Sugar Ray Leonard vs Thomas Hearns Replay - HBO 9-26-81 - video Dailymotion

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The HBO Replay of WBC Welterweight Champion Sugar Ray Leonard facing WBA Champion Thomas Hearns.  With Sugar Ray in studio.

Transcript

00:00:00And now, from our HBO studios in New York, here is Barry Tompkins with special guest Sugar Ray Leonard.

00:00:19Hello, everybody. I'm Barry Tompkins, along with the undisputed welterweight champion of the world, Sugar Ray Leonard.

00:00:24Sounds pretty good to say undisputed, doesn't it?

00:00:26Over the next hour and a half, we are going to look back on that great fight in Las Vegas between Thomas Hearns and, of course, Sugar Ray Leonard.

00:00:32We'll watch the fight from opening bell until the decisive 14th round without any interruptions at all.

00:00:37And then we'll come back to the studio here, and we'll dissect some of the most important rounds of that fight, the 6th and the 7th,

00:00:42where it looked like Ray was going to run away and hide from his man, and, of course, the 13th and 14th,

00:00:47when, in fact, it was Thomas Hearns who did the running away and did the hiding.

00:00:50Great fight in Las Vegas.

00:00:51Ray, let me ask you, first of all, just a few days after that fight, have you really had a chance to sit back and savor the victory?

00:00:57Not really, Barry.

00:00:58You know, as a matter of fact, a fight such as that, it takes, it has such a mental strain on one's body,

00:01:05and it's going to take me another week or so to just recuperate completely.

00:01:09Are you aware of the things that are going on during the course of the fight?

00:01:12Were you aware, for instance, that you were, in fact, behind on points going to the 14th round?

00:01:15I was not aware that I was behind, although I was aware that the fight was a little close, a little too close,

00:01:22especially on my behalf, but I still felt control was, you know, still necessary, and I did just that.

00:01:29I don't think there's any question in retrospect, Ray, but that you fought and beat a pretty good fighter.

00:01:35You sure?

00:01:36Are you sure?

00:01:37I think, finally, this fight here, Barry, will give me credit.

00:01:42I think that now people have witnessed what actually takes place in a top profession's game.

00:01:48I think that beating a guy like Hitman Hearns, Roberto Duran, Benitez, and Kalule, I think I'm pretty well accepted now.

00:01:55I think you proved one other thing in this fight, too, and that is the fact that boxing isn't only a physical sport,

00:01:59it's a mental sport as well.

00:02:01It's a great deal.

00:02:02It has a great deal to do with mental stability.

00:02:05In fact, I tried to do a psych job on Hearns, but he proved to me, I have to take my head off to the guy,

00:02:11he proved that he was stable mentally and physically.

00:02:14Want to watch it again?

00:02:15Let's check it out.

00:02:15Let's go back and look at that fight.

00:02:17September 16th, Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, Nevada.

00:02:19Thomas Hearns, Sugar Ray Leonard.

00:02:22A hot night for a hot fight on the desert.

00:02:25From Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, Nevada, HBO Sports presents World Championship Boxing.

00:02:31The showdown between WBC Welderweight Champion Sugar Ray Leonard and WBA Welderweight Champion Thomas Hearns.

00:02:40Hello, everybody.

00:02:40I'm Barry Tompkins along with Randy Shields.

00:02:43Larry Merchant joins us ringside in Las Vegas where all the conversation is now stopped.

00:02:47We're down to 15 rounds of boxing inside the ring to decide who, in fact, will be the Welderweight Champion of the world.

00:02:53One thing we can't help but talk about tonight, Randy, is the heat.

00:02:57It is oppressive.

00:02:57It is going to be a factor.

00:02:59It's very hot here tonight.

00:03:00And with the ring lights and all the camera lights that are showing from all the media,

00:03:04I say it has been at least 20 degrees hotter around the ring area.

00:03:08It's going to be very hot.

00:03:09You can also tell by the referee, he's drenched and sweating.

00:03:11He's not doing that much.

00:03:13Everybody talks about what a physical sport the game of boxing is.

00:03:16In fact, tonight, I'm not too sure but that the mental aspect of this fight isn't what's going to win it.

00:03:20Well, the mental aspect in any fight is very important.

00:03:24So, I mean, in a regular fight, if the red line of truth is off, they can lose the fight.

00:03:28And this, with the media and the strong push it is on the fight,

00:03:34that both fighters, if they don't take it that well, you know, it could hinder the fight.

00:03:38No doubt about it.

00:03:39It has created enormous interest, not only here in Las Vegas but, in fact, all over the world.

00:03:44Ask 500 people who they think is going to win the fight and you get 1,000 answers.

00:03:47And that's the subject of Larry Merchant's commentary.

00:03:50Larry?

00:03:51If you always wanted to know what would have happened had Joe Louis fought Muhammad Ali in their primes,

00:03:56you may get a clue tonight.

00:03:58I don't mean that literally, but the notion does suggest both the excitement and the purity of this event.

00:04:03I don't think I can ever recall an event in which so many experts went to bed with one opinion

00:04:08and woke up with quite another.

00:04:11Put simply, Tommy Hearns and Sugar Ray Leonard are magnificent young athletes.

00:04:15Ordinarily, such young, fine fighters come along only in different decades or eras in prize fighting in the same division.

00:04:24And they come to mark their times to be a part of history.

00:04:27But only one, almost unfairly, will mark his time after this fight.

00:04:32Along with that, there's a remarkable lack of emotional baggage to go along with this fight.

00:04:36There's no good versus evil morality play.

00:04:39No black versus white or Italian versus Irishman.

00:04:42Or even old lion, famous old lion against up-and-coming younger lion.

00:04:47It's simply Sugar Ray Leonard, a master boxer and puncher against Tommy Hearns, a devastating puncher and boxer.

00:04:55Louis or Ali, Hearns or Leonard?

00:04:58Let's find out.

00:04:59Well, Larry Merchant, we are now awaiting the imminent arrival of Thomas Hearns.

00:05:04He is now coming out of his locker, heading towards the ring.

00:05:07The crowd now starts to come alive.

00:05:09Oddly enough, Muhammad Ali was just introduced, and that's what they're coming alive with.

00:05:13And that's basically an expression of the real excitement and the fact that it's coming to a head.

00:05:18It's the rare electricity that you find in a great fight.

00:05:22Emanuel Stewart beating his man out.

00:05:25He has just gone by, wearing the red.

00:05:28Well protected.

00:05:29Thomas Hearns actually looks very, very relaxed.

00:05:31Coming down.

00:05:34Music rocky, a bit of a cliche perhaps, but nonetheless, if it works for Thomas Hearns, then it's good enough.

00:05:39Public sentiment all of a sudden has really gone the way of Thomas Hearns, Larry.

00:05:43Yes, and a very sudden shift of odds over the last several days.

00:05:49Leonard started out as a 7-to-5 man-to-man favorite.

00:05:52Now Tommy Hearns is closed as a 6-to-5 man-to-man favorite.

00:05:57And many of the people who are for Hearns speak with the authority of a puncher.

00:06:02And I think that's why the odds have made the shift.

00:06:05Along with the fact that many people have come from Detroit to try to rescue it from its economic problems

00:06:11by bringing all the money out of Las Vegas back home.

00:06:14So Thomas Hearns holding his championship belt high above his head, making his way down toward the ring now.

00:06:19And looking, as we mentioned, very, very loose.

00:06:21Not looking tight at all.

00:06:23In a previous fight against Luis Primera, he said he tried to do a lot of stuff early on that just didn't work.

00:06:28And the reason he attributed it as non-success to was the fact that he was too relaxed.

00:06:33And now we're saying he's coming into this ring extremely relaxed for the biggest fight of his life.

00:06:37Yes, and you see someone holding aloft his WBA championship belt.

00:06:42You know, a lot has been written, and rightly so, about all the money involved in this fight.

00:06:47It probably will grow somewhere between $35 and $40 million.

00:06:52Hearns probably will end up with around 5 to 6.

00:06:55Leonard maybe 10 to 12.

00:06:57But I'll tell you, the big bucks stopped right here, boy.

00:07:00Now it's just a prize fight.

00:07:02There's no tomorrow now.

00:07:03Thomas Hearns comes in, seemingly really enjoying the ambiance of this crowd.

00:07:07And the crowd being on its feet and yelling for this man.

00:07:10And Hearns is a guy who has always shutted himself away from the public eye.

00:07:15You know, they had a toss to see who would come in last.

00:07:18Apparently there's some upsmanship connected with who comes in first and last.

00:07:23Great psychological game.

00:07:25Randy Shields, let me ask you, you've been in this position.

