Thomas “The Hitman” Hearns was one of the most frightening punchers boxing has ever seen. Tall, rangy and armed with a devastating right hand, the Detroit fighter became the first man to win world titles in five weight divisions and starred in some of the greatest fights of the 1980s.
His battles with Sugar Ray Leonard, Roberto Durán and Marvin Hagler defined an era of the Four Kings. Shop our Thomas Hearns collection and honour the Hitman.
Thomas Hearns Fact File
| Full name | Thomas Hearns |
|---|---|
| Date of birth | 18 October 1958 (age 68) |
| Place of birth | Grand Junction, Tennessee, USA |
| Height | 6ft 1in (185cm); reach 78in |
| Weight classes | Welterweight to cruiserweight |
| Nationality | American |
| Current status | Retired; International Boxing Hall of Famer |
| Gym | Kronk Gym, Detroit (trainer Emanuel Steward) |
| Nickname | The Hitman, Motor City Cobra |
Career History
| Years | Level | Fights | Wins (KOs) | Losses | Draws |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Up to 1977 | Amateur | 163 | 155 | 8 | – |
| 1977–2006 | Professional | 67 | 61 (48) | 5 | 1 |
Professional record as listed by Wikipedia and the Detroit Historical Society. Amateur figures are wins and losses only.
From Tennessee to the Kronk
Born in Grand Junction, Tennessee, Hearns moved to Detroit at around five years old. At the famous Kronk Gym he came under the guidance of trainer Emanuel Steward, and as an amateur he won 155 of 163 bouts, capturing the national AAU and Golden Gloves light-welterweight titles in 1977. He turned professional that year and began knocking opponents out at an astonishing rate.
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World Champion and The Showdown
Unbeaten in 28 fights, Hearns challenged José “Pipino” Cuevas for the WBA welterweight title on 2 August 1980 and stopped him in the second round. On 16 September 1981 he met Sugar Ray Leonard in a unification bout billed as The Showdown. In a classic contest, Leonard rallied late to stop him in the 14th round, handing Hearns his first defeat in what The Ring named its Fight of the Year. Hearns bounced back to win the WBC light-middleweight title against Wilfred Benítez in December 1982.
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Durán, Hagler and The War
On 15 June 1984 at Caesars Palace, Hearns produced the most destructive performance of his career, flattening Roberto Durán with a right hand in the second round. Less than a year later, on 15 April 1985, he fought Marvin Hagler for the undisputed middleweight title in a bout now simply called The War. In one of the most ferocious fights ever staged, Hagler stopped him in the third round.
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Five Divisions and a Long Career
Hearns kept climbing the weights. He won the WBC light-heavyweight title against Dennis Andries in March 1987, then beat Juan Roldán for the WBC middleweight crown in October 1987, becoming the first boxer to win world titles in five divisions. He added the WBO super-middleweight belt in 1988, fought Leonard to a controversial draw in their 1989 rematch, and won the WBA light-heavyweight title against Virgil Hill in 1991. His final fight came in February 2006.
Honours
World titles
- WBA welterweight 1980
- WBC light middleweight 1982
- WBC light heavyweight 1987
- WBC middleweight 1987
- WBO super middleweight 1988
- WBA light heavyweight 1991
Awards
- Ring Magazine Fighter of the Year 1980 and 1984
Hall of Fame
- International Boxing Hall of Fame 2012
- Michigan Sports Hall of Fame 1997
Away From the Ring
In 2017 Detroit renamed a stretch of McGraw Avenue, opposite the Kronk Gym, as Thomas Hearns Avenue. His son Ronald followed him into professional boxing.
FAQs
How old is Thomas Hearns?
Thomas Hearns was born on 18 October 1958, so he is 68 years old.
Where was Thomas Hearns born?
He was born in Grand Junction, Tennessee, and grew up in Detroit, Michigan.
How tall is Thomas Hearns?
Hearns stands 6ft 1in (185cm) with a 78-inch reach, very tall for a welterweight.
What was Thomas Hearns’s record?
He finished his professional career with 61 wins (48 by knockout), five losses and one draw from 67 fights.
How many weight divisions did Thomas Hearns win titles in?
He was the first boxer to win world titles in five divisions, from welterweight to light heavyweight.
Who beat Thomas Hearns?
His losses included Sugar Ray Leonard in 1981, Marvin Hagler in 1985, Iran Barkley in 1988 and 1992, and Uriah Grant in 2000.
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Part of our Player Profiles series. Read next: Sugar Ray Leonard Career Story and Marvin Hagler Career Story.
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