SteemSports Presenter:
SteemSports Editor:
The Hitman, The Cobra... whatever you call him, just know his real name. Thomas Hearns is one of the greatest welterweights of all time, and he still remains as one of the three kings of the 80s era, the man who holds company with the true greatest of the sport of boxing.
Wild battles with Duran, Hagler, and Sugar Ray, Hearns proved himself as a prodigal boxer with inordinate range and uncanny timing. His jab and right hand were so damn lethal, and his piston of a left hand was just as dangerous as his right.. he was a marvel in his day.
The only questions with Hearns were with his durability at times, and in retrospect, I see his weight cuts having a lot to do with this very fact. Sugar Ray was able to drop him, Hagler was able to finish him (after their absolute war), and Duran was just too short to hurt him at all...
...but if Roberto connected, it may have been over... that is why that particular fight was so enticing in its day. Regardless of the stature of Hearns among the kings of boxing in that day, he was able to whitewash everyone else in the division... mostly by vicious knockout.
The Hitman is a perfect example of a fighter who uses his reach incredibly well, and fights behind a monstrous jab that is almost as feared as a devastating punch from the power side. The piston like forward punch acted as a stun machine against most formidable opponents of his day.
I like watching Hearns take out the best of them with his confounding reach and ability to cover distance like his moniker... he truly was a Cobra with a vicious bite. Cheers to the Hitman who paved the way for the longer, skinnier fighter. He was one of the best ever!