00:07:27What is the feeling that's going through the body and the mind of Thomas Hearns right now?

00:07:32The feeling that he has probably right now is very tense.

00:07:34The nervousness is all gone.

00:07:36The nervousness is where you get the most adrenaline flow.

00:07:40It's when the first hits you the hardest is when they say main event, you're on.

00:07:45Right there, right there you get the flow.

00:07:48And right on the heels of Thomas Hearns entrance into the ring,

00:07:51Tommy Hearns was absolutely adamant.

00:07:54He did not want to go in the ring and wait for Sugar Ray Leonard,

00:07:56and he's not going to have to do that,

00:07:58because out of his locker room now comes Sugar Ray.

00:08:02And of course, much has been made of the fact that he's been through this before,

00:08:07but somehow most people seem to think that once the bell rings,

00:08:11all that will be part of his free fight, tough and hype.

00:08:16So Ray also looking very loose and very relaxed.

00:08:19Both fighters extremely relaxed,

00:08:21especially coming on the heels of all the hoopla

00:08:23that came before the fight itself here in Vegas.

00:08:26He soon mentioned that there was already one big surprise before the fight,

00:08:31and that's the fact that Sugar Ray Leonard,

00:08:33who is as pure and natural a welterweight who ever lived,

00:08:37came in at 146 pounds,

00:08:40and that Tommy Hearns, who many people think will very quickly outgrow this division,

00:08:44came in at a very light 145 pounds.

00:08:48So Ray Leonard now getting his game face on, if you will,

00:08:51still making his way through the crowd, down the aisle, toward the ring here,

00:08:54which is set on the tennis courts here at Caesars Palace.

00:08:57Ray looking very serious.

00:08:58In fact, Ray, who is really the show business of the two,

00:09:02seemingly a little bit more tight than Thomas Hearns.

00:09:05And you see on the back of Thomas Hearns, it's not his name.

00:09:09It just says, winner take all.

00:09:12And that is a fact.

00:09:13That's not a name.

00:09:13That's a statement.

00:09:14Ray Leonard now nearing the ring.

00:09:17His handler's coming in, and here comes Ray into the ring

00:09:19with a flame-treated robe there.

00:09:21He's on fire.

00:09:22Ray Leonard has been known to design his own.

00:09:27It says deliverance on the back of his.

00:09:29So both fighters coming in with a little message rather than with their name.

00:09:32He comes in, throws a couple of shadow punches at the referee here.

00:09:36You know, there's a lot of pre-fight jockeying.

00:09:38The ring is 20 feet.

00:09:39That would seem to favor Leonard a little bit more.

00:09:42The gloves apparently favor the puncher a little bit more.

00:09:46Everybody fighting for every little edge they can possibly get.

00:09:49You know what's interesting is that Emmanuel Stewart is smiling and taunting the crowd.

00:09:57Let's take a look at the tail of the tape now.

00:09:58Ray Leonard, of course, 25 years old to Tommy Hearns, 22.

00:10:01Rarity for Ray to be older than his opponent.

00:10:04He, of course, 5 feet, 10 inches tall to Hearns, 6'1".

00:10:06He lost an inch in there somewhere, Larry.

00:10:08Weight, 146, as you mentioned, for Leonard.

00:10:11145 for Hearns.

00:10:11A little bit on the light side.

00:10:12The reach, that's been talked about time and again.

00:10:144 1⁄2 inch advantage for Tommy Hearns.

00:10:17His chest, of course, is comparable and so too is the fist.

00:10:19So that is the tail of the tape as we get just about set for the main goal.

00:10:25The officials assigned by the Menestate Athletic Commission for the main event of the evening.

00:10:31The judges are Chuck Minker, Dwayne Ford, and Lou Tabbitt.

00:10:35The timekeeper is Jane Broadfoot.

00:10:38Counting at the knockdowns, Charlie Roth.

00:10:40The doctors at ringside, Drs. Donald Romeo, Dr. Flip Homansky, and Dr. Daniel Zimmerman.

00:10:49The referee for the main event of the evening, Mr. Davey Pearl.

00:10:54This is the feature attraction of the evening.

00:11:0015 rounds of boxing for the undisputed welterweight championship of the world.

00:11:07Introducing, in the blue corner, fighting out of Palmer Park, Maryland.

00:11:13Weighing in at 146 pounds, the WBC welterweight champion, Sugar Ray Leonard.

00:11:22How about that?

00:11:26Tommy Hearns tapped his mitts a little, gave him applause.

00:11:30And in the red corner, from Detroit, Michigan.

00:11:39He is the WBA welterweight champion of the world.

00:11:43And undefeated in his professional career, introducing Thomas, the Motor City Cobra, Hearns, 15 rounds of boxing.

00:12:02Well, there's not as much gamesmanship, really, as I thought there was going to be.

00:12:05It's all been pretty straightforward so far.

00:12:07Leonard has been doing a little bit more dancing, and Hearns is trying to stare him down a little.

00:12:13This is going to be Leonard's game plan.

00:12:16The faint, make him miss and go inside.

00:12:18We should point out here, these are 10-point must rounds.

00:12:21The three-knockdown rule has been waived.

00:12:23The belt can't save a fighter except at the end of the last round.

00:12:27The three judges score the fight.

00:12:29The referee does not score the fight.

00:12:31As we said at the top of the show, all the words are now over.

00:12:35We are down to round one, and here we go.

00:12:40Both fighters wearing white trunks.

00:12:43That was another last-minute psychological flaw for Ray Leonard.

00:12:47Hearns is going to go right after him and try to put him away.

00:12:50Leonard's going to stay away, dance and fake and taunting, and try to make him miss and look silly.

00:12:56Ray up on his toes right now.

00:12:58Of course, the question remains, what will the strategy be that Ray employs in all the conversations before the fight has been?

00:13:04And he will try and get inside, get to the body.

00:13:06Right now, both fighters at long range.

00:13:16First round, Welderweight Championship of the World.

00:13:18It is probably the most talked-about fight in history.

00:13:21I think that's safe to say.

00:13:22Leonard's going to try to move, feel him out, see what he's going to do, see how he throws his jab.

00:13:28I think once he feels how Hearns more or less does his stuff,

00:13:33then he's going to start moving inside and starting to start counterpunching.

00:13:37Early on here in the first round, we've just come up past the one-minute clock,

00:13:41and nobody has really landed a punch of any sort, even so much as a jab so far.

00:13:46Leonard's circle in his hand, going left, then going right.

00:13:57Remember, giving him a stationary target.

00:13:59Backs away from a couple of right-hand leads by Hearns.

00:14:03Right-hand counterpunch, just a little bit short by Thomas Hearns.

00:14:06The left jab sort of grazed his cheek, sort of a slopping jab to settle for the right.

00:14:11Right-hand by Hearns, misses once more, Ray taunts him a little bit.

00:14:15Leonard has to watch out for those.

00:14:16That's who's going to have to watch out, because Leonard with the low jab is going to hurt him more than it does Hearns,

00:14:21because Hearns is so much taller.

00:14:22Of course, the conversation about Thomas Hearns and the considered opinion is that his right hand is only as good as his left hand,

00:14:28and his left hand is one of the best.

00:14:30Leonard's left hand is very good. He has an extreme good left hook.

00:14:36Hearns scoring with the right hand there, but no damage.

00:14:38Where's Brown finding Sugar Ray Leonard on his toes almost all the way.

00:14:46Leonard, I still feel, is trying to figure out how he's throwing all his punches,

00:14:50figuring out what Hearns is going to do, and then make his approaches.

00:14:54Angelo Dundee, in talking about Sugar Ray Leonard, said,

00:14:56A good boxer plays Checkers. He said,

00:14:58Everything works off the jab. It's to the side, to the side, and then inside.

00:15:02So far, Ray Leonard has not gotten inside.

00:15:04That's a good jab landed by Hearns, right there. It was nice and flush.

00:15:11Good jab by Sugar Ray Leonard.

00:15:14All Hearns does is just smiling, and like it didn't hurt, didn't bother.

00:15:18Inside the 20 seconds mark now, the first round.

00:15:23Nice jab by Sugar Ray Leonard.

00:15:25Good counter punch.

00:15:27Good counter punch.

00:15:29I think that made Hearns a little mad. He's going out there.

00:15:32Very fast pace early on here in the first round.

00:15:34Remember, we talked about the heat. It could become a factor.

00:15:36Round one comes to an end.

00:15:39And Hearns sticks Ray Leonard, and Leonard feigns going down after the round is over.

00:15:43Like I said, Hearns wants this fight.

00:15:48Mad, not frustration.

