Beats, Boxing and Mayhem

Thomas “Hitman” Hearns, one of boxing’s most well-known Pound 4 Pound greats who won titles from welterweight to light-heavyweight, received his first nomination to the International Boxing Hall of Fame today along with Mark “Too Sharp” Johnson and Darius Michalczewski.

Hearns began his career in 1977 as a skinny welterweight with a 78 reach. At 6’1 with devastating power in his right hand, Hearns stormed through the division and won the WBA title with a memorable KO of feared puncher Pipino Cuevas. He engaged in classic matches against Hall of Famers Sugar Ray Leonard, Marvin Hagler and Roberto Duran, making up what later became known as the 80′s Fab Four of boxing.

Hearns would compete as high as cruiserweight before finally retiring in 2006 with a final record of 61-5-1 (48 KOs).