Thomas “The Hitman” Hearns turns 54 today. Thomas Hearns became the first boxer to win the championship in four divisions. For all his great wins his most famous bouts were ones he lost, the fight against Sugar Ray Leonard and Marvin Hagler. His record as a fighter was 61-5-1. 48 of his wins by KO.

The 1981 fight with Sugar Ray was a great fight. Hearns was leading late in the fight, to win Sugar Ray needed a knockout and he got it. I went to the Civic Arena in Pittsburgh to watch that one on closecircuit television. I was rooting for Hearns my brother for Leonard. It was an exciting fight.

The Hearns-Hagler fight was a war. 3 rounds of toe to toe fighting. The greatest three round fight in boxing history. Another great fight. Hearns fought his last fight in 2006. Like most fighters he hung around too long. Great fighter though.