00:15:49He's not going to put up with any of Leonard's taunts or humiliations,

00:15:52which he has been throwing a lot of stuff out of Hearns all through the previous week coming up into the fight.

00:15:59A little consternation in Leonard's corner between rounds there.

00:16:02You heard Angelo Dundee say, Cut him off.

00:16:04Jax Morton was telling one of the seconds in Leonard's corner.

00:16:07I believe it had to have been his brother.

00:16:08Get out of the corner. Just get out of there.

00:16:10So a little bit of confusion.

00:16:11You don't usually find that in Sugar Ray Leonard's camp.

00:16:14Very well organized.

00:16:14Round two. First round, very close.

00:16:17Leonard again, going side to side, doing what Angelo Dundee told him.

00:16:25Dundee, of course, has said the only time the Sugar Ray did not listen to him was the fight he lost to Roberto Duran.

00:16:32They're working up good sweat already.

00:16:34They're beating up and sweating good.

00:16:35Even though there hasn't been a lot of punches thrown, the pace has been very quick.

00:16:40So conditioning could play a very big part here.

00:16:42Oh, very big.

00:16:42You know, one important thing that everybody's talking about the heat.

00:16:46Hearns has been trained in a heated gym where Leonard has it.

00:16:50And that may prove a big factor towards the later rounds if it goes that long.

00:16:5490 degrees, as a matter of fact, in that gymnasium.

00:16:57And Manuel Stewart, the trainer and manager of Thomas Hearns, has said that's the way he wants it for his guy.

00:17:03We'll see if it pays off.

00:17:04That's right, because it's at least 90 in the ring right now.

00:17:09Long left hand, just out of Ray's range.

00:17:11Ray's staying away from it, but unable to get inside.

00:17:13We'll see.

00:17:14That has not been his strategy so far.

00:17:15Round two.

00:17:16Leonard knows Hearns' power.

00:17:18He knows he's going to have to stay away.

00:17:21And he knows that, like, when he gets stuck on the ropes, he's really hesitant to know what to do.

00:17:24Waiting for Hearns to throw something.

00:17:27You know, to get out of Wicks.

00:17:28He knows he has to stay out of the reach of his power.

00:17:32Under the 1.15 mark now to go in the second round.

00:17:36And Hearns is going to run it again, trying to taunt Hearns.

00:17:38And Hearns catches it by the right hand.

00:17:40Leonard has a slight bruise over the left cheek.

00:17:44Slight little abrasion over the left cheek.

00:17:46Left jab scores on the cheek of Thomas Hearns.

00:17:53A little bit of swelling under the left eye, as you mentioned, Randy, on the face of Sugar Ray Leonard.

00:17:58There's a good right hand.

00:18:00Good right hand.

00:18:01It looked like it did sting him.

00:18:03It looked like it did sting him.

00:18:04Like I said, Leonard's going to have to keep up that left hand.

00:18:08Or go under him.

00:18:09Counter punch by Leonard scores on the side of the face of Thomas Hearns.

00:18:12But Hearns with the best punch of the fight so far here in round two.

00:18:20Leonard knows he's going to be in for a fight.

00:18:23That's why he's been so closed off into all the pre-advertising and the press before the fight.

00:18:30Again, that left jab landing on the cheek.

00:18:34It's a right hand by Ray that backs up Thomas Hearns.

00:18:37That was sort of caught Hearns on the side of the neck.

00:18:40It wasn't a very effective punch, but it still landed on the left.

00:18:43Say that Thomas Hearns has very good balance for a guy his size.

00:18:46That's one of the reasons he doesn't usually get hurt.

00:18:48He was a little bit off balance that time.

00:18:49His height helped.

00:18:51Any normal guy would have been on the chin.

00:18:54Come to the end of round two, Larry.

00:18:57Hearns throwing his punches away, going after him, being wild.

00:19:01Right there when he thought he had Leonard hurt, he didn't go wild and he didn't go crazy and try to go after him.

00:19:07He took his time.

00:19:07He threw a few extra punches, but he knew that it wasn't working, so he stopped.

00:19:13And that was very important.

00:19:14That's a very well-taken point.

00:19:16In fact, when he had Baeza in trouble in his last fight down in Houston, he went after him and was wild.

00:19:22And, of course, Baeza nowhere near the caliber of Sugar Ray Leonard, so something to watch.

00:19:25That's why the caliber of these two fighters has so much to do with the media, the press, everything.

00:19:30To emphasize the two fighters, how good they are.

00:19:34And he knows how good Sugar Ray is in moving.

00:19:37Combination that time by Hearns.

00:19:38What's more scores on Ray against the ropes?

00:19:40Hearns stalking his man now.

00:19:44Leonard knows he has to stay away.

00:19:47He should get inside and tie him up.

00:19:49He can't be on the outside at the end of Hearns' punches.

00:19:52That's where he has all his power.

00:19:57A little shot to the body that time by Thomas Hearns.

00:20:00Leonard checks it off, but nonetheless, it was right in the belly.

00:20:05So far, Thomas Hearns, the crisper of the two-puncher.

00:20:07Leonard looks like he's looking for an opening and trying to make him miss.

00:20:12He looks like he's taunting him to make him miss all these punches and tire him out for the later rounds.

00:20:18Leonard tries to go downstairs.

00:20:19That was supposed to be his strategy.

00:20:21It has not been effective so far.

00:20:24The fighters have been fought, by and large, at long range.

00:20:26Leonard gets on his bicycle again, wants to try to cut the ring off, takes the left hand right on the nose.

00:20:37It was very an easy left jab.

00:20:39It wasn't very hard, but taught Leonard with his head slightly moving back.

00:20:43That was a good left jab by Hearns.

00:20:46Hearns' jab is bothering Leonard.

00:20:47There's no question about it.

00:20:48There's a right hand ahead of Thomas Hearns by Sugar Ray Leonard.

00:20:51That's what Hearns has to do, is counter Sugar Ray Leonard's counter-punches, which he just did right there.

00:20:56The best way to beat Sugar Ray Leonard.

00:20:58He has to counter his counters.

00:21:00There's no question that so far, as we come to the two-minute mark of round three,

00:21:04it's been a tactical fight on both parts.

00:21:09Leonard's trying to confuse Hearns.

00:21:11And I don't think it's working too, though.

00:21:17That did.

00:21:17That was a great right hand.

00:21:19It caught Hearns on the side of the face.

00:21:23Hearns dropping that left hand just a little bit now, as Ray starts to work inside a little bit more.

00:21:29Leonard taking a slight advantage of his good right hand.

00:21:32Another good right hand.

00:21:35So Leonard picking the pace up now against Hearns.

00:21:38Another good combination.

00:21:39Hearns knows that he better stop smiling and get to work.

00:21:45Leonard is starting to work inside a little bit more now.

00:21:48He fought the first two and a half rounds outside.

00:21:49Right hand by Hearns.

00:21:50Stands Leonard straight up, and he backs off.

00:22:00That's what Angelo meant by knocking down the punch and throwing.

00:22:04And the round three.

00:22:05Well, that last minute is what we all came to see.

00:22:11Right hands and right on the chin.

00:22:14And Hearns is still here.

00:22:16But there was a doubt about how good a punch he could take.

00:22:19Well, Hearns can take a halfway decent punch.

00:22:22But I would say that it might have stung Hearns a little bit.

00:22:28But he weathered it out, and that's the important part.

00:22:30Round four.

00:22:31And so far, it has lived up to its billing very much.

00:22:33Well-fought fight on both sides.

00:22:35It has been a cerebral fight.

00:22:43Both fighters trying to find the right thing to do.

00:22:46And when they found it, they've executed.

00:22:51Ray now a little bit more flat-footed.

00:22:53Both men are flat-footed here in round four.

00:22:55You have to stand flat-footed to punch and counter-punch.

00:22:59Ray has to stand flat-footed to counter-punch,

00:23:02to slip those punches, and go inside and hit him.

00:23:05I think you can hear the sound of Thomas Hearns' punches hitting his body.

00:23:09Now, those things may not look like they're doing anything,

00:23:11but it eventually takes its toll.

00:23:14Move!

00:23:15Move!

00:23:16Move!

00:23:17Move!

00:23:18Move!

00:23:19Move!

00:23:20Move!

00:23:21Move!

00:23:22Move!

00:23:23Move!

00:23:24Move!

00:23:25Move!

00:23:26Move!

00:23:27Move!

00:23:28Move!

00:23:29Move!

00:23:30Move!

00:23:31Move!

00:23:32Move!

00:23:33Move!

00:23:34Move!

00:23:35Move!

