He was one of the most devastating punchers in the history of boxing. A tall, lean, elegant boxer with a sharp, accurate left jab. Thomas Hearns had developed from a talented skinny amateur who was known for his speed and skill into a professional possessing almost frightening knockout power. He had a cold stare he would use on opponents before usually sending them into oblivion well inside the scheduled distance. He fought other greats like Duran, Benitez, Leonard and Hagler in a career that would span almost thirty years; he would win eight different versions of world titles in no less than six weight divisions. His mentor who knew him from his amateur day’s right up until his retirement from the professional ranks, Emmanuel Steward said of Hearns ‘I never before seen anybody, ever, who had no fear of nobody.’ This is the story of the boxer nicknamed ‘The Motor City Cobra’, or, as he was later and better known as ‘The Hit Man.’

One of nine children, Thomas Hearns was born in Memphis, Tennessee on 18 October 1958. He was still a child when his mother moved the family to the tough East side of Detroit not long after his father had walked out. In this tough urban environment the quiet, almost shy youngster began to box at the age of ten first at the King Solomon Gym before moving over to the Kronk Gym at the age of thirteen. Emmanuel Steward had established this gym in 1969 and was building up a strong amateur club that would eventually take the nation, then the world by storm. This modest gym would go on to produce some exceptional amateur and professional boxers and even world champions. Thomas Hearns would become the most famous in the Kronk’s impressive stable.

Tall and gangly Hearns’ hero at the time was Muhammad Ali and it was this slick style of boxing that Hearns modelled attempted to emulate. His boxing skills developed under Steward and Walter Smith (assistant trainer) and Hearns was known more as a classy boxer than puncher as his amateur record of 155 wins in 163 contests with just 12 knockouts attested. As a lightweight in the amateur ranks he had lost a decision to Howard Davis who later won a Gold medal at the 1976 Olympics. In 1977 Hearns won both AAU and Golden Gloves tournaments as a light-welterweight. He was now filling out and the six feet one inch beanpole turned professional as a welterweight in November 1977, flattening Jerome Hill in two rounds in Detroit.

There have been many theories as to how the skinny boxer became such a devastating puncher once he turned professional. Some would argue that amateur boxing is all about scoring points and professional boxing is about destroying your opponent. Some commentators pointed out that Hearns naturally grew in strength as he developed from the introverted teenager into a man. Yet there is one person in the Kronk team in the late 1970s who had a key role in improving Hearn’s punching power. Don Thibodeaux cut a larger than life figure as a man with a long bushy red beard, looking more like a member of the group ‘ZZ Top’ than as a boxing coach. Yet he was exceptional at getting the best out of young boxers and he was known as a quietly effective coach at the Kronk gym. He was especially good at teaching pupils boxing techniques. As Brian and Damian Hughes excellent book on Hearns: ‘Hit Man: The Thomas Hearns Story’ states: ‘He (Thibodeaux) was instrumental in polishing Hearn’s right-hand punching. ‘I had him throw punches from the ball of his foot to his knee, through to his hips, through to his shoulder and twist his fist and reach forward and land it.’ Thibodeaux emphasised that Hearns should use his punches like a whip, a weapon that would prove invaluable within the paid ranks. ‘

Look at any Hearns contest and this is exactly how he threw punches. His left jab snaked in and out in a blink of any eye, but it was no range finder or point’s scorer, it was a devastating weapon. His long looping hooks and right crosses in particular were delivered with speed and venom and it is little wonder that before the ‘Hit Man’ tag came along he was known by the moniker ‘The Motor City Cobra.’

Hearns’ meteoric rise was built on tough boxers rather than the usual staple diet of no-hopers that have padded the records of so many other young prospects. The new incarnation of Hearns saw off the likes of Bruce Finch in three rounds (Finch would later challenge Hearns’ rival Sugar Ray Leonard for the world welterweight title), the canny Canadian Clyde Gray (who had fought three times in world title contests) who was stopped in the tenth round (showing Hearns power was still there late in a contest) and tough Philadelphian Alfonso Hayman who was widely outpointed highlighting Hearns’ exceptional boxing ability.

