet hamster died?

[elmersalsa]

Yes I think Leonard fought a stupid fight against Duran in their first fight. If you watch the video, you see that over and over he goes right at Duran. Seldom did that in the 2nd fight. Not an excuse, it's a criticism of Leonard.

Duran can say he wasn't at 147. That is true. He weighed 146. He could have weighed 147. That is the welterweight limit. Two years before the Leonard fight, Roberto "Always a lightweight" Duran he weighed 151 in a fight.

Leonard was officially knocked down twice against Hearns. Don't think Hearns was washed up. Why would he be washed up but not Leonard?
The first knockdown was not legitimate. It was a illegal punch to the back of the head followed by a push. The second knockdown was legitimate.

I don't think too many people take the Norris fight seriously when rating Leonard. He was 34 and had not fought in over a year.

We don't take the Terry Norris fight seriously because he was 34. But, Duran was 33 when he fought The Hitman. Oh, I see, it only fits for Duran but not for Leonard. What an hypocrisy!

Tommy Hearns whupped Leonard. He was washed up and still put him down twice. I imagine if the fight was when Hearns was at his absolute prime like he did Duran?

The FACT is a LIGHTWEIGHT kicked Leonard's ass! Fighting Leonard his fight. Leonard was bigger, younger, stronger and in his OWN WEIGHT CLASS. And Duran whupped him. End of story.

Sugar Ray fought the wrong fight, my ass!