00:23:36Move!

00:23:37Move!

00:23:38Move!

00:23:39Move!

00:23:40Move!

00:23:41Move!

00:23:42Move!

00:23:43Move!

00:23:44Move!

00:23:45Move!

00:23:46Nice score from the back of the head.

00:23:47There's a good count on the left toe.

00:23:49Not very effective, but it lands.

00:23:51Hearns has been fighting a lot of this fight with his mouth open.

00:23:53Which, many fighters will tell you, is not a wise thing to do.

00:23:57Well, if you notice, Leonard's open too.

00:23:59You know, just, you can see, Hearns is more because he has a bigger mouthpiece.

00:24:02Hearns taking a couple of jabs from Thomas Hearns.

00:24:06Also, I should drop in here, the height difference doesn't seem so great right now.

00:24:11Well, Hearns is leaning forward a little bit, and he's shrinking his weight.

00:24:14If he stands straight up, he's got all that height.

00:24:17Leonard's standing straight up, and Hearns is leaning forward.

00:24:20Good right hand.

00:24:21Good right hand by Leonard.

00:24:23So, Ray Leonard continuing to get the more important blows in the last couple of rounds.

00:24:28Got himself off balance, but comes right back up.

00:24:30Hearns, for some reason, looks like he's slowing down.

00:24:33I don't know if he's trying to consider...

00:24:35Good left hook, but good right hand.

00:24:36Combination, left to the stomach and a right to the head.

00:24:38That was a good counterpunch for Sugar Ray Leonard.

00:24:40And again, Ray getting the better of the exchange here.

00:24:44Steps under that sweeping left hook.

00:24:47Takes a left to the body, the right to the head, as Hearns comes back with a combination and Ray retreats.

00:24:52That was some good punches by both fighters.

00:24:57Swelling under Ray Leonard's left eye.

00:24:59It does not seem any worse than it was in the second round.

00:25:02That was on top of the forehead on the left side.

00:25:05It was still hurt.

00:25:06Good left hook.

00:25:07Partially blocked by Leonard.

00:25:09Five seconds remain in round four.

00:25:12Another good right hand by Hearns.

00:25:14It was blocked.

00:25:15It was missed.

00:25:19Into round four.

00:25:20And so far, as you mentioned, it's living up to its billet.

00:25:23Yeah, it's starting to build.

00:25:24That fire is getting bigger and bigger.

00:25:26It might be a bonfire before it's over.

00:25:28Well, he goes out hard always in every fight.

00:25:31The first three or four rounds, he goes out very hard, then slows up.

00:25:35In his case, after the first three or four rounds, the other guy's not usually there.

00:25:39Different story tonight here in Las Vegas.

00:25:41Round five underway.

00:25:43There seems to be an awful lot of pacing going on by both men.

00:25:52Right?

00:25:53It's just like...

00:25:54They both know what judge is like.

00:25:56And towards the end of the round is very crucial in the judge's mind.

00:25:59If you take the last ten seconds, you can count on that he could probably go your way.

00:26:04So both fighters, they don't like to just come out and start weaning.

00:26:07Another thing worth pointing out is that both fighters are punching in combinations.

00:26:11And that really is the name of the game in this sport.

00:26:13Fighters of this caliber, it's extremely unlikely you're going to get a one-punch knockout.

00:26:17Both fighters, besides the combination, the only combination, they both have to counterpunch.

00:26:22And they're both doing it very well.

00:26:24All the effective punches landed so far, they've done my counterpunches.

00:26:31There was a counterpunch wrong, but he missed.

00:26:39Let it again find the circle, just cut the ring on Thomas Hearns.

00:26:46Goes left, then Thomas back right.

00:26:50Worses Hearns to reach a little bit, get off balance on his punches.

00:27:04Heard Angelo Dendi between rounds two and three.

00:27:06Good right hand by Ray Leonard.

00:27:08Good right hand, but cut him off.

00:27:10Hearns leaned forward and cut off his power, and a punch landed behind his head.

00:27:15Goes still, take its toll.

00:27:17Good right hand.

00:27:22Leonard almost to the right hand and then stopped him back off right there.

00:27:26I think he saw Hearns' right hand cocked, and they decided not to throw it.

00:27:35Hearns has done away with that right hand lead, which he opened the fight with in the first round,

00:27:44and a little bit of the second round.

00:27:48Intent to jab and set up the right hand.

00:27:51That's usually Hearns' fight plan.

00:27:53You keep that jab running and working, get him moving, and then land the right hand.

00:27:58Ray Leonard still not moving inside like most observers expected him to.

00:28:03Fight has been fought for the large part at long range.

00:28:08Ray again taunts and misses a combination there.

00:28:12Now he's in his showbiz. Well, this is the show business capital here.

00:28:18Both landing jabs.

00:28:22Leonard, like I said, a little more in the area of Hearns' power, so he has to back off a little bit more when he's talking.

00:28:34Like I said, Hearns is in good shape for this fight.

00:28:37One third of this fight is over. We're going into the second third.

00:28:40Neither fighter really shows any signs of fatigue at all.

00:28:45Both fighters talking in the corner, not really taking any deep drawing kinds of breaths.

00:28:50Good right hand by Ray Leonard that's side of the head of Thomas Hearns.

00:28:53Partially blocked because Hearns was throwing the left hook at the same time.

00:28:58As a matter of fact, he did a double up on the left hook.

00:29:06Once again, you heard Angelo Dundee in the corner.

00:29:08And again, the sign of an organized corner where there's only one man talking there, and that is Angelo Dundee.

00:29:13Jax Morton, his co-trainer with Angelo Dundee, and Sugar Ray Leonard just tried to make a good counter-latch to the body.

00:29:19That right hand, you know, sort of landed a little bit flush on Hearns, but Hearns had a good body counter-latch.

00:29:25Nice job by Hearns.

00:29:31Either man really marked puffiness under the left eye of Sugar Ray Leonard was there in the second round.

00:29:36No worse here in the sixth.

00:29:38Hearns, I feel, once in a while should bring up, when Leonard's making his tack, should bring up his left hand, but he never does.

00:29:44That's keep it right down around his hip.

00:29:46That's right, and that's when he's always gotten hit. It was Leonard coming in, he never brought up his hand.

00:29:50It's okay to keep it down low, but you've got to bring it up once in a while.

00:29:54There's a jab on me! There's a jab! There's a jab!

00:30:02Good jab right on the nose of Leonard.

00:30:05You can see Hearns reach, very evident on those jabs.

00:30:09Good effort by Hearns, but obviously they both missed.

00:30:24I mentioned just a moment ago there was a puffiness under the left eye of Sugar Ray Leonard, but it has gotten no worse than the four rounds since it happened.

00:30:31I didn't see him before the fight. It could have been there before the fight. I didn't really pay attention.

00:30:36Ray gets inside, left hand, Hearns backs him up. Hearns with another runner with another left hand, and a right hand in the head, and Hearns legs are wobbly.

00:30:46Ray's corner telling him to stay on him, stay on him. Hearns backs up now, Leonard stalks him.

00:30:52Hearns is still hurt.

00:30:54Hearns reeling backwards, plenty of time left in the round. 45 seconds left.

00:30:58Combinations, let's go by Ray Leonard. Hearns legs are still like jelly.

00:31:02Hearns is definitely hurt, and he's not bringing up that left hand, how he got hit.

00:31:08Ray not wasting any punches, content to take his time here.

00:31:12That's his body shot hurting. That body shot hurt, Hearns.

00:31:17What's more, Leonard stalking him, 20 seconds remaining in the round.

00:31:20Plenty of time, Hearns is against the ropes, and he has definitely had the starch taken out of him here.

00:31:25Hearns isn't holding on, he's not a good defensive fighter.

00:31:28Right hand misses by Leonard, gives Hearns another moment. He's still hurt, though.

00:31:32Combinations right above us. Hearns goes reeling back once more.

00:31:35Against the ropes again as we cover the end of round six.

00:31:42Most definitive round of the fight.

00:31:44That was a big, big round, and that fight, that round could turn the fight around.

00:31:49Tommy Hearns is not gonna be coming out as forcefully anymore.

00:31:52He's gotta weather this storm right now.

00:31:55Thomas Hearns may still have a few problems.

00:32:01Hearns comes out trying to intimidate Leonard, but it's not gonna work.

00:32:04Comes out very tentatively, actually.

00:32:06Hearns' left hand drops after he throws it.

00:32:10So Ray is in control right now.

00:32:17Hearns throws the right hand.

00:32:19Ray Leonard, I thought, did a smart thing, actually.

