FREE HIT MAN: THE THOMAS HEARNS STORY PDF Brian Hughes,Damian Hughes | 240 pages | 01 Apr 2010 | MILO BOOKS | 9781903854907 | English | Ramsbottom, United Kingdom Hit Man: The Thomas Hearns Story by Brian Hughes At the time, the story lines had not yet become vivid, the true significance of what was unfolding not yet clear. Since his defeat to Hit Man: The Thomas Hearns Story Ray Leonard in he had rebounded to win six in a row, including a decision over Wilfred Benitez for his second world title. And with Leonard retired, talk of a Hagler vs Hearns battlea clash between arguably the two finest champions in the game, continued to rise in volume. But while a showdown between Hearns and Hagler could have easily sold itself, the match-up lacked drama, a compelling storyline, that sense of inevitability which makes a prizefight an event. Enter Roberto Duran. Hagler Hit Man: The Thomas Hearns Story the decision over the former lightweight champion, but the victory did nothing to enhance his stature. It was that rare instance where the loser of a fight earned greater respect than the winner. Hearns vs Duran represented a huge opportunity Hit Man: The Thomas Hearns Story both boxers, but in fact only one was prepared to take full advantage. But as in that ignoble defeat, his performance against Hearns Hit Man: The Thomas Hearns Story the ring would be compromised by a lack of discipline outside of it. After his big win over Moore Hit Man: The Thomas Hearns Story his big payday from the Hagler bout, Roberto the party animal re-emerged with a vengeance. In a mood to celebrate after months of training and restraint, Duran hired his own personal orchestra to tour with him around Latin America so he could dance and sing and carouse night after night. The adulation of his fans, made more ardent for his having been lost and now found, went to his head, and all the whiskey and filet mignon to his belly. Reportedly, Duran entered training camp for the Hearns fight with great reluctance, and once there had to focus on losing weight more than anything else. In stark contrast, Hearns had perhaps the best camp of his entire career. Indeed, Emanuel Steward ranked Hit Man: The Thomas Hearns Story as such years later. That year Steward was involved in helping to prepare the U. It had never happened before; no one expected it to happen now. But then again, he had never faced a boxer with the unique gifts of Thomas Hearns, who knew how to make the most of his lanky frame and the leverage it could provide. And so he did, in large part because Hearns and Duran were at diametrically opposed positions on the arcs of their respective careers. Duran, at 33, came into the ring past his peak and something Hit Man: The Thomas Hearns Story than highly motivated, while Hearns, just 25, was primed and arguably never sharper. Generally a slow starter, Duran looked to take his time and find his rhythm but the taller, stronger, more assertive Hearns never gave him a chance. With a minute left in the opener Hearns struck with two hard rights and chased Duran into the ropes. All in all, it was a disheartening opening round for Roberto and his fans, but it was about to get much worse. Forcing Duran to retreat, Hearns got home a hard right to the head followed by a left to the body, and the combination clearly shook the smiling Panamanian. Anticipating the opening, Hearns immediately smashed Duran on the jaw with a vicious straight right that floored the former lightweight terror for only the third time in his long Hit Man: The Thomas Hearns Story. Duran beat the count but his body language and facial expression betrayed the fact he was in deep trouble. His legs looked to be gone, a fact confirmed when he tumbled to the canvas a second time as Hearns threw a relentless torrent of punches. Roberto rose again and, saved from further punishment by the bell, provided a comic image as he waved defiantly at Hearns while marching on unsteady pins to the wrong corner. Give Duran credit: he bravely stood his ground with his bigger, stronger and more powerful foe, even throwing a few right hands with bad intentions in an attempt to turn things around. But in addition to heart and courage, Duran was known for his defensive skill and against Hearns, this was absent. Dazed and looking to avoid punishment, Duran briefly clinched before backing into perfect punching range. The feared warrior who had defeated Sugar Ray Leonard and battled Marvelous Marvin for fifteen back-and-forth rounds had