Thomas Hearns vs. Michael Olajide

Thomas Hearns vs. Michael Olajide, billed as The Barrage at Trump Taj, was a professional boxing match contested on April 28, 1990 for the WBO super middleweight title.

The Barrage at Trump Taj
DateApril 28, 1990
VenueTrump Taj Mahal in Atlantic City, New Jersey
Title(s) on the lineWBO super middleweight title
Tale of the tape
Boxer Thomas Hearns Michael Olajide
Nickname The Hitman The Silk
Hometown Detroit, Michigan, U.S. Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Purse $1,600,000 $250,000
Pre-fight record 46–3–1 27–2
Height 6 ft 1 in (185 cm) 6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
Weight 168 lb (76 kg) 166 lb (75 kg)
Style Orthodox Orthodox
Recognition WBO super middleweight champion
Result
Hearns wins via unanimous decision (120–107, 119–107, 119–110)

Background

Following a controversial draw in his previous fight, it was announced that Thomas Hearns would make his second defense of the WBO super middleweight title against Michael Olajide. The bout was set to be the first to be held at the then-newly opened Trump Taj Mahal owned by Donald Trump. Trump was in the midst of his high-profile separation (and eventual divorce) from wife Ivana which overshadowed the pre-fight press conferences.[1]

Olajide had been a top prospect in the middleweight division, becoming the #2 middleweight contender in 1987 and securing a title shot for the vacant IBF middleweight against the #1 ranked Hearns, but Hearns turned down the fight in order to move up to the light heavyweight division.[2] With Hearns leaving the middleweight division, Olajide ascended to the #1 middleweight, but lopsided losses to Frank Tate and Iran Barkley had hurt his status as one of the premier up-and-comers. In an effort to resurrect his career, Olajide had parted ways with this father, Michael Olajide, Sr. in favor of legendary trainer Angelo Dundee prior to landing the Hearns fight.[3]

The fight

Hearns cruised to a relatively easy unanimous decision victory. Hearns served as the aggressor for the entire duration of the fight as Olajide took a more defensive approach and offered little offensively in the fight. Hearns would score the fight's lone knockdown after dropping Olajide with a right cross. Olajide would answer the referee's 10-count at 7 and withstood a flurry of punches while against the ropes as Hearns looked to finish the fight. The fight would ultimately go to the judge's scorecards with Hearns winning by large margins on all three; 120–107, 119–107 and 119–110.[4]

Fight card
Weight Class Weight vs. Method Round Notes
Super Middleweight 168 lbs. Thomas Hearns (c) def. Michael Olajide UD 12/12 Note 1
Light Heavyweight 175 lbs. Michael Moorer (c) def. Mario Melo KO 1/12 Note 2
Light Heavyweight 175 lbs. Anthony Hembrick def. Lenzie Morgan UD 8/8

^Note 1 For WBO Super Middlweight title
^Note 2 For WBO Light Heavyweight title

References
  1. Even a Champion Can't Steal Spotlight From Donald Trump, NY Times article, 1990-02-16, Retrieved on 2022-08-28
  2. No Word From Hearns, NY Times article, 1987-05-13, Retrieved on 2022-08-28
  3. Easy Doesn't Do It, Sports Illustrated article, 1990-05-07, Retrieved on 2022-08-28
  4. Hearns Drops Olajide, Earns Decision, Washington Post article, 1990-04-28, Retrieved on 2022-08-29
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