06.06.08 – by James Slater: Exactly twenty years ago today, one of the biggest upsets in middleweight boxing history occurred at The Hilton Hotel, Las Vegas. 28-year-old Iran “The Blade” Barkley, a huge underdog, met defending WBC middleweight champion of the world Thomas “The Hitman” Hearns and scored an upset win that still beggars belief today..
Hearns, then aged 29 and making the first defence of the middleweight tile he’d won the previous October, was already accepted by all as a true boxing legend. In capturing his WBC 160 pound title Tommy had made history be becoming the very first man in the sport of boxing to win world titles in four different weight classes. Now he was giving the tough yet crude Barkley a shot at his newest title.
The fight was a mismatch for the first two rounds. Hitting Barkley with everything, Tommy was doing as he pleased. The hammering Iran was taking was brutal and some fans watching were made to wince. Only the incredibly gutsy challenger’s immense heart kept him in there. By the end of the 2nd round Barkley was badly busted up. Cut over both eyes, horrifically so over his left, Barkley was an almost pitiful sight. Still, he would not quit or give up trying to land a bomb – his only real chance right from the get go.
Astonishingly, bewilderingly and unforgettably he managed to do what he’d come for in round number three. Coming out fast at the start of the round, a desperate Barkley poured it on and had a touch of success. Hearns responded by switching his fearsome attack to the body. Landing some wicked shots to “The Blade’s” midsection, with his stiff left hand mostly, Tommy almost bent Barkley in half. But then it happened. Firing out a massive right hand to the head that Tommy never saw, Barkley sent the champion crashing to the mat. The follow-up right the challenger landed was not needed, as “The Hitman” was already on his way down.
Almost as astonishingly as Barkley’s on target haymaker was the fact that Hearns beat the count. In no shape to carry on, referee Richard Steele, in so doing proving he was not having one of his better nights, let the fight continue. Barkley was all over Hearns within seconds and Tommy sagged into, and almost through, the ropes. This time Steele did call a halt. At 2 minutes and 39 seconds of round three, Iran Barkley was the new WBC middleweight king. The official result was a TKO, but there was nothing much technical about this knockout. Hearns was indeed out, and with a capital O at that.
All these years later, it’s still hard to believe what happened in Vegas that night in June of 1988!