Later on he defeated Harold Weston who had taken boxing prodigy Wilfred Benitez the full fifteen rounds in a world title contest only two months earlier. Weston lasted six rounds with Hearns. Bruce Curry, (brother of Don) would later become world light-welterweight champion was knocked out in three by Hearns. Also stopped by Hearns was Thailand’s Saensak Muangsurin who was a former world champion, also former world welterweight champion Angel Espada and former world light-middleweight champion Eddie Gazo were sent packing.

After compiling an outstanding record of 28 wins without defeat against this calibre of opponent Hearns was granted his shot at the formidable and dynamite punching WBA world welterweight champion Mexico’s Pipino Cuevas at the Joe Louis Arena in Detroit on 2 August 1980. Cuevas was only twenty two years old and was making his twelfth defence against the twenty one year old Hearns. The Kronk local got an amazing reception from the Detroit fans as he entered the ring, many described the atmosphere of that special night as ‘electrifying’ it would not be the first time and certainly not the last time either that Thomas Hearns would bring such a high level of anticipation and intensity to a fight.

He did not disappoint his passionately loyal following by destroying Cuevas in two one-sided rounds. Hearns showed no fear and no respect towards the highly respected champion, he just went in there and blitzed his opponent, dominating from the start. The win announced to the world at large that Thomas Hearns was for real and a worthy champion. The future for this young man looked exciting and rewarding.

Successful defences followed against Luis Primera (wko 6), Randy Shields (wrsf 13) and Pablo Baez (wrsf 4). Hearns proved in these defences that he was an exceptional champion with great boxing skill coupled with awesome punching power. The holder of the WBC world welterweight title was none other than Sugar Ray Leonard and boxing fans and experts salivated at the thought of a showdown between these two exciting fighters.

The Hearns versus Leonard fight in September 1981 lived up to all expectations. At the open air arena of Caesars Palace, Las Vegas over 23,000 fans watched a classic boxing encounter between two evenly matched and multi talented boxers in their fighting primes. Leonard the media favourite was on a guarantee of $8 million and Hearns on $5 million. The fight was the first to be on pay-per-view television and the receipts from that were said to have grossed another $5 million dollars. It was the richest showdown in boxing history at that time and the two combatants purses could only be matched or bettered by the likes of Muhammad Ali. To say the Hearns versus Leonard match was big was a huge understatement.

In the early rounds Hearns cleverly used his 78 inch reach (phenomenal for a welterweight boxer) to keep his rival at range and rattle up the points with crisp boxing. Leonard was kept off balance and looked pensive as the skin beneath his left eye began to bruise and swell up so that it was on the verge of nearly closing. Leonard rocked Hearns in the sixth and in the eleventh it was Leonards turn to be hurt by a Hearns’ right. The contest ebbed and flowed in this way round after round but by the end of the twelfth it was clear to any neutral observer that the man from Detroit was a mile in front on points.

It was here that Leonard’s cornerman Angelo Dundee made his famous ‘You’re blowing it son!’ speech and at the bell for the thirteenth round a reinvigorated Leonard stormed out to meet Hearns. This do-or-die assault from Leonard took Hearns completely off-guard and he was floored for a mandatory eight count. He survived the rounds but Hearns was on shaky legs. The attack continued in the fourteenth and a wobbly and groggy looking Hearns was rescued by the referee, too early according to some commentators but it was too late. His title was gone and he had lost the richest fight in boxing history.

A rueful and reflective Hearns later said ‘I think this was one of the best fights ever. If you never see another fight, but you saw this one, that would be enough.’ No one would argue with that assessment.

Hearns route to recovery saw him move up to the light-middleweight division where after three wins he was challenging for yet another hugely talented star of the ring, the prodigy that was Wilfred Benitez for the world WBC title. Benitez was a master boxer, he was incredibly slippery and a defensive genius to the point where he was nicknamed ‘El Radar’ for his ability to anticipate and avoid an opponents punches before responding with pin-point accurate counters.

Hearns showed a different side to himself that December night in 1982, the classy boxer. In a contest that was more of a chess match with gloves, Hearns prevailed on a point’s decision. He was a world champion again, this time in a second weight division. !983 was a quiet year for the ‘Hit Man’ as he only fought (and won) once. He defended his title in February 1984 in a routine defence before squaring off against another boxing legend in the form of ‘Hands of Stone’ Roberto Duran the former world lightweight and welterweight champion.

