In 1982, Thomas Hearns fought through significant pain due to an injury, yet this did not stop him from showcasing his remarkable skill. Joe Rogan often cites Hearns when highlighting an athlete’s unique blend of reach and knockout power. With a staggering 48 knockouts in his professional career, Hearns earned his place among boxing’s iconic Four Kings.
His first bout against one of the other Kings brought the only defeat of his career—he was stopped by Sugar Ray Leonard in the 14th round. However, the following year, Hearns aimed to claim the title previously won by Leonard in 1979 through a late-round stoppage.
Sugar Ray Leonard himself revealed that his battles with Hearns pushed him to his limits, despite eventually losing to him once. After that loss, Hearns bounced back, winning three consecutive fights and moving up to capture another title in a higher weight division.
Wilfred Benitez, known as the youngest world boxing champion and later the youngest three-division titleholder, was scheduled to defend his WBC super welterweight belt against Hearns at the Louisiana Superdome on December 3, 1982. Despite an injury that sidelined his right hand in the final rounds, Hearns dominated the match, winning decisively on two judges’ scorecards and tying on the third, proving he was more than just a powerful puncher.
Hearns’ knockout achievements are memorable, including victories over Jose Cuevas (winning the WBA welterweight title in the second round in 1980), Roberto Duran (retaining light middleweight titles in 1984 by second-round stoppage), and James Schuler (winning the NABF Middleweight Title in the first round in 1986).
After capturing the light middleweight titles, Hearns defended them until he faced Marvin Hagler in 1985, a symbolic defeat. During that period, he achieved his only win over another member of the Four Kings by stopping Roberto Duran in the second round, marking the first time Duran had ever been stopped.
Fan Take: Thomas Hearns’ resilience and explosive power have cemented his legacy as one of boxing’s all-time greats. His story inspires fighting fans by demonstrating how heart and skill can overcome adversity, while his battles with fellow legends continue to shape the sport’s rich history.
