HEARNS WINS, BUT WHAT’S NEXT?
By Uncategorized July 31st, 2005
The good news was that Thomas Hearns was able to go eight rounds and was strong enough to be laying some hurt on his opponent as the fight wore on.
The bad news was that the opponent was pedestrian John Long.
The 46-year-old Hearns prevailed as Long retired in his corner between the eighth and ninth rounds at Cobo Hall in Detroit last night. The crowd was somewhat disappointing - the Detroit News reported it at around 3000 - and in the aftermath, even though Tommy talked about continuing on in pursuit of another world title belt, his son seemed unusually reserved.
“My dad is a very determined guy. He’s going to do what he wants. I guess we just have to be here to support him,” said Ronald Hearns, a pro middleweight who ran his record to 7-0 by scoring a first-round knockout on the undercard.
There were a couple of anxious moments in the first round, as Long came out aggressively and nailed Hearns with a few shots. But ultimately Long didn’t have the physical tools to compete. At the time of the stoppage the cards all had Hearns ahead 6-1-1 in rounds.
Hearns came in at 177 pounds, which means he will probably campaign as a light heavyweight. He figures the world title shot might come two or three fights into the future, but the small crowd would seem to indicate that he’d have a tough time bringing that kind of fight to the Motor City on the strength of his drawing power.
July 31st, 2005 at 6:00 pm
My son and I just watched Tommy and Ronald Hearns last night at Cobo Arena, so my thoughts on old fighters seem to apply to both Hearns and Holyfield. Both Hearns and Holyfield are undisputed ledgends in boxing, and both can’t seem to give father time his due. Admittedly Evander has taken it a little farther down the road than Hearns in his last few fights, but let’s face it, both have earned the respect of any boxing personage regardless of how their careers end. It hurts to see the likes of Evander getting humiliated by lesser fighters almost as much as the memory of the Ali’s last two fights still haunts us, but in the end the final choice to enter the ring is theirs, they have earned the right to choose how they end their storied careers. We here in Detroit fear the same with Tommy Hearns if he continues, its obvious to all who were there that Tommy’s legs are about 45 years old. The sense of relief that the fight ended without any serious injury was the overwhelming theme of the night. With the utmost respect I wish both Hearns and Holyfield only the best life has to offer, and pray only for their safety and health. As to their choice to continue fighting, it’s not for us to question, and our opinions are moot, we are not the ones in the ring, they are.
August 2nd, 2005 at 3:37 am
As a teenager I wondered why Larry Holmes fought to lose his dignity against Mike Tyson. Holmes was 38, Tyson 22. The end was brutal.
It always is for old fighters.
If boxing lessons were learned, there’d be no old fighters. Every champ has fought a man well past his prime. Most champs probably thought they’d never make a comeback or fight years past their prime.
Most champs are wrong.
I don’t want to watch Tommy Hearns fight, or Evander Holyfield, or Oscar De la Hoya, or Kostya Tszyu or watch Riddick Bowe get back in the ring.
We can talk about human rights, it is their choice, almost a divine right.
Former champs know more than most.
They should know boxing consumes heroes and villains, its pure nature unable to differentiate between good and evil.
Things are certain in boxing. Fighters lose, they get knocked out, and make ill-fated comebacks.
Rocky Marciano is an exception, maybe, on a lesser level, Lennox Lewis.
I admire Tommy Hearns. I supported him through his fights with Leonard and Hagler. Hearns had grace, heart and power. He was a dignified champ.
I wish he would keep that dignity, by not fighting anymore. Live vicariously through his son.
Let the fans do the same.
We have enough memories of Tommy, let the junior Hearns make the next generation.
August 2nd, 2005 at 7:07 am
I think if Tommy wants another title, he should fight the NABA cruiserweight title holder in his home of Columbus, OH. I am sure the seats would be filled for that one.