Hearns became the first boxer in history to win world titles in four divisions. He would also become the first fighter in history to conquer 5 world titles in 5 different divisions.

He has scored many memorable knockouts in his career and is widely considered to be one of the greatest knockout artists of all time.

Hearns was voted the greatest Super Welterweight of all time by Ring Magazine and received the “Fighter of the Year” award in 1980 and 1984.

He fought 21 current, past or future world champions.

Blessed with exceptional height for a welterweight (6’1″), a broad back, and unusually long arms, Hearns had a unique build combined with destructive punching power. His promotional fight name was the Hit Man.

He is known best for his devastating right hand, his powerful left hook and for carrying his left hand low—a stance he used to lure foes into an exchange, as well as to maximize the speed and change the angle of his jab, a technique called the “flicker jab”.

As a fighter, his aggression set him apart, controlling fights with his incredible reach, power and great boxing skills. He lost only one decision in his entire career, at the age of 33.

Amateur career

Hearns had an outstanding amateur record of 155–8. In 1977, he won the National Amateur Athletic Union Light Welterweight Championship, defeating Bobby Joe Young of Steubenville, Ohio, in the finals. He also won the 1977 National Golden Gloves Light Welterweight Championship.

Professional career

Hearns began his professional boxing career in Detroit, Michigan, under the tutelage of Emanuel Steward in 1977.
He won eight titles in six weight classes during his pro career, defeating boxing hall of famers such as Pipino Cuevas, Wilfred Benítez,Virgil Hill and Roberto Durán. Hearns started his career by knocking out his first 17 opponents and quickly became one of the most feared and respected young boxers emerging in the late 1970s. In 1980, Hearns carried his 28-0 record into a world title match against Mexico’s dreaded Pipino Cuevas. With 11 title defenses, Cuevas was a formidable opponent. Hearns ended Cuevas’s 4-year reign by knocking him out in 2 rounds. Hearns was voted “Fighter of the Year” by Ring Magazine in 1980.

He defended the WBA World Welterweight Championship three times, defeating Luis Primera (KO 6), Randy Shields (KO 12), and Pablo Baez (KO 4).

In 1981, Hearns the WBA champion, with a 32-0 record (30 KOs), fought World Boxing Council champion Sugar Ray Leonard (30-1) to unify the World Welterweight Championship in a classic bout dubbed “The Showdown”. In this legendary fight, Hearns suffered his first professional defeat when Leonard stopped him in the 14th round. In the 13th round, Leonard, behind on points on all 3 judges scorecards, needed a knockout to win. He came on strong and put Hearns through the ropes at the end of the round. Hearns was dazed, totally out of gas and recieved a count but was saved by the bell. Leonard, with his left eye shut and time running out, resumed his attack in the 14th. Hearns started the round boxing and moving, but after staggering Hearns with an overhand right, Leonard pinned Hearns against the ropes. After another combination to the body and head, referee Davey Pearl stopped the fight. Hearns and Leonard banked a combined 17 million dollars for the fight, making it the largest purse in sports history. The following year, Leonard retired due to a detached retina caused by Hearns jab, and there would be no rematch until 1989.
Hearns moved up in weight and won the WBC Super Welterweight World Title from boxing legend and 3-time world champion Wilfred Benítez (44-1-1) in New Orleans in December 1982 and defended that title against European champion Luigi Minchillo (42-1) (W 12), Roberto Durán (KO 2), no.1 contender Fred Hutchings (29-1) (KO 3), and #1 contender Mark Medal (26-2) (TKO 8). During his reign at this weight, the 2 round destruction of the legendary Roberto Durán, in which he became the first boxer to KO Duran, is seen as his pinnacle achievement, earning him his second Ring Magazine “Fighter of the Year” award in 1984.

During his time as Super Welterweight champion, Hearns also ventured into the middleweight division, losing a legendary battle to World Champion Marvin Hagler in 1985. Billed “The Fight”, (later known as The War), this superbout is commonly known as the 3 greatest rounds in history. The legendary battle elevated both fighters to superstar status. Hearns was able to stun Hagler soon after the opening bell, but he subsequently broke his right hand in the first round. He did, however, manage to open a deep cut over Hagler’s nose that caused the ring doctor to consider a stoppage. The fight, however, was allowed to continue at this point, with the ringside commentators remarking on the fact that, “the last thing Hagler wants or needs is for this fight to be stopped on a cut.” The battle did go back and forth some, but Hearns was unable to captialize on his early successes against Hagler, and the hand injury ultimately contributed to his undoing. After the injury, he was unable to throw the type of devastating right hand power punches for which he was known. As a result he began to use lateral movement and a good jab to keep Hagler at bay as best he could under the circumstances. This tactic worked fairly well, but in the third round a smiling Hearns turned his back on Hagler after an exchange. This grave mistake allowed Hagler to trap Hearns on the ropes, where a crushing right hand by Hagler knocked Hearns down. Hearns beat the count but was totally gone and the referee stopped the fight. Despite the loss, Hearns garnered a tremendous amount of respect from fans and boxing aficionados alike. Considering the popularity of the fight and the level of competition a rematch would seem to be a foregone conclusion. Sadly for all fight fans, this was not to be.