The contest against Duran was eagerly anticipated as Duran was enjoying a renaissance period after losing to Sugar Ray Leonard in 1980 he had won the world light-middleweight title from Davey Moore and given world middleweight champion Marvelous Marvin Hagler all the trouble he could handle in a gallant losing fifteen round title challenge. Both of these contests took place in 1983 and Duran’s star was bright again. The contest with Hearns promised to be special. In the event Hearns seemed to have the tough veteran Panamanian’s number. Emmanuel Steward claimed that Duran was ‘intimidated’ by Hearns and had always been. When the two stood in the centre of the ring it was easy to see why: Hearns at six feet one towered over the five foot seven Duran. Also at thirty three Duran was giving his younger opponent eight years (although Duran would win the world middleweight title from Hearns’ later conqueror Iran Barkley in 1989 aged thirty seven).

From the first bell Hearns used all of his height and reach advantages to dazzling effect to totally control proceedings. Duran looked one-dimensional and unable to counter anything Hearns did. Duran was wobbled by a right hand, and then cut over the eye courtesy of two more fearsome rights. Another right hand sent him crashing to the canvas for the first time in ten years. Duran made it to his feet and was knocked down again but was saved by the bell. In the second round Duran walked onto another beautiful right hand and was sent face first to the canvas knocked cold, the referee Carlos Padilla did not bother dispensing with the count.

It was a clinical display from Hearns showcasing his greatness. When looking at his career as a whole there are many highlights but for me this was his ‘Cleveland Williams’ fight (where Muhammad Ali never looked better when winning in three rounds in 1966). Hearns was perfection the night he destroyed the rock-chinned and fearsome macho man Duran. Many glories would follow this contest, but this would be top on any highlight reel for ‘The Hit Man.’

After the win Hearns dispatched of Fred Hutchings while the boxing world awaited the showdown between ‘The Hit Man’ and ‘Marvelous’ Marvin Hagler. The contest was a natural and with Sugar Ray Leonard no longer on the scene (he had retired in 1984) the stage was clear for a world middleweight contest between the two most accomplished and exciting boxers in the world.

Finally on 15 April 1985 in Las Vegas both men faced off in a bout billed simply as ‘The Fight.’ A capacity crowd and the millions watching around the world were treated to what is regarded as the most exciting contest in boxing history (in any weight division). The two fighters were both on a guarantee of over $5 million each and in just over eight minutes of mayhem they earned every penny of it.

As soon as the first bell rang there were no preliminaries, no feeling out sessions, the two fighters launched themselves at each other determined to destroy. For three minutes both men repeatedly shook each other, Hagler was badly staggered by several Hearns’ right hands early but he eventually seemed to shrug these off, remarkable in light of how many opponents were destroyed by Hearns ‘honey punch.’ As the round came to a close the champion seemed to have reasserted himself as he crashed in hooks and drove his determined challenger to a corner. When Hagler emerged at the bell to end the first round he had a horrific vertical cut right in the middle of his forehead between his eyes which continued to spurt blood out, impeding his vision.

In the second round Hearns opened yet another cut on Hagler, this time under his right eye. Despite this success Hagler continued his two-fisted assault and worked his much taller challenger against the ropes. Hearns’ legs looked stiff in this round and he suddenly appeared more vulnerable despite landing some good shots of his own. Hearns hung in there and by the end of the second many wondered if Hagler had punched himself out. Legend has it that as Hagler trudged back to his corner with blood soaking his face referee Richard Steele asked ‘Can you see?’ To which the wonderfully stoic Hagler replied drily ‘I ain’t missing him, am I?’

Despite this heroic bravado Hagler’s cuts were serious and the longer the contest lasted the more it looked like it would end in a Hearns victory. As the third round progressed the ringside doctor examined the cuts while the crowd anxiously looked on, it would have been an anti-climactic and unfortunate way to end what had so far been an exhilarating contest. This was the trigger that turned Hagler into a dervish once more and he launched a ferocious assault on Hearns culminating in a right hand that sent Hearns tottering on wobbly legs right across the ring. Hagler pursued and landed another three powerful punches and with Hearns on the ropes he was sent crashing to his back. Hearns showed his formidable courage and warriors heart by beating the count but it was clear to the referee (and everyone else) that the challenger was utterly spent. The fight of the century was waved off.