00:32:22And when he realized he wasn't gonna go down, he knew, as you mentioned, Larry,

00:32:25he's still got eight more rounds to fight.

00:32:27Yeah, well, he weathered it out.

00:32:28He blocked Hearns' punches, then threw a few more.

00:32:31Not like Hearns, where he lifts his hands down.

00:32:36Hearns, right now, appears to have the starch taken out of him a little bit.

00:32:39See how Hearns' left hand comes all the way down when he throws that right hand?

00:32:43And throwing lunging punches right now.

00:32:45Leonard is in close, where he has been most effective.

00:32:50Ray got in a little bit in round three.

00:32:53And now he's starting to get in on his man just a little bit more.

00:32:57Hearns trying to measure him and stay at arm's length.

00:33:00Ray going back to him.

00:33:03Good left hook.

00:33:04Good left hook.

00:33:05Good left hook.

00:33:06What's for?

00:33:07Hearns backs up.

00:33:08Hearns is hurt.

00:33:09Against the ropes and he is hurt.

00:33:10Hearns is hurt.

00:33:12Leonard again, pacing himself down.

00:33:13Has plenty of time in this round.

00:33:15Just past the one minute mark.

00:33:16I don't think Hearns is gonna weather this off.

00:33:18I really don't.

00:33:19He's gonna keep those cobwebs until Leonard either finishes him off

00:33:23or is just gonna lose the decision.

00:33:25I don't think it's gonna go the distance.

00:33:27Those left hooks to the body right there are hurting.

00:33:30And right now, Thomas Hearns is an open hook to Ray Leonard.

00:33:32Backs up against the ropes.

00:33:33And his legs almost buckled off.

00:33:36He almost didn't get his back.

00:33:37Leonard's giving a lot of pounding to Thomas Hearns,

00:33:39who unquestionably is hurt.

00:33:41Hearns' right hand is down.

00:33:42That's where he's getting hit by that left hook.

00:33:45He hurt it on the inside.

00:33:46See on the inside?

00:33:47His right hand is down.

00:33:48We have to remember, Tommy Hearns has never been in this position in his life.

00:33:52Manager or pro.

00:33:54He doesn't know really how to respond.

00:33:56He's going on instinct rather than on memory.

00:34:03Leonard doesn't have to worry too much about Hearns' strength.

00:34:05He's giving a lot away.

00:34:06That body punch hurt Hearns.

00:34:08Just about doubled up, Thomas Hearns.

00:34:10Leonard having things on his own way now.

00:34:13Hearns is really covering up on those body punches.

00:34:15Trying to hold on as best he can,

00:34:17but Leonard is scoring just about at will.

00:34:19Not missing any punches.

00:34:20Very important.

00:34:21Left hand sends Hearns back to the ropes again.

00:34:23And it wasn't a particularly good left hand.

00:34:24Hearns just leaning on him.

00:34:27Leonard trying to find the one punch.

00:34:35Good body shot by Hearns.

00:34:40Another good right hand right there.

00:34:42Scores and sends Hearns into a neutral corner.

00:34:44That's because his hands are down.

00:34:45He can't get him up in that corner.

00:34:47You've got to have him up.

00:34:49Thomas Hearns looking every part that beat the fighter now.

00:34:51Another right hand drives him back into the ring post.

00:34:53Five seconds remaining now around seven.

00:34:56The crowd is on its feet here in Vegas.

00:34:58We come to the end of the round.

00:35:00Hearns is staggering away from the corner.

00:35:02He's staggering back to the corner.

00:35:04Completely hurt.

00:35:05Well, you ain't touch him, man.

00:35:06A little professional tonight.

00:35:07Absolutely.

00:35:08And I've got to say this.

00:35:09Hearns, you can doubt about his chin.

00:35:10We know he's got great courage.

00:35:11Great spirit.

00:35:12And he's taken an awful lot of punishment in there.

00:35:13I don't know too many men in this division he could.

00:35:14Hearns, the inside of his left eye is pretty red, too.

00:35:17It has a little bit of puffiness around it, but it's real red inside the left eye.

00:35:34So Ray Leonard comes to round eight now, having taken the measure of his man in the last two rounds.

00:35:39Right now, there seems little doubt as to the outcome of this fight.

00:35:42Like I said, when somebody gets hit with a hard punch like that, it'll take three, four, five rounds out of the fighter.

00:35:49And he's been hit several times, so it's going to be hard for Hearns to come back.

00:35:54And it is very hot here, too.

00:35:56And now Tommy Hearns is doing the dancing.

00:36:01That's very important, too.

00:36:02Just trying to stay away.

00:36:03But he's got to keep his hands up once in a while, and he keeps dropping them.

00:36:06Both hands are down.

00:36:07Ray just stalking this man right now, just looking for the right moment.

00:36:12See that right hand, how low it is.

00:36:14Leonard has one of the best left hooks in the business.

00:36:16It's better than his right hand, which has knocked out his previous opponents.

00:36:19A lot of people don't know that, but it's Hearns, Leonard's best punch is his left hook.

00:36:25erten with the left hook.

00:36:26Marty Ray, Marty Ray, Marty, Marty.

00:36:33Marty Ray, Marty.

00:36:35Hearns continue with the back pedal.

00:36:39Trying to cut the ring off on Trigger Ray Leonard now, so reverse tactic, as you mentioned, 19.

00:36:43Left hand scores one of the left hook.

00:36:46Good movement by Hearns.

00:36:48Very good movement.

00:36:49He hit him with the left hook, and pull him from the side, and step around.

00:36:54Very good tackle.

00:36:56Thomas Hearns doing everything he can.

00:36:58He has distinguished himself tonight, too.

00:37:00He has just been up against the guy

00:37:02who has grown and grown and grown

00:37:04with every fight.

00:37:06Looks like Hearns almost slipped there.

00:37:08There's a looping right once more

00:37:10that sends Hearns back to the corner.

00:37:12It wasn't very hard, but I think it did bother him

00:37:14a little bit. Hearns laughed it off.

00:37:16But like I said, every little bit hurt.

00:37:18Hearns on his bicycle now, and Ray just walking

00:37:20after him, just waiting.

00:37:22Another right hand.

00:37:24Like I said, his hands are down.

00:37:26Even when Leonard is going to throw,

00:37:28he doesn't bring him up.

00:37:30I think Leonard is trying to set him up

00:37:32for that left hook. Keep throwing right hand

00:37:34and then boom with the left hook.

00:37:36It was a case of the Hunter and the Hunter's right now.

00:37:38Good movement by Hearns.

00:37:40He learned with the left hook

00:37:42he pulled him to the side.

00:37:44Another right hand lead by Ray Leonard.

00:37:46Hearns looks like he was dripping

00:37:48a little bit of blood there.

00:37:50There was the left hand, but it came up a little bit short.

00:37:52Hearns.

00:37:54That's more Ray.

00:37:56Just going after Hearns.

00:37:58He's up on his bicycle now.

00:38:00Twenty seconds were made here in the eighth foul.

00:38:02That was a little bit low.

00:38:04Right hand again scores, but gets Hearns backing up.

00:38:10Corner trying to ensort Ray to come after Thomas Hearns.

00:38:14Hearns has to get up those hands.

00:38:16There's a left hand and that once more wobbles the legs

00:38:18to Thomas Hearns.

00:38:20Come to the end of round eight.

00:38:22It just wanted to set Hearns back,

00:38:24but it caught him on the back of the head.

00:38:26Those hurt. Those definitely hurt.

00:38:28The fight that took a 180 degree turn the way this one did.

00:38:34Sugar Ray Leonard stopped looking for one punch.

00:38:38He didn't quite know how to cope with that before

00:38:40and he started to look for one big punch.

00:38:42So once more, let's see if Sugar Ray Leonard heeds

00:38:45the advice of Angelo Dundee, the guru of many champions.

00:38:48A lot can be determined on that,

00:38:51that everybody's emphasized on Hearns' one punch knockout.

00:38:55Leonard keeps saying, I have a good punch.

00:38:58Sugar Ray Leonard may be trying to prove

00:39:00that he has that one punch knockout.

00:39:02And the only other time Ray tried to prove anything

00:39:04was, of course, in the first Roberto Duran fight,

00:39:06which he lost.

00:39:08That's what Angelo was saying in the corner.

00:39:10The only difference is he's thinking here.

00:39:12Leonard is definitely thinking in this fight.

00:39:14And this is a thinking man's game.

00:39:23Hearns does seem to have his legs back a little bit.

00:39:25But Ray continuing to stalk him.

00:39:32Actually, hearns doing a lot of dancing here in the night of class.

00:39:38Leonard's eye is a little more puffier.