Hearns quickly made amends by dispatching undefeated rising star James “Black Gold” Shuler with a devastating first round knockout in 1986. Sadly, 2 weeks after the fight, Shuler was killed in a motorcycle accident. Hearns presented the NABF Championship belt to Shuler’s family at his funeral, saying he deserved to keep the belt as he had held it longer than Hearns.
Other notable World Title fights included the 6 knockdowns of 3-time world champion Dennis Andries to win the WBC Light Heavyweight World Title in March 1987, his four-round destruction of the feared Juan Roldán (63-2) later that year to claim the WBC Middleweight World Title, his TKO “Ring Magazine 1988 upset of the year” loss to Iran Barkley in his first defense of that same title, and his win against James “the Heat” Kinchen (44-3) for the WBO Super Middleweight Title.

Hearns had to wait until 1989 for a rematch with Sugar Ray Leonard, this time for the WBC Super Middleweight title. This was Hearns’s sixth Superfight, a fight which much of the public believed Hearns won, flooring Leonard in both the 3rd and 11th rounds. However, the judges scored the fight a controversial draw. Leonard later admitted that Hearns had beat him and that he was gifted the draw, stating the fighters were 1-1 in his book.

1991 would see one last great performance by the aging Hitman as he challenged the undefeated WBA Light Heavyweight Champion Virgil Hill. In Hill’s 11th defense of the title, Hearns would return to his amateur roots and outbox the champion to win a convincing decision and add a 6th World Title to his illustrious career.

Later in his career, Hearns also won 2 Cruiserweight titles, the WBU and the IBO, making him the only man in history to have won undisputed titles at Welterweight, Super Welter, Middle, Super Middle, Light Heavy and Cruiserweight.

Accomplishments

The first man ever to win four world titles in four weight classes (1987-10-29): from 147 to 154 to 175 to 160 to be the first ever Quadruple Champion in boxing.

The first man ever to win five world titles in five different boxing divisions: (1988-11-04): from 147 to 154 to 175 to 160 to 168. The first ever Quintuple Champion in boxing.

The first man to win a world title at welterweight (147) and then later win a world title at super middleweight (1988-11-04).

The first man to win a world title at welterweight (147) and then later win a world title at light-heavyweight (1987-03-07).

The first man to win a world title at super welterweight (154) and then later win a world title at super middleweight (1988-11-04).

The first man to win a world title at super welterweight (154) and then later win a world title at light-heavyweight (1987-03-07).

The first man to win a world title at middleweight (160) and then later win a world title at super middleweight (1988-11-04).

The first man to win a world title at super middleweight (168) and then later win a world title at light heavyweight title (1991-06-03).

The first man to win a world title at light heavyweight (175) and then later win a world title at middleweight (1987-10-29).

The first man to win a world title at light heavyweight (175), win a world title at middleweight and later win another light heavyweight title (1991-06-03).

The 11th man to win three different titles in three different weight divisions (1987-03-07): 147 to 154 to 175 to be a Triple Champion.

The 42nd WBA world welterweight (147) champion.
The 18th WBC world super welterweight (154) champion.
The 11th The Ring super welterweight (154) champion.
The 19th WBC world middleweight (160) champion.
The 14th WBC world light heavyweight (175) champion.
The 36th WBA world light heavyweight (175) champion.
The 8th WBU world cruiserweight (190) champion.
The 7th IBO world cruiserweight champion.

Personal

Hearns’ family is a fixture on the Detroit sports scene. His mother, Lois Hearns, is a fight promoter. Their company, “Hearns Entertainment”, has promoted many cards, including the Mike Tyson-Andrew Golota bout in 2000. His son Ronald Hearns is also a boxer, and has fought on the undercard of his father’s last couple of fights. He currently lives in Southfield, Michigan (a suburb of Detroit). Due to personal financial issues, Hearns was forced to auction off his possessions at The Auction Block of Detroit, Michigan on April 3, 2010. Items included were a 1957 Chevy, 47′ Fountain boat, and a slew of collectors memorabilia. His debt to the IRS was $250,000. He took responsibility for repaying the entire debt, which he said was accrued from being overly generous toward his large extended family.