Thomas Hearns

IBHoF Bio

Name: Thomas Hearns
Alias: Hitman - Motor City Cobra
Hometown: Detroit, Michigan, USA
Birthplace: Memphis, Tennessee, USA
Stance: Orthodox
Height: 185cm
Reach: 198cm
Promoter: Record
Pro Boxer: Record
Amateur Boxer: Record

• Trainer & Manager: Emanuel Steward
• Elder brother of Billy Hearns
• Father of Ronald Hearns
• Thomas Hearns Gallery

Amateur Achievements

Hearns vs. Pipino Cuevas 1980

Hearns vs. Sugar Ray Leonard 1981

Hearns vs. Roberto Duran 1984

Hearns vs. Marvin Hagler 1985

Hearns vs. Sugar Ray Leonard 1989

• Amateur record: 155-8. Reports vary on the number of wins by stoppage. They include 7, 11, and 12.
• 1975 Bantamweight Silver Medalist at the National Golden Gloves Tournament. Results:
  • Wardell Williams W 3
  • Rudy Orozco W 3
  • Miguel Ayala L 3
• 1976 Lightweight Silver Medalist at the National Golden Gloves Tournament. Results:
  • Pat Jefferson W 3
  • Aaron Pryor L 3
• 1976 Lightweight Silver Medalist at the National Amateur Athletic Union Tournament. Results:
  • Howard Jones W 3
  • Howard Davis Jr. L 3
• 1977 National Golden Gloves Light Welterweight Champion. Results:
  • Curtis Hockenberry W 3
  • Ronnie Shields W 3
  • Bobby Joe Young W 3
• 1977 National Amateur Athletic Union Light Welterweight Champion. Results:
  • Andre Curry W 3
  • Bobby Joe Young W 3.
    Hearns was voted Fighter of the Tournament.

Professional Career

• Defeated Pipino Cuevas by a second-round TKO to win the WBA Welterweight Championship on August 2, 1980.
• Lost the WBA Welterweight Championship to WBC Welterweight Champion Sugar Ray Leonard by a fourteenth-round TKO in a unification fight on September 16, 1981. Named The Ring Fight of the Year for 1981.
• Defeated Wilfred Benitez by a fifteen-round majority decision to win the WBC Super Welterweight Championship on December 3, 1982.
• Defeated Roberto Duran by a second-round TKO to successfully defend the WBC Super Welterweight Championship on June 15, 1984.
• Lost to Undisputed World Middleweight Champion Marvelous Marvin Hagler by a third-round TKO on April 15, 1985. Named The Ring Fight of the Year and Round of the Year (Round 1) for 1985.
• Defeated Dennis Andries by a tenth-round TKO to win the WBC Light Heavyweight Championship on March 7, 1987.
• Defeated Juan Domingo Roldan by a fourth-round KO to win the vacant WBC Middleweight Championship on October 29, 1987. Hearns became the first fighter in history to win world titles in four weight divisions.
• Lost the WBC Middleweight Championship to Iran Barkley by a third-round TKO on June 6, 1988. Named The Ring Upset of the Year for 1988.
• Defeated James Kinchen by a twelve-round majority decision to win the inaugural WBO Super Middleweight Championship on November 4, 1988. Hearns became the first fighter in history to win world titles in five weight divisions.
• Fought a twelve-round draw with WBC Super Middleweight Champion Sugar Ray Leonard on June 12, 1989.
• Defeated Virgil Hill by a twelve-round unanimous decision to win the WBA Light Heavyweight Championship on June 3, 1991.
• Lost the WBA Light Heavyweight Championship to Iran Barkley by a twelve-round split decision on March 20, 1992.

Championship Record

• Has defeated 14 opponents (9 by KO) in world title fights.
  • 2 opponents (1 by KO) in World Light Heavyweight Title fights.
  • 2 opponents (0 by KO) in World Super Middleweight Title fights.
  • 1 opponent (1 by KO) in World Middleweight Title fights.
  • 5 opponents (3 by KO) in World Light Middleweight Title fights.
  • 4 opponents (4 by KO) in World Welterweight Title fights.
• Has a record of 14-4-1 (9 KOs) in world title fights.
• Has a record of 13-5-1 (8 KOs) against former, future and current world titlists.
  • Won against Bruce Curry, Saensak Muangsurin, Angel Espada, Eddie Gazo, Pipino Cuevas, Wilfred Benitez, Murray Sutherland, Roberto Duran, Mark Medal, Doug DeWitt, Dennis Andries, Virgil Hill, Nate Miller.
  • Lost against Sugar Ray Leonard, Marvin Hagler, Iran Barkley (twice), Uriah Grant.
  • Drew with Sugar Ray Leonard.

Minor & Regional Titles

• USBA Welterweight Championship (March 2, 1980) TKO 4 Angel Espada
• NABF Middleweight Championship (March 10, 1986) KO 1 James Shuler
• NABF Super Middleweight Championship (November 4, 1988) W 12 James Kinchen
• NABF Cruiserweight Championship (January 29, 1994) TKO 1 Dan Ward
• WBU Cruiserweight Championship (March 31, 1995) TKO 1 Lenny LaPaglia
• IBO Cruiserweight Championship (April 10, 1999) W 12 Nate Miller

Awards and Recognition

• Named The Ring Fighter of the Year for 1980 and 1984.
• Named the Boxing Writers Association of America Fighter of the Year for 1980 and 1984.
• Named the greatest junior middleweight of all-time by The Ring in 1994.
• Inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2012.

Preceded by: Pipino Cuevas	WBA Welterweight Champion 1980 Aug 2 – 1981 Sep 16	Succeeded by: Sugar Ray Leonard
Preceded by: Wilfred Benitez	WBC Light Middleweight Champion 1982 Dec 3 – 1986 Vacated	Succeeded by: Duane Thomas
Preceded by: Dennis Andries	WBC Light Heavyweight Champion 1987 Mar 7 – 1987 Nov 27 Vacated	Succeeded by: Donny Lalonde
Preceded by: Sugar Ray Leonard Retired	WBC Middleweight Champion 1987 Oct 29 – 1988 Jun 6	Succeeded by: Iran Barkley
Preceded by: Inaugural Champion	WBO Super Middleweight Champion 1988 Nov 4 – 1990 Apr 28 Vacated	Succeeded by: Chris Eubank
Preceded by: Virgil Hill	WBA Light Heavyweight Champion 1991 Jun 3 – 1992 Mar 20	Succeeded by: Iran Barkley