00:39:40Around the left eye.

00:39:41Right in the middle, it's a little,

00:39:42I'd say it's about an eighth of an inch higher

00:39:45than it was a few times earlier.

00:39:56The other man is cut.

00:39:57The mark under Ray's eye, the swelling, puffiness.

00:40:00The only mark on either man, really.

00:40:03Even though Thomas Hearns has absorbed more punishment than Ray.

00:40:07Hearns is moving a lot better now.

00:40:08He's giving some fame.

00:40:09He's doing body movement.

00:40:10He's doing things a normal fighter would do under his full sense.

00:40:14But you still can't recuperate from those hard punches.

00:40:17Ray continuing to stalk him.

00:40:19His left hand might have been Hearns' best punch in a couple rounds.

00:40:22That was very good.

00:40:23That's up to you.

00:40:24He had his body in full control.

00:40:25That left hook.

00:40:26So Thomas Hearns started to come back just a little bit here against Ray Leonard.

00:40:31Whether it's a case of two minutes or late remains for this thing.

00:40:35Hearns, it looked like when he threw that jab, he looked away to his corner.

00:40:38If he's doing something like that, he's going to get hit.

00:40:41A little more snap at his punches does Thomas Hearns.

00:40:44He's trying to keep Leonard at the end of his punches and stay off the ropes.

00:40:49Leonard looking for that counter punch.

00:40:52Hearns has to keep up those hands.

00:40:55Sometime when Leonard comes in, he's got to put up those hit.

00:40:58He's got to block those punches.

00:41:00Or slip it.

00:41:01He's got to block those punches.

00:41:02He's got to block those punches.

00:41:03He's got to block those punches.

00:41:04He's got to block those punches.

00:41:05He's got to block those punches.

00:41:06He's got to block those punches.

00:41:07He's got to block those punches.

00:41:08That was very obvious.

00:41:09It was very dumb.

00:41:10I think Leonard is getting a little desperate right here, knowing that he had to push the

00:41:14hurt him again.

00:41:15So he jumped in with that left hook.

00:41:17That time by Thomas Hearns, on the side of the face of Ray Leonard.

00:41:21It crazily slipped off the forearm of Leonard though.

00:41:25But he had the snapping power behind it that it did in the earlier round.

00:41:28This has been an effective round for Thomas Hearns so far.

00:41:31So far, this round, I give the hurt.

00:41:35And in round nine, we go to Ray Leonard's corner.

00:41:38Let's see what his handlers have to set.

00:41:40Versatility, as we said earlier.

00:41:41This is a boxer-puncher and a puncher-boxer.

00:41:44And we're seeing both sides of them.

00:41:46Both sides of both men, as a matter of fact.

00:41:49Ray Leonard looked to me, just one man's observation.

00:41:51A little bit winded there in the corner between rounds.

00:41:54Well, in between rounds, you want to get all the air you can.

00:41:57Because you can't get it out there in the ring.

00:41:59You know, the deeper you breathe, the more core muscles you put into your blood.

00:42:04The white cells will give you the oxygen.

00:42:06So there's still six rounds of boxing.

00:42:09Come on, baby.

00:42:10Come on, baby.

00:42:11Come on, baby.

00:42:12Come on, baby.

00:42:13Come on, baby.

00:42:14Come on, baby.

00:42:16Come on, baby.

00:42:17Come on, baby.

00:42:18Come on, baby.

00:42:19Come on, baby.

00:42:20Come on, baby.

00:42:21Come on, baby.

00:42:22Come on, baby.

00:42:23Come on, baby.

00:42:24Come on, baby.

00:42:25Come on, baby.

00:42:26Come on, baby.

00:42:27Come on.

00:42:28Come on, baby.

00:42:29Come on, baby.

00:42:30Come on, baby.

00:42:31Come on, baby.

00:42:32Come on, baby.

00:42:33Come on, baby.

00:42:34Come on.

00:42:35to be blinking that left eye just a little bit could be bothering the touch

00:42:47and still has a lot of snap in his jab

00:42:54and turns is trying to wait for his opportunity now

00:43:05he started to get his cockiness back and he smiled at him and had to block in those punches

00:43:12he started to stand in his ground and he's coming after Leonard

00:43:20he was standing in his ground

00:43:25that took, that was blocked by

00:43:30Leonard again just continuing to kind of stalk

00:43:35and Hearns continuing now to circle on Red Leonard

00:43:37which was Leonard's strategy in the early rounds

00:43:48Good movement by Hearns

00:43:51that took and moved out of it

00:43:54Hearns is looking very fluid

00:43:56right hand but it didn't really seem to hurt

00:43:58It's stunning a little bit

00:44:00caught him on the edge of the chin

00:44:01Graves right over it

00:44:03Like I said after being hurt like he was before

00:44:05that won't take as much to hurt him again

00:44:10He's out, he's a little bit more on the defense now

00:44:13Back, moving back, he's staying against the ropes

00:44:16He's trying to avoid shooting Ray Leonard now

00:44:18He's not standing in his ground like he was right there

00:44:21Oh no!

00:44:33Left hand right there by Ray Leonard

00:44:35Back turns up again

00:44:36as the right hand comes up short of his shoulder

00:44:38Come to the end of the tenth round

00:44:43There they touch gloves after the fight

00:44:46There they're showing the respect of each other now

00:44:50And it's where you put it

00:44:52Thomas Hearns right now has a mouse under his left eye

00:44:55and in the corner

00:44:56as Ray comes on with the right hand

00:44:58They were putting ice on that eye of Thomas Hearns

00:45:01Now that is something new

00:45:03When they come out

00:45:04When they come out

00:45:05it looked like Hearns was going to touch gloves

00:45:07Leonard went out to kill

00:45:09It was like Leonard's going to really go after him this round

00:45:11I think he's going to try to put him away

00:45:13Both men with swelling under the eye now

00:45:15Thomas Hearns just popped up in the last round

00:45:17That was downstairs

00:45:18and they brought the left hand of Thomas Hearns down

00:45:20A punch like that usually hurts the punch

00:45:24You know, usually hurts the fighter that's going the punch

00:45:26because it catches the elbow

00:45:28It looked like Leonard caught the outside of the elbow

00:45:30which hurts the fighter

00:45:31Ray trying to force things a little bit now

00:45:33seemingly trying to get inside on Thomas Hearns

00:45:35Hearns hasn't gone much at that right hand either

00:45:45Good job by Hearns

00:45:47Nice right hand right there

00:45:49Hearns is off his bicycle a little bit now

00:46:01He's going after him

00:46:03I thought that Leonard was going to go after him

00:46:05Leonard is waiting though

00:46:07He's waiting for that shot

00:46:08He's quick enough to take it

00:46:09And with Hearns hands the way they are

00:46:12His right hand down and his left hand down

00:46:14See, they're both down

00:46:15He can hit him with the left hook

00:46:17or right hand if he's there

00:46:21Leonard is a corner

00:46:23It's out of there

00:46:24That was a hard left hook

00:46:25They caught Leonard on the gloves

00:46:31Hearns has his power back as long as he didn't hit

00:46:33Leonard is laying back

00:46:34but he looks like he's waiting for that one punch

00:46:36to hurt him and his follow up

00:46:38Right hand again on the side of the head of Ray Leonard

00:46:41Got a left hand of the body

00:46:43That first right hand wasn't very hard

00:46:45The second one he loaded up on and missed

00:46:48And once more

00:46:49Thomas Hearns with a combination of the face of Ray Leonard

00:46:51But Leonard's hands is up and he's blocking the punches

00:46:54That's the important factor

00:46:55That's the difference in the two fighters

00:46:57Hearns hands is down

00:46:58Leonard's hands is up

00:47:02Leonard did not take a backward step from any of those punches

00:47:04Left hand snap Hearns back

00:47:15That's why he lands right on the mouse on the left side

00:47:22Ray Leonard taking two quick shots

00:47:26Comes right back with a left hand of his own

00:47:28of his own, but Ray Leonard definitely flinched, did not still take a backward step.

00:47:33Well, Leonard has definitely proven again that he can still take a good punch.

00:47:38That mouse of Leonard under that left eye is a little bigger.

00:47:42It definitely is, and it could be starting to affect his peripheral vision now.

00:47:46Well, not much. He still has his vision, but you can see it.

00:47:49There's just a little lump in front of your eye.

00:47:52He still has his eyesight, but it does, it hinders the vision.

00:47:55It's swelling at the top and bottom.

00:47:57My peripheral vision is what I thought could be affected by it.

00:47:59I'm proud to cheer for him. I'm going after him.