been rendered helpless in just four minutes, left face down in the resin dust, a sight few in boxing had ever imagined they would behold. It also transformed a prospective Thomas Hearns vs Marvelous Marvin Hagler contest from a major attraction to the fight absolutely everyone wanted to see, and all involved had one man to thank. It was Roberto Duran who made the Hagler vs Hearns match supremely viable and profitable. Hit Man: The Thomas Hearns Story Hearns wasted no time in throwing down the gauntlet. Hearns clearly fought a war-tattered Duran. Hearns was in his prime. The brain can only take so much punishment before it collapses. Not so. Duran went on to capture more world titles. If anyone was a shell of himself after fighting Hearns, it was Hagler. After Hearns and Mugabi, Marvelous Marvin was a totally shot fighter. Duran has a very good defense and when he retired, he retired with money and health. Hearns on the other hand…. Rich, Duran was in terrible shape for this fight. I was at his training camp and novices were landing right hands. As for Marvin after Mugabi and Hearns, yes he declined, but totally shot? That is just not so. The Hit Man. Painting by Damien Burton. Share Tweet. Boxiana Oct. Gene erclement3 sbcglobal. Rich says: March 22, at am. Joe says: June 16, at am. Antonio says: June 16, at pm. Latest News. October Fireworks October 20, Hawk Time Forever October 20, The Fight City Podcast No. The Fight City shop. Grant Brothers Boxing. Transnational Boxing Rankings. Known in years past as "Sin City" and "Babylon Hit Man: The Thomas Hearns Story the St. Lawrence", it saw more than its share of ring legends over the decades. A metropolis where hundreds of young warriors train and battle each day in its many gyms, it is where Archie Moore, Sugar Ray Leonard, Roberto Duran and Bernard Hopkins all found greatness. It is a city of fights and fighters, of hockey and heroes, of broken dreams and immortal glory, a city unlike any other. Montreal is The Fight City. June 15, Hearns vs Duran. The Hitman Shocks A Fight City Delivered by FeedBurner. By Debbie Schlussel. Tommy Hearns is broke. I know from personal experience because he used to be my neighbor. Hearns bought a home—which I recognized as one in our neighborhood just a couple of blocks away from our house —and was moving his single mother and multiple siblings into the house. I thought it was cool that we had a famous champion boxer living in Hit Man: The Thomas Hearns Story neighborhood. But it had a mauve Excalibur, an old Cadillac stretch limo and other gaudy cars consistently decorating the driveway. Ultimately, the Hearns home in a mostly Black and Orthodox Jewish neighborhood went into foreclosure, was repossessed by the bank, and finally purchased by a childhood friend of mine and his wife. The home had a lot of serious physical damage to it thanks to the Hearnses, and a lot of intense repair work had to be done. After it was all cleaned out and set up, my friends had a strange visit from one of the Hearns brothers. He went into the basement and, under some floorboard in the basement, recovered a large brick Hit Man: The Thomas Hearns Story cash. At such a young age, his walk and talk are stilted and slow. And, once when I saw him in jean shorts, you could see the scars, probably from operations or stitches for boxing related injuries and cuts. You can tell he was a famous boxer who took a lot of concussive hits and is now paying the delayed physical price. It saddens me. The man I thought was cool as a kid, the tough guy in the ring who had the cool nickname and the ostentatious cars—the man who took care of his family above taking care of himself—is now completely broke. Over the weekend, Hearns had to auction off his stuff to pay his tax debtand the IRS was on hand to collect. I have to do what I can. They the IRS have been very good to me. This will turn out all right. It is most important to straighten out this situation. Get past this position. Hearns, who said he would like to meet former light-heavyweight champion Antonio Tarver, 41, in a comeback fight, agreed he made a fortune. You tried to help them by Hit Man: The Thomas Hearns Story. I learned from a young age that you got to Hit Man: The Thomas Hearns Story out and earn what you want yourself. I usually refuse to commiserate with someone who had more money than most would ever dream of and blew it all through out-of-control spending. He had a lot going on outside the ring throughout his boxing career.