Living legend Thomas Hearns saddened to see old Kronk gym destroyed by fire

Living legend Thomas Hearns saddened to see old Kronk gym destroyed by fire

Once a cauldron of activity, a building that housed a boxing gym that saw such special talent as Thomas Hearns, Hilmer Kenty, Milton McCrory and other future world champions hone their craft under the tutelage of the late Emanuel Steward, the old Detroit Kronk gym was sadly destroyed by fire over the weekend.

Police in Detroit strongly suspect arson and the building, which closed in 2006, is now mere debris. An investigation is now underway.

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Sugar Ray and The Hitman have mutual respect for one another – they earned it

Sugar Ray and The Hitman have mutual respect for one another – they earned it

Boxing legends Sugar Ray Leonard and Thomas “The Hitman” Hearns are currently in Las Vegas – the scene of many of their sensational, unforgettable fights – to attend tonight’s Nevada Boxing Hall of Fame.

Hearns, a former five-weight king, will be inducted, Leonard, also a five-weight ruler, will be taking care of the induction duties. Once venomous rivals, the two all-time greats who met in 1981, at welterweight, and in 1989, at super-middleweight, have nothing but mutual respect these days. They earned it in the ring, in so doing thrilling the world with 26 rounds of superb boxing.

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Happy Birthday, Hagler-Hearns! Is it still the greatest fight ever?

Happy Birthday, Hagler-Hearns! Is it still the greatest fight ever?

Imagine if, right now, you were eagerly awaiting the big fight tonight and it was Marvin Hagler-Thomas Hearns. Back when this one was coming up, fans everywhere knew they would get a great fight; they just didn’t know how great. For the three utterly explosive rounds these two special fighters gave us shocked even hardened fight experts, as the terrific HBO “The Tale Of Hagler-Hearns” show explains.

Often voted as THE greatest fight in boxing history; the result of the eight minutes of furnace-like warfare – a whole 15 rounds of action crammed into eight minutes – Hagler-Hearns has reached a near mythical status. Turn it on right now, and see if you still get shivers down your spine when watching that opening round; this without a doubt THE greatest opening three minutes in all of boxing (name a better, greater, more unbelievably exciting opening round if you can!)

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Living legend Thomas Hearns has Detroit street named after him

Living legend Thomas Hearns has Detroit street named after him

Boxing legend Thomas Hearns will never, ever be forgotten by fight fans and yesterday, in his beloved Detroit, “The Hitman” was assured a little more immortality by having a street named after him. The former multi-weight king – Hearns winning major belts at 147, 154, 160, 168 and 175 pounds – attended the televised ceremony where “Thomas Hearns Avenue” was officially opened.

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Hagler-Hearns – when they tried to set up a rematch

Hagler-Hearns - when they tried to set up a rematch

Once again, Marvellous Marvin Hagler and Thomas “Hitman” Hearns would box under the bright lights of Las Vegas, this time together, on the same night, against dangerous opposition. It was almost a full year after these two warriors had gone to hell and back against one other, and the grand plan for promoter Bob Arum was to set up a Hagler-Hearns II. Fans got two thrilling fights for their money this night in 1986 – one ending via violently quick KO, the other being an absolute war of attrition – as a rematch of the greatest fight in history was in the works.

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