00:48:02Also, which is important in the corner, Angelo and Dundee said to Leonard,

00:48:06keep your right hand up.

00:48:08And that's important. That's one thing that Hearns doesn't do.

00:48:11Well, it definitely is a rather serious swelling in the left eye of Ray Leonard now.

00:48:16Thomas Hearns also has a mouse under his left eye. It is not as serious.

00:48:20Larry, you've been scoring the fight.

00:48:25And you really do have Hearns getting back in at the last three rounds.

00:48:29I do, but Leonard won two big rounds that I scored ten to eight for him.

00:48:35You have to remember this is a ten point left system. It's not a round-by-round system.

00:48:42Hearns continuing to press the action. Going to the body of Ray Leonard now.

00:48:50Doing so very effectively. Leonard is starting to back up a little bit.

00:48:54Leonard, he's still waiting for that shot. He's not afraid of Hearns anymore.

00:48:59He's waiting for that shot, and he's going to try to counter him.

00:49:02But the same might be said for Thomas Hearns.

00:49:04See, there's that left hook. He's waiting for that left hook. That's his best match.

00:49:08In the meantime, he's taking a little bit of punishment, though, while waiting for it.

00:49:14That eye is definitely getting worse with Leonard. You can almost see it puffing in front of your eyes.

00:49:19Definitely is, and he's taking some shots right on it, too, for Thomas Hearns.

00:49:22And Hearns is finding that eye with some consistency now.

00:49:29There's a right hand, too, by the right hand. Hearns still smiled it off, but it was still a solid punch.

00:49:44I can hear Angelo Dundese saying side to side. Go back up on the rope. Go side to side.

00:49:57He doesn't want Leonard in a stationary target right in front of him.

00:50:00He wants to move it side to side and picking his shots.

00:50:05Right now, we have a very even fight here in Las Vegas.

00:50:08That jab snaps the head of Ray Leonard back and lands right on that puffy left side.

00:50:12Good jab by Leonard. Very effective.

00:50:21Hearns just working on that eye of Leonard now. Hearns is just sticking with the left hand.

00:50:25Hearns has to keep those hands up. He's getting hit with those jabs and stuff.

00:50:28When he's there, Hearns is going to hit him.

00:50:34Hearns is consistently finding the eye of Ray Leonard, and it is getting consistently worse.

00:50:38Leonard trying to take an opening, but Hearns saw a little bit too quick and moved out of the way.

00:50:47A lot of people would say that Leonard was swinging wild, but Hearns saw a good right hand that hearns through. Excellent right hand.

00:50:56Well, the eye of Ray Leonard is getting to the point now that it could become very much of a factor in this fight.

00:51:03Also, a little puffiness under the other eye of Ray Leonard now, too. Let's go to his corner.

00:51:07That eye has almost swollen shut now.

00:51:10You're slow, Ray. You've only got nine minutes. You're blowing it now, son. You're blowing it.

00:51:16Okay, put the icers back. Keep out there. Keep out there, Ray, baby. Right there.

00:51:24Open him out wide. Let's go. Ray, you're gonna fire. You're not firing.

00:51:30You're firing.

00:51:37It's very...

00:51:39I suffered the man from the boys now. We're blowing it.

00:51:42That's one thing bad that you shouldn't tell the fire that you're blowing it. You better do something. It makes the fire worry too much.

00:51:47Well, they know each other, and presumably they can send signals to each other, and he's got to wake Ray Leonard up.

00:51:54It still takes something out of the fighter when you tell him that they're doing bad.

00:51:57Come on, Ray. You've got to be quicker. You've got to take it away from him. Okay?

00:52:04You get a good look right there at the left eye of Ray Leonard, and you heard everything that Angelo Dundee had to say, and that is the story of this fight right now.

00:52:12You've got to fire, he said. You're blowing it, kid. You're blowing it.

00:52:16Hearn just looks like he's moving a lot more. He's doing a lot of belly fakes and a lot of arm movement.

00:52:20Dundee adjoining Leonard to punch.

00:52:24Leonard looks like he's a little bit tired. That's why he's not going as hard.

00:52:30That's why maybe those other punches didn't bother Hearns as much, because he couldn't fire as hard.

00:52:34You also heard Dundee say, you've got nine minutes. You've got nine minutes.

00:52:38That was a push. That was definitely a push.

00:52:40Definitely a push.

00:52:43Definitely a push.

00:52:44And it really is interesting how the respect between the two fighters has grown from round one to here.

00:52:50Usually in a good fight, it usually does. The fighters, even before the fight, they respect each other.

00:52:56It just, it all comes out in a fight. You just want to try to prove something in the early rounds.

00:53:01Like I said, when it comes down to pure heart, mental thinking, it's all between them, and they know it.

00:53:09This, of course, is the 13th round, Randy. The furthest he has ever gone, Thomas Hearns, is the 12 rounds he went with you.

00:53:15But Hearns is very fresh. He's trained very hard for this fight. He can still come on very strong.

00:53:20He looks a little stronger than Leonard, but his chin, I don't think, is this strong.

00:53:25But then Leonard being a little tired, that takes a little bit from the punch.

00:53:28So could even out.

00:53:31That's pretty much the story of just how even this fight is right now.

00:53:35It looked as though it was going to be all over for Thomas Hearns.

00:53:38Good right hand by Hearns.

00:53:40That Hearns.

00:53:42Hearns has to tie him up or something.

00:53:46Leonard now is going for the whole boat.

00:53:48Heading up with combinations. Leonard is good at everything he's got.

00:53:50Hearns starts down, but grabs, and now goes down through the ropes.

00:53:54Leonard heads to the court.

00:53:55Hearns is not hurt. He was driving on to the ropes.

00:53:59But Hearns is shaking his head, coming up.

00:54:00He definitely is hurt.

00:54:02He does get out.

00:54:03The referee said that it wasn't a knockdown.

00:54:05But Hearns is hurt.

00:54:07See what Ray Leonard has left.

00:54:09This is very important for Thomas Hearns to hold on to what he's trying to do.

00:54:13Under a minute left.

00:54:15Leonard goes after him again.

00:54:17Leonard right there was hitting on the break.

00:54:19Leonard has a bad habit of hitting on the break.

00:54:21Hearns looks like he wetted the third little bit and was standing there punching with him.

00:54:27Leonard comes after him again.

00:54:28This is a wild right hand.

00:54:30Hearns on his bicycle once more.

00:54:31A left hand slips by the cheek.

00:54:35Hearns' power is left hand.

00:54:37He's throwing those sluggish punches.

00:54:39There's a left hand that loops in.

00:54:40Does not really score big.

00:54:41And a right hand does score.

00:54:43He's got to keep his hands off.

00:54:44Hearns comes right in.

00:54:47Hearns leaning on him.

00:54:48Definitely in trouble.

00:54:50Ray trying to put his man away.

00:54:52There's Leonard punching after him.

00:54:53The referee's breaking him.

00:54:55Leonard's getting tired by him.

00:54:57Another right hand by Leonard.

00:54:59Hearns down between the ropes again.

00:55:01Six to one knee.

00:55:03Leonard is sent to the mid-rook corner.

00:55:05The five has run out in the round here.

00:55:08And Hearns is on his feet.

00:55:09Outstanding round for Ray Leonard.

00:55:12And it was a very crucial one to say the least, Larry.

00:55:15He does not seem very rubber-legged.

00:55:17Leonard rushes out to meet him.

00:55:19A right hand of the body sends Hearns immediately into the ropes.

00:55:21Hearns is still very, very sapped from those punches.

00:55:23It'll take more than just a minute rest to recuperate him.

00:55:25Leonard wants to put his man away right here.

00:55:27Does not want this fight to go to a decision.

00:55:29Hearns on his bicycle.

00:55:31Leonard starts to go to a decision.

00:55:33Hearns on his bicycle.

00:55:35Hearns on his bicycle.

00:55:36Leonard's stalking him.

00:55:38Hearns scores with a couple of punches.

00:55:40Leonard takes his hand.

00:55:42Down, Ray! Downstairs, Ray! Downstairs, Ray!

00:55:44Downstairs, Ray!

00:55:45Downstairs, Ray!

00:55:47You can hear Ray's corner telling him where they want him to hit.

00:55:49To the stomach.

00:55:51Tries to go downstairs.

00:55:53Can't try through.

00:55:54And Hearns again measures him.

00:55:56Heard your referee tell him to get your hands off him.

00:55:58And Hearns shouldn't be looking at the referee when he's giving him instructions

00:56:01because Leonard will hit him.

00:56:02Hearns is one punch away from going down.

00:56:04Still on his bicycle.

