Boxing’s Greatest Weapons Vol. 4: Thomas Hearns’ Right Hand

By Ian Murphy

Heat-seeking missile. This is an apt description of formidable multi-divisional champion Thomas Hearns’ right hand smash. With this devastating weapon, the man known as the “The Hit Man” has retired more men than Social Security. Out of his 61 career wins, he knocked out 48 for a nearly 80% KO percentage. Bearing in mind that Hearns fought in divisions ranging from Welterweight to Crusierweight, that is a stunning figure. The “Motor City Cobra” made a living knocking out opponents in spectacular fashion and many great fighters wilted under the heat of Hearns’ right hand flame thrower.

In addition to his big right, Hearns was also a good boxer with a slick and stinging bayonet of a jab. He took full advantage of his long and rangy frame, using his reach to keep his opponents at bay. The “Hit Man” used his jab both to the head and body with great expertise. It was his measuring tool, with the right hand at the ready for the finish. In particular, Hearns’ destructions of Roberto Duran and Pipino Cuevas illustrate his expert usage of range to effectively set up his opponents. In both cases it was the jab and its masterful application that enabled Hearns to fully employ his huge right hand finisher, and this article could just as easily be about Thomas’ jab.

Example 1: Pipino Cuevas Vs Thomas Hearns: Welterweight Championship – August 1980

Before this August, 1980 bout, rugged Welterweight champion Jose “Pipino” Cuevas of Mexico was held in high regard, especially as a puncher. Cuevas rightfully was the favorite going into his 12th title defense against the up and coming 21 year old Thomas Hearns. The “Hit Man” had cemented his status as a contender by knocking out former champion Angel Espada earlier that year. Pipino was a busy and popular champion, often finishing his opponents with big hooks and breaking jaws in the process. At the time, Hearns was still just a highly touted prospect, but many felt he would be a stiff test for the hard-punching champion. Cuevas had reason for concern, as Hearns had knocked out 26 of his 28 opponents. What Cuevas wasn’t prepared for was the boxing ability of his young challenger.

When the bout started, Hearns immediately looked to establish his jab, relying on his superior reach to keep the slugging Cuevas out of range. The “Motor City Cobra’s” speed was in full effect in this bout, blinding the slower, smaller champion with lightning fast jabs to the head and body. Cuevas was waiting for Hearns to telegraph his right to land a big left counter, and came close, but the fleet-footed Hearns deftly avoided them and expertly parried away anything he couldn’t slip. Midway through the first round, Hearns landed a hard right to the champion’s face and Cuevas was momentarily stunned. A worried look came over Pipino’s face, as if he knew the Cobra was just waiting for an opportunity to end the match. Hearns was mixing up the location of his punches at a level of skill that belied his comparative lack of experience. Cuevas is now backing up and just cannot overcome the rangy challenger’s reach. With a minute left in the first round, Hearns followed a retreating Cuevas and guided him into a corner, unloading a barrage of punches. The round ended with a battering ram right hand from Hearns with Cuevas landing nothing of note. Total domination by the Hit Man.

The theme of this fight is Hearns’ mastery of range and keeping his overmatched foe at bay with his bayonet of a jab, stabbing, stinging and slashing at an increasingly helpless Cuevas. In round two, Hearns continued his aggressive yet methodical attack, measuring Cuevas with the jab, looking to find the perfect time to unleash that right hand. A minute or so into the round, Hearns lands a big right uppercut and backs the champion up into corner and just unloads punches from all angles with the speed and rhythm of an AK-47 machine gun. A brave Cuevas is just trying to survive, reeling all over the ring, but still on his feet and fighting. With thirty seconds to go, Hearns lands a laser beam right hand. Desperately the champion tries to stay on his feet, but Cuevas’ legs betray him and he is wide open for the seemingly instantaneous right hand smash that follows. Pipino is hit so hard he gets slammed to the canvas as opposed to falling or dropping. A perfect metaphor for the “hammer and the nail”. Incredibly Cuevas the Warrior gets up at the count of 8, but the referee wisely stops the fight and saves the proud champion further punishment.

Following his championship win versus Pipino Cuevas, Hearns had a few tune up fights and then faced Sugar Ray Leonard in late 1981 in a Welterweight Unification bout. In a thrilling classic, the Cobra got bested by a resilient Leonard who came from behind to TKO Hearns in the 14th round. Had it been a 12 round match like today, Thomas Hearns would have been the winner. Tommy came back strong following his loss to Leonard by defeating the enigmatic Wilfred Benitez for a piece of the 154lb title in December 1982. After a few more victories, Hearns was then matched up in a high profile fight with fellow multi-divisional champion Roberto Duran.

