The Boxing History Blog

07th December 1989, Mirage Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas WBC Super-Middleweight Title Ray Leonard Vs Roberto Duran Thomas Hearns's trainer, Emanuel Steward, expected Leonard-Hearns III to go ahead in November 1989 at Caesars Palace, to settle the impasse produced from their second meeting. "We are tentatively set to go into training for that bout on 01st September," Steward was quoted as saying on 07th July 1989 in the New York Times. "But this time Thomas will have parity in the purses paid to the fighters." However, team Hearns was left disappointed as on 16th July 1989 a press conference was held at the famous Roseland Ballroom in Manhattan, New York, to officially announce Ray Leonard vs Roberto Duran III. "Everybody who has a Thoams Hearns fight signed and sealed for the 02nd November at Caesars Palace is way ahead of the game," claimed Mike Trainer. "This is a better deal for Ray, because Hearns was seeking parity. He wanted as...

12th June 1989, Caesars Palace, Las Vegas WBC Super-Middleweight Title Ray Leonard  Vs Thomas Hearns  Thomas Hearns, eleven months after being involved in an eight-minute war with Marvin Hagler, stepped through the ropes to take on NABF middleweight champion James Shuler. The champion was also ranked number one by the WBC, but Hearns needed just one-minute and 13 seconds to claim the title. Unfortunately Shuler was killed in a motorcycle accident ten days after his knockout defeat. On 23rd June 1986 Hearns boiled down to the light-middleweight division for the final time to defend his WBC championship against Mark Medal, winning by an eighth round TKO. In the October he put his NABF middleweight crown on the line against Doug DeWitt, successfully holding on to the belt with a twelve round unanimous points decision. In March 1987 Hearns made an audacious challenge to WBC light-heavyweight champion Dennis Andries. The champion was making his second defence of th...