Sugar Ray Leonard vs Thomas Hearns I - Highlights (The SHOWDOWN)

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September 16th, 1981. A great boxing rivalry began on this day, as two legends clashed for the first time in “The Showdown”, to crown an Undisputed World Welterweight Champion as Sugar Ray Leonard and “The Hitman” Thomas Hearns defends their WBA and WBC titles respectively.

This fight is memorable not only due to the fact that two boxing greats met in the ring, but its tremendous ebb and flow coupled with spectacular action as both fighters took turns to turn the tide on one another before the unforgettable ending.

Going into the fight, Hearns was undefeated and Leonard had won world titles in two weight classes. Hearns had a record of 32(30)-0 while Leonard was 30(21)-1, with his lone loss being to the legendary "Hands of Stone” Roberto Duran in a classic battle known as “The Brawl in Montreal”.

On August 1980, The Motor City Cobra “Thomas Hearns” scored a spectacularly memorable knockout against power punching reigning WBA Welterweight Champion José “Pipino” Cuevas.

Hearns bagged the WBA Welterweight strap from Cuevas. This victory shot Hearns into super stardom as Cuevas held the WBA title for 5 years, with a total of 11 successful title defenses, with 10 of those via knockout wins.

Hearns made 3 successful title defenses of his WBA strap with stoppage victories over Pablo Baez, Luis Primera and the extremely durable Randy Shields.

On November 30th 1979, Leonard scored a spectacular TKO victory over Puerto Rican legend “El Radar” Wilfred Benítez just 6 seconds before the final bell to bag the WBC, The Ring, and Lneal Welterweight titles. He made one successful title defense, knocking out Dave Boy Green with a beautiful combination that ended with a classic left hook.

Leonard then meet Roberto Duran for the first time in Quebec, Canada where his WBC, The Ring and Lineal Welterweight straps were on the line. Both fighter clashed in one of the most unforgettable title fights in the sport of boxing but Leonard suffers his first professional defeat despite a valiant effort against the Panamanian legend. However, Leonard would recapture all of his Welterweight titles from Duran in a rematch in the same year; making Roberto Duran quit in the infamous “No Mas” encounter.

Highlights Leonard vs Duran I & II;

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ugdPzhZSgKk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VpEJK4Bbc9U

In March 1981, Leonard continue his winning ways by stopping Larry Bonds to defend his Welterweight titles and in his next fight Leonard became a two weight world champion after stopping Ayub Kalule via TKO9; winning the WBA, The Ring, and Lineal Light Middleweight titles.

Leonard and Hearns were part of "The Fabulous Four”, which created a new wave of popularity in the lower weight divisions during the post Muhammad Ali era. The Fab Four consists of four great boxing legends; Sugar Ray Leonard, Thomas Hearns, Roberto Duran and Marvin Hagler. At one time or another, all of these fighters have fought each other in the ring.

The Ring named “The Showdown” as the Fight of the Year 1981 as well as the 9th greatest title fights of all time in 1996.

"You're blowing it, son. You're blowing it."
- Angelo Dundee (Leonard’s trainer)

Hope you guys enjoy this highlight video, and I will be working on their second fight! Remember to leave a comment, rate and subscribe! Keep punching boxing heads!

Видео Sugar Ray Leonard vs Thomas Hearns I - Highlights (The SHOWDOWN) канала Jeff Jackson