Example 2: Thomas Hearns Vs Roberto Duran: Junior Middleweight Championship – June 1984

Prior to this match up, all-time great Roberto “Hands of Stone” Duran was coming off an impressive showing in a close decision loss versus Middleweight Champion Marvelous Marvin Hagler. Thomas Hearns had rattled off six straight victories following his classic match with Sugar Ray Leonard in 1981. The Motor City Cobra had been having hand issues as of late and word circulated that his problematic paws could mitigate his punching power. In support of these suspicions, Hearns had defeated his last three opponents via decision. Hearns assured the boxing world and his fans that his hand was fine and happily reclaimed the “Hit Man” moniker. Despite Duran’s showing against the powerful and brutally strong Hagler and Hearns’ recent hand troubles, Hearns was a 2 to 1 favorite.

Hearns was at the absolute peak of his powers and Duran (while still formidable) was not at his best. The Panamanian was famous for blowing up in weight between bouts, and this has a detrimental effect on conditioning. The size disparity between the two was also quite evident, as the 6’1 Hearns had matured physically into an imposing Junior Middleweight (154lbs) while the 5’7 Duran was at his best at 135lbs. Their ages (25 for Hearns, 32 for Duran) were more than likely a factor, but Duran had looked good in his loss to Hagler, so it is more probable that Hearns was just a tough match up for Roberto.

During the first round, the Hit Man changed levels beautifully, never allowing his crafty veteran opponent into his preferred range. The bayonet jab was on full display, stabbing Duran repeatedly to the head and body, upsetting his rhythm and making it tough to land any telling blows. Midway through the round, Hearns began to open up and fire combinations at a visibly overwhelmed and flustered Duran. The “Hit Man” was backing Duran up and near the end of the round, Hearns jabbed to the body and feinted low with the right, and clipped the Panamanian with a hard right hand as Duran dropped his left to protect his midsection. Duran rose at the count of five, a little hurt, but still in the fight. As soon as the referee allowed the fight to continue, Hearns was all over his smaller opponent, swarming with blistering bi-level combinations, punctuating a particular flurry with a hard body shot that again floored Duran. Roberto got up immediately, but the bell temporarily saved him from further punishment.

The end was near for the tough, yet clearly overmatched Duran. When the bell sounded to begin the second round, Hearns came out slowly, measuring his hurt opponent for that big right hand finisher. Like a shark smelling blood, Hearns stalked and circled Duran, waiting for the right moment to unleash hell. Thirty seconds into the round, Hearns sensed the end and opened up and emptied his entire arsenal on Duran. Roberto swayed and swooned, but stayed on his feet, desperately trying to survive and avoid the Hit Man’s rapid-fire onslaught. A retreating Duran found himself up against the ropes giving Hearns the perfect opportunity to land without any fear of reprisal. The Cobra struck with a double-jab to the body and closed the show with a massive right hand to the jaw. Duran fell face first to the canvas and it was so conclusive that the referee didn’t even bother to count. The final punch landed so hard that you could hear the thud and hiss from Hearns’ compressed glove, and it was so loud that it was easy to mistake it for a sound effect. This fight is truly one of the greatest knockouts ever captured on film.

In addition to the above examples, Hearns’ signature punch was on display in high profile matches with James Shuler (KO1), Dennis Andries (KO10) and Juan Roldan (KO4). All of these victims were either champions or respected contenders. In an era dominated by the “Four Kings” (Leonard, Hearns, Duran and Hagler), Thomas Hearns more than held his own, having epic battles with all three of his great adversaries. He also defeated Wilfred Benitez, a “Fifth King” if you will. Out of all the great fighters Hearns has fought, only iron-jawed Middleweight Champion Marvin Hagler could resist Hearns’ firepower (even in defeat, Hearns hurt and floored the others). As far as Hearns’ historical rating as a hitter, he is listed at #18 in Ring Magazine’s 100 Greatest Punchers.
Coincidentally, his noted KO victim Pipino Cuevas is listed at #31. Hearns’ ranking is higher than any of his high profile contemporaries, which further emphasizes the danger the Hit Man carried in his right hand.