Hearns vs Duran: 30-Year Anniversary

[elmersalsa]

On a Friday night of June 15, 1984 in Las Vegas, NV, the great Thomas "The Hitman" Hearns knocked out cold the great "Hands of Stone", Roberto Duran, in only 2 rounds! It was one of the most vicious KOs ever seen in a major fight. It was a crushing blow that decapitated Duran. You could count up to 1,000....Forget it!!! He was not going to get up. What a knockout!

It was Hearns greatest win of his illustrious career. I still remember the KO like if it was yesterday. I never thought that my hero, Manos de Piedra, would get knocked out in a fight. He had the reputation to have one of boxing's greatest chins at the time. What can you recall of that night 30 years ago? Not to take nothing away from Tommy, but in that night, he looked terrific. I wonder what jr middleweight would have beaten him that night. The answer to me would be? Maybe NOBODY. Maybe the great Mike McCallum, but that is about it. If the great Sugar Ray Leonard would have been in that ring that night, he would have been also get blown away in my opinion. Hearns at that weight class was a monster. He became Fighter of the Year for The Ring Magazine in 1984. Three months later, he blew away Fred Hutchings in 3 rounds, I believe. Wow! The Hitman was something.

[elmersalsa]

Here are some images of that historical night. It was the Hitman's greatest hour.












The two great champions...Now.

[SamWise72]

I've just finished reading Four Kings, and it really struck me that, although he was perhaps the least of those 4 in some ways, Tommy's ability to keep finding ways to win was something else. In 91, Leonard gets beaten up by Terry Norris, but Hearns goes in against Hill, 20 pounds heavier, much bigger and the dominant force in his division for 10 years, and beats him. In 97, Leonard gets a kicking from Camacho, and Hearns gets a win over Nate Miller at cruiser. Amazing. I wonder what would have happened against Uriah Grant if he'd not injured his leg.

[Datsue]

I've just finished reading Four Kings, and it really struck me that, although he was perhaps the least of those 4 in some ways, Tommy's ability to keep finding ways to win was something else. In 91, Leonard gets beaten up by Terry Norris, but Hearns goes in against Hill, 20 pounds heavier, much bigger and the dominant force in his division for 10 years, and beats him. In 97, Leonard gets a kicking from Camacho, and Hearns gets a win over Nate Miller at cruiser. Amazing. I wonder what would have happened against Uriah Grant if he'd not injured his leg.

Growing up, my favourite fighter, bar none. I was so made up when he beat Hill, & even when Barkley beat him in the rematch it seemed a moral victory--lasting the distance, making it a great fight--to my young eyes, as the press reports I'd read had it that he'd be knocked out swiftly & wouldn't be able to absorb a heavy shot, & Barkley's loss to Benn had been forgiven in the light of how The Blade had handled Darrin Van Horn.

[Ambling Alp II]

I've just finished reading Four Kings, and it really struck me that, although he was perhaps the least of those 4 in some ways, Tommy's ability to keep finding ways to win was something else. In 91, Leonard gets beaten up by Terry Norris, but Hearns goes in against Hill, 20 pounds heavier, much bigger and the dominant force in his division for 10 years, and beats him. In 97, Leonard gets a kicking from Camacho, and Hearns gets a win over Nate Miller at cruiser. Amazing. I wonder what would have happened against Uriah Grant if he'd not injured his leg.

Leonard was 34 and hadn't fought in 14 months when he took on Norris. He was 40 and had not fought in 6 years when he fought Camacho.
Hill wasn't 20 pounds heavier than Hearns. They were about the same size. Nate Miller simply wasn't that good.
Besides the Duran fight, Hearns biggest win was over Benitez. Then probably Cuevas. He beat several other good fighters as well.

[meahdem]

every time i watch this fight i'm still shocked by that right hand, jab to the belly right hand over the top, BOOM, it shows how hurt and dazed duran was because he touched gloves at the end of the first round and then seems to angrily wave hearns away, while he's on the way to the neutral corner. it's incredible that 5 years later he was middleweight champion. i cant believe it's 30 years ago.

[Ambling Alp II]

It was awesome. It looked like he was completely out before started falling.