It was little consolation but Hearns had taken part in yet another thriller enjoyed across the world. It later emerged that he had broken his right hand in the first round yet he made no mention of this in the post fight press conference. He did not want to make any excuses for the loss showing just what a class act he was. He was down but not finished with boxing yet. He was only twenty six and had so much he wanted to achieve.

After eleven months away from the spotlight he returned on the undercard of Marvin Hagler versus John Mugabi in March 1986. His opponent was the talented NABF champion and number one ranked challenger James ‘Black Gold’ Shuler who had none other than the legendary Eddie Futch in his corner. Shuler was undefeated and it was believed he was heading for big things yet Hearns changed the script by destroying Shuler in the first round. The ‘Hit Man’ was back, serving notice to all other boxers that he was still a formidable proposition. Tragically Shuler died in a motorbike crash shortly after his contest against Hearns and again the Detroit fighter showed his class and compassion by leaving his newly won NABF title at Shuler’s grave. Ferociously competitive in the ring, outside the ring Hearns was a gentleman.

In 1986 he defended his world light-middleweight crown by defeating Mark Medal in a surprisingly uninspiring eighth round stoppage victory before defeating the iron-jawed slugger Doug De Witt on points in Detroit.

Remarkably Hearns' sights were now set on the WBC world light-heavyweight title held by Britain’s Dennis ‘The Hackney Rock’ Andries. In March 1987 in front of a home crowd Hearns repeatedly staggered and floored Andries en-route to a tenth round stoppage to take the title, his third in as many weight divisions. It was incredible how far the amateur lightweight who could not break an egg was now a hard punching world champion at light-heavyweight!

In October of 1987 Hearns dropped back down to attempt to win a world title at an unprecedented fourth weight when he challenged for the vacant world WBC middleweight title against the tough and rugged Argentinean Juan Domingo Roldan. It was another edge of your seat thriller with Hearns wobbled and having to show heart yet he managed to find the punches again to flatten the brave Roldan in the fourth round. The jubilation would not last sadly as in his next defence in Las Vegas in June 1988 against Iran ‘The Blade’ Barkley a tough boxer from the Bronx Hearns lost his title. For two rounds it was all Hearns as he repeatedly hurt and wobbled his challenger also opening up horrific cuts around both eyes. As Reg Gutteridge the British fight commentator said at the time ‘It was getting quite pitiful.’ Then in the dramatic third round Barkley turned it all around with a devastating right hand that found Hearn’s jaw sending him crashing to the canvas. Somehow Hearns managed to get back to his feet showing his tremendous resilience and will yet the contest was stopped after Hearns was sent through the ropes. It looked like the end.

Five months later Hearns was back in a ring this time aiming to beat old rival Sugar Ray Leonard to becoming the first boxer in history to win world titles at ‘five’ different weights. Three days after Hearns fight Leonard was fighting for the world WBC super-middleweight and WBC world light-heavyweight titles against Canadian Donny Lalonde. Hearns had to win his contest against top contender James ‘The Heat’ Kinchen if he wanted to make history first. The two boxers battled for the newly created WBO version of the world super-middleweight title in Las Vegas. It looked like all the years of tough campaigning had finally caught up with Hearns as he was knocked to the canvas in the fourth round. He clung on for dear life ‘Like he was my woman’ as Hearns joked later and held on for a grim, hard-earned points decision. It was a historic occasion but Hearns great achievement was somewhat overshadowed by calls for his retirement. Many experts believed he was not the fighter he used to be despite only being 30 years old.

