Thomas Hearns

Thomas Hearns (born October 18, 1958 in Memphis, Tennessee) is an American professional boxer. Blessed with a broad back and unusually long arms, Hearns was known for his exceptional punching power. His promotional fight names are "Thomas Hit Man Hearns" and "The Motor City Cobra".

Hearns began his professional boxing career in Detroit, Michigan under the tutelage of Emanuel Steward in 1977. Hearns has continued to fight into his forties. On February 4th, 2006, he beat Shannon Landberg at the Palace of Auburn Hills to raise his career record to 61-5-1 with 48 knockouts. He has won seven world championships in six weight classes during his pro career, beating such notables as Jose 'Pipino' Cuevas, Roberto Duran, Virgil Hill, Michael Olajide, Dennis Bolton, Mark Medal and Wilfred Benitez. He is known best for his devastating right hand and for carrying his left hand low, a technique used for maximizing jab speed and inviting another exchange - sometimes called the "flicker jab"

Hearns won his first championship by KO'ing Pipino Cuevas in the second round of their fight in 1980. After defending the WBA welterweight championship successfully three times, he suffered his first career defeat at the hands of Leonard in 1981.

Despite having a top-class record, including a 2nd round KO of Roberto Duran, Hearns was frequently overshadowed by his losses to Sugar Ray Leonard and Marvelous Marvin Hagler, despite putting in stellar performances against both. In his 1981 welterweight unification fight against Leonard, Hearns was ahead on the scorecards before losing by TKO. Four years later, Hearns was pitted against Hagler, he was KO'ed in the third round of a fight many observers called "the greatest three rounds of boxing in history". Hearns had to wait until 1989 for a rematch with Sugar Ray Leonard, a fight which much of the public believed he won, flooring Leonard in both the 3rd and 11th rounds. However, the judges scored the fight a draw.

The Hearns family is a fixture on the Detroit sports scene. Thomas' mother, Lois Hearns, is a fight promoter. She owns, with her son, Hearns Entertainment, a company that has promoted many cards, including the Mike Tyson-Andrew Golota bout in 2000. Hearns' son Ronald Hearns is a rising boxer, and has fought on the undercard of his father's recent fights. Hearns is a popular figure and participates in many charity and celebrity events in Southeastern Michigan. As far back as 1983, Hearns sponsored events to help support the Detroit Public Library, and during Super Bowl XL in 2006, he helped benefit the The Greater Detroit Charitable Foundation gala dinner.