Thomas ‘The Hitman’ Hearns suffered only five losses in his 67-fight career.
Thomas Hearns retired from boxing in 2006 after knocking out 58-10-3 Shannon Landberg.
He left behind a record of 61-5-1, and lost to only four men, one of whom being Sugar Ray Leonard, who he drew with in their rematch (though even Leonard admits Hearns should have won).
He lost twice to one man, with the second loss being just as shocking as the first, which happened on this day 37 years ago.
Thomas Hearns was knocked out by Iran Barkley in Upset of The Year
In 1988, Hearns, known for his war with Marvin Hagler, then 45-2, was matched up against 24-4 Iran Barkley.
Barkley was the underdog, and in the first two rounds of their fight, it showed. Hearns landed on Barkley without fail, bloodying him with cuts above both eyes and one on his lip
Hearns looked dominant in the ring, unleashing a barrage of punches on Barkley’s body, though failing to defend himself from what Barkley threw back. A big right hand from Barkley sent Hearns to the canvas.
Though ‘The Hitman’ got up, it seemed the tide had turned completely, and Barkley had now tasted blood.
Barkley sent Hearns, who knocked Roberto Duran out, through the ropes, leading the referee to wave off the contest, awarding the underdog a KO win over a legend.
The rematch pitted a sniper against a knife fighter, and also ended in upset
Four years later, in 1992, Hearns finally got his chance to redeem himself, and faced Barkley once more.
The fight took place in a defense of Hearns’ WBA light heavyweight world title, and despite his previous loss to Barkley, Hearns was still the favorite going into the fight.
Though the fight didn’t end in a stoppage for either man, Hearns, who sparred Muhammad Ali, was dropped in the fourth round.
Pat Putnam of Sports Illustrated wrote of the rematch: “Hearns had promised a boxing exhibition, but Barkley’s first rush carried the champion back into the ropes. There they stayed, trading fierce body shots, a sniper inviting a knife fighter to a duel in a foxhole.”
He continued: “In Round 8, Hearns’s nose, swollen to twice its normal size, began splashing blood on his trunks. His left cheek was twice the size of the right. Barkley’s eyes were swollen, and he was leaking blood from his mouth.”
Barkley won again, this time, by split decision.