This all worked to Hearns’ advantage as spurred on by the wisdom of the experts Sugar Ray Leonard (who had won his contest against Lalonde) felt that Hearns would be a ‘safe’ opponent for him. Their rematch took place eight years after their first classic and would provide plenty of surprises (some painful and unwelcome ones for the cocksure Leonard). The contest took place at Las Vegas in June 1989 and the two styles blended to give an exciting rematch. Leonard was floored twice by Hearns in the third and the eleventh yet had Hearns on rubbery legs and on the brink of a stoppage in the fifth and twelfth rounds. The widely held belief amongst fans and boxers past and present alike at ringside and watching around the world was that this time Hearns boxing and the knockdowns set the seal on a points win. The judges felt otherwise and declared the contest a surprise draw. Hearns again showed what a class act he was by not displaying any bitterness with the decision. He seemed at peace and content as if he had finally exorcised the demons of the first contest all those years earlier (Had the two fought the modern twelve round distance back in 1981 Hearns would have won on points).

Although he felt closure from Leonard, Hearns was still not finished with the sport of boxing. In April 1990 he outpointed Michael ‘The Silk’ Olajide in defence of his WBO super-middleweight title. Then in June of 1991 he produced his last great performance in the ring by beating the previously unbeaten Virgil Hill on points over twelve rounds in Las Vegas to win the WBA world light-heavyweight title. Hill was the favourite and expected to win handily yet Hearns surprised everyone to produce a magnificent display of boxing, using all his skill and experience. It would have been the perfect time for Hearns to retire (on top) but the lure of the ring was too strong.

In a rematch in Las Vegas in March 1992 against old nemesis Iran Barkley when defending his new title Hearns lost again this time on points in a gruelling and close encounter where both men were taken to the brink. Barkley thus became the only man to defeat Hearns twice.

Still he refused to retire and in 1993 he knocked out the 1988 Olympic Gold medallist Andrew Maynard in one round proving that if anything the power was still there. In March 1995 Hearns won a world title at an incredible sixth weight even though it was the lightly regarded WBU world cruiserweight crown when he stopped grey-haired club-fighter Lenny LaPaglia in one round.

He continued to box sporadically in the 1990s and in his only UK appearance since his amateur days Hearns won the IBO world cruiserweight title in Manchester’s MEN Arena against Nate Miller on points. It was a sad night for boxing to be honest as Hearns was clearly past his best and the unthinkable happened when disappointed English fans quietly filed out of the arena before the fight was over. The writing was on the wall: He was no longer the fighter he used to be, yet he carried on.

In April of 2000 in front of his adoring Detroit fans in what was meant to be a ‘farewell’ performance Hearns lost to Uriah Grant after he had to retire at the end of the second round as he badly twisted his ankle. It was not the fight he wanted to go out on and Hearns had a long break from the ring until he had another fight in July of 2005 against John Long at the Cobo Arena, Detroit. He won by a TKO in the ninth round but fans knew they were seeing a shadow of the former great fighter. The curtain finally came down on the Thomas Hearns boxing career when in February 2006 at the Palace, Auburn Hills, Michigan he outpointed Shannon Landberg. Hearns was now forty seven years old and he finally agreed that his career was over. Boxing fans breathed a big sigh of relief when the hugely popular and iconic boxer finally announced his retirement from boxing. It had been a hell of a ride.

Eight world titles at six different weights, epic fights with Leonard, Hagler and Duran, his was an exceptional career. Hearns is not the greatest, but he is one of the greatest. I doubt very much that there are many boxers in history that could withstand his blistering attack and vaunted knockout right hand. His boxing skills often get overlooked but he could be slick when the occasion demanded it of him as the Benitez and Hill fights showed. His heart was unquestioned and I lost count of the number of times he was wobbled and badly shaken only to rally back to win in dramatic fashion. He was the ultimate ‘hit or be hit’ fighter and his matches have to be among the most enthralling and electrifying of any era. This is why I firmly believe that Thomas ‘The Hit Man’ Hearns was without doubt the most exciting boxer ever, period.

World WBA welterweight champion: 1980-1981

World WBC light-middleweight champion: 1982-1986

World WBC light-heavyweight champion: 1987

World WBC middleweight champion: 1987-1988

World WBO super-middleweight champion: 1988-1990

World WBA light-heavyweight champion: 1991-1992

World WBU cruiserweight champion: 1995

World IBO cruiserweight champion: 1999-2000

World Title Fights: 22 Wins: 16 Lost: 5 Drew: 1

Career Fights: 67 Wins: 61 Lost: 5 Drew: 1 Knockouts: 48