Thomas Hearns vs. Iran Barkley

Thomas Hearns vs. Iran Barkley, billed as Knockout Nite, was a professional boxing match contested on June 6, 1988, for the WBC middleweight title.

Knockout Nite
DateJune 6, 1988
VenueLas Vegas Hilton, Winchester, Nevada, U.S.
Title(s) on the lineWBC middleweight title
Tale of the tape
Boxer Thomas Hearns Iran Barkley
Nickname The Hitman The Blade
Hometown Detroit, Michigan, U.S. The Bronx, New York, U.S.
Purse $1,500,000 $250,000
Pre-fight record 45–2 (38 KO) 24–4 (15 KO)
Height 6 ft 1 in (185 cm) 6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
Weight 160 lb (73 kg) 160 lb (73 kg)
Style Orthodox Orthodox
Recognition WBC middleweight champion
4-division world champion
Result
Barkley wins via 3rd-round KO

Background

In his previous fight on October 29, 1987, Thomas Hearns had captured the middleweight title after knocking out Juan Roldán becoming the first four-division world champion in boxing history.[1]

Then on March 6, 1988, Iran Barkley beat Michael Olajide by technical knockout, becoming a top contender to WBC middleweight champion Thomas Hearns in the process.[2] Two weeks after Barkley's victory, the fight between Hearns and Barkley became official.[3] Having had only one title fight before his fight with Hearns, Barkley came into the fight as a 4–1 underdog.[4]

The fight

Hearns controlled the first two rounds, landing punches almost at will and winning both rounds on all three scorecards. Midway through the first round, Hearns had opened up a cut above Barkley's left eye, and by the end of the second Barkley had a cut above both his right eye and lower lip. In round three, Barkley got off to a quick start, but Hearns took control and hammered Barkley with body shots throughout the round. However, in the final minute of the round, Hearns threw a left jab and then briefly dropped his hands as he attempted to move to his left when Barkley caught him flush with a powerful right hand and then landed another as Hearns fell to the canvas. Clearly hurt from the exchange, Hearns struggled to get back up and barely answered the referee's 10-count. Hearns was allowed to continue, but was immediately met with a barrage from Barkley which sent him through the ropes. Referee Richard Steele would step in and stop the fight giving Barkley the victory at 2:39 of the round.[5]

The Ring magazine named the fight their Upset of the Year for 1988.[6]

Fight card
Weight Class Weight vs. Method Round Notes
Middleweight 160 lb Iran Barkley def. Thomas Hearns (c) TKO 3/12 Note 1
Super Lightweight 140 lb Roger Mayweather (c) def. Harold Brazier SD 12/12
Light Heavyweight 175 lb Virgil Hill (c) def. Ramzi Hassan UD 12/12
Super Bantamweight 122 lb Fabrice Benichou def. Efren Chavez UD 8/8
Light Heavyweight 175 lb Michael Moorer def. Keith McMurray TKO 2/4

^Note 1 For WBC Middleweight title
^Note 2 For WBC Super Lightweight title
^Note 3 For WBA Light Heavyweight title

References
  1. Hearns Is First To Take 4 Titles, NY Times article, 1987-10-30, Retrieved on 2020-04-26
  2. Olajide Is Stopped By Barkley in Fifth, NY Times article, 1988-03-07, Retrieved on 2020-04-26
  3. Thomas Hearns will defend his World Boxing..., LA Times article, 1988-03-23, Retrieved on 2020-04-26
  4. Barkley May Need Sister’s Protection When He Fights Hearns, LA Times article, 1988-05-31, Retrieved on 2020-04-26
  5. Barkley Stuns Hearns in 3d, NY Times article, 1988-06-07, Retrieved on 2020-04-28
  6. FROM THE ARCHIVE: ON THIS DAY: IRAN BARKLEY UPSETS THOMAS HEARNS FOR WBC MIDDLEWEIGHT TITLE, The Ring TV, 2019-06-06, Retrieved on 2020-04-28
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