00:56:05Still a little bit wobbly away.

00:56:07Ray looks like he did.

00:56:09He's going to search for Gunnarman from that last round.

00:56:11He seems pretty strong right now.

00:56:13Leonard has that momentum going for him.

00:56:16Two right hands, a left hand, a right hand of the body.

00:56:19I'm ready, Leonard.

00:56:25Leonard continuing to stalk his man.

00:56:28Two minutes remaining.

00:56:30A right hand of that.

00:56:31Hearns is reeling.

00:56:32Hearns is not down yet.

00:56:33A left hand.

00:56:34As Ray thought his man was going to go, and he didn't.

00:56:36And Hearns is still on his feet.

00:56:38Ray taunts him now.

00:56:39Hearns tries to get out of the corner.

00:56:40Cannot do it yet.

00:56:42Now he's at long range.

00:56:43A left hand.

00:56:44Two left hands against the ropes.

00:56:45Hearns is reeling.

00:56:47Leonard is still tired.

00:56:49Hearns got a lot of guts.

00:56:51At least Hearns' hands are up.

00:56:53Hearns is very weak though.

00:56:54He's really weak.

00:56:55Hearns trying to go downstairs as Ray Leonard.

00:56:58Hearns just trying to hang on here.

00:57:00Left hand sends Hearns back against the ropes again.

00:57:03And that's all.

00:57:04It's over.

00:57:05And Ray Leonard is the undisputed weatherweight champion

00:57:08of the world against the very game, Thomas Hearns.

00:57:11You cannot say enough about both of these fighters, Randy.

00:57:15That's right.

00:57:16Both fighters were in there all the way.

00:57:17Hearns, as bad as he was hurt, was in there all the way.

00:57:20Hearns kind of gave him like a look.

00:57:22Like, what in the heck are you stopping him for?

00:57:23But it was why he stopped.

00:57:24That's where a fighter gets hurt, when he takes the beating.

00:57:27Not the one punch, but the five, six, seven punches after you're hurt.

00:57:31The predictable pandemonium in the ring.

00:57:34Ray Leonard is the undisputed weatherweight champion,

00:57:37and he beat quite a man to get that championship.

00:57:45So there is the predicted kind of goings-on in the ring.

00:57:49Both these men, I feel quite sure,

00:57:50are not going to be out partying all night tonight.

00:57:53You look at a rather stunned Thomas Hearns right now.

00:57:57Take another look here, Randy, at the end of the fight.

00:58:01And Ray Leonard thought he had his man put away, a winging right hand.

00:58:04I think he was just showing off and taunting.

00:58:06You know, he's showing the crowd that he had it.

00:58:08And Hearns still had the presence to cover up again.

00:58:11Let's listen to the official results.

00:58:1225 seconds of the 14th round.

00:58:17Hail to the new undisputed welterweight champion of the world, Sugar Ray Leonard.

00:58:25So there is the official announcement of just what you saw.

00:58:35And what you saw was a well-fought championship fight between two champions.

00:58:39Now, of course, you've got to start thinking, will there be a rematch?

00:58:43Will there be another one?

00:58:45Ray Leonard has his sights set on Marvin Hagler, certainly.

00:58:48He wants to step up for the middleweight ranks.

00:58:51Although, of course, a big money fight with Thomas Hearns would not be something to turn your back on.

00:58:56Once again, let's take a look at the end of the fight here.

00:58:58We're in the 14th round.

00:59:00Hearns against the ropes in that left hand.

00:59:02Scored on the side of the face of Thomas Hearns.

00:59:04He dropped his hands for just a moment, then brought him back up.

00:59:07But by the time he did, the referee stepped in and said,

00:59:09that's all.

00:59:10You are now the undisputed champion, Ray Leonard.

00:59:13You look at Ray Leonard, and he is going to know in the morning, I assure you,

00:59:18that he's been in the fight tonight.

00:59:20I think they both are.

00:59:21Regardless of how impressive that Leonard looked or didn't look,

00:59:25they're both going to be very tired.

00:59:27There you see his corner man brushing him up, because it is hot out there.

00:59:32You can hear the fireworks in the background,

00:59:34the celebration of the victory.

00:59:36He's the undisputed wellweight champion.

00:59:37Well, I think it's rare, Randy, that a fight that has created this much excitement

00:59:41can live up to the excitement of the pre-fight hoopla,

00:59:44but I really would have to say that this one did.

00:59:46Alright, let's go up to the ring now and our own Larry Merchant.

00:59:49Larry.

00:59:50Ray, you haven't been in many wars like that.

00:59:52What's your impression at this time?

00:59:54I said earlier that he didn't have any brains in the ring.

00:59:56But he proved to me he had enough natural ability to outmaneuver me.

01:00:01I sustained the injury to my left eye in the workout, and it resulted in the swelling.

01:00:06I went behind on points, and I tried to minimize my punches so that the swelling wouldn't get worse,

01:00:11but it ended up a matter of conditioning and stamina.

01:00:15When you hurt him in the middle rounds, did you think it would end right there?

01:00:20I had him live, but I got a little overanxious, and he got away.

01:00:24Were you surprised that the fight almost went 180 degrees the opposite way,

01:00:28where you became the pursuer and he became the guy trying to escape?

01:00:32Well, yes I did, but you know I got a little conscious about my eye.

01:00:36I didn't want to look as bad, you know, like I've been in the war.

01:00:40But I knew fully well that the last few rounds were deciding factors, and I gave it all I had.

01:00:45Angelo told you at one point there that you're letting it get away,

01:00:49and the next round you went out and you hurt him.

01:00:51What were your thoughts then?

01:00:53Well, I knew I was behind, but I knew it was close.

01:00:56I just had to pull it out, and it was tough.

01:00:59Thank you, Larry Merchant.

01:01:01You know, right after that interview, Sugar Ray Leonard walked over here

01:01:04and just about collapsed in the arms of Jax Morton.

01:01:06I think that's a pretty good indication of just how strenuous those 14 rounds were for him.

01:01:10Oh, I tell you, the fighting business is the most strenuous business that you can be in.

01:01:15And when I fought for all the titles that I fought for, I tell you, I went home and took a nice nap.

01:01:21You don't sleep very much, but you're there resting.

01:01:23Well, I'm sure that that's exactly what Ray Leonard is going to be doing right now.

01:01:26But our own Larry Merchant right now is with the guru, if you will, of the sport of boxing

01:01:30and certainly of Sugar Ray Leonard, the undisputed welterweight champion, Angelo Dundee.

01:01:34Larry?

01:01:35Angelo, it looked like two thoroughbreds coming down the stretch there at the end.

01:01:39Great fighter.

01:01:40Hearn's a great fighter.

01:01:41My guy's got a little bit better.

01:01:43My guy's going to be a greater fighter.

01:01:45You just saw a little bit better Sugar Ray Leonard.

01:01:48Sucked it up.

01:01:49Came on.

01:01:50Took it out of the guy.

01:01:51Gave him the first early rounds on purpose to sap him.

01:01:54Then we started charging.

01:01:56Then the other guy came back and then we took charge again.

01:01:58Were you surprised that Hearn's was able to be as effective as he was while he was trying

01:02:02to pull himself together in the late rounds?

01:02:04No.

01:02:05I knew he was an effective counter puncher.

01:02:07I knew he was an effective boxer.

01:02:08But my guy was a little quicker.

01:02:10Wasn't Leonard a little bit confused when Hearn's started dancing and circling so much?

01:02:15Not at all.

01:02:16He expected the guy to want to charge him.

01:02:18So we tried something different that we converted and we charged.

01:02:21All right.

01:02:22Before the really big round, the 13th, you said, son, you're blowing it.

01:02:26Was he really blowing it or did you have to tell him?

01:02:28I want to give a little suss.

01:02:30Thanks very much.

01:02:32Well, Randy, you never really think of boxing as a team sport.

01:02:34And yet, when you listen to Angelo Dundee talk and you listen to Sugar Ray Leonard talk,

01:02:37you realize that it is very much a team sport.

01:02:40Well, it has a lot to do with why the referee doesn't do the judging.

01:02:44Because you're so close to the action like the fighters are.

01:02:47They're so involved with what they're doing.

01:02:49Sometimes they don't realize the mistakes that they're making.

01:02:51Just like a referee can overlook something because they're so close.

01:02:54So it's up to the manager and trainers to tell him what he's doing wrong and how to correct it and to beat your opponent.

01:03:00Well, the 14 rounds of fighting are over tonight.

01:03:02And, of course, we now have an undisputed champion of the world in the welterweight division, Sugar Ray Leonard.

01:03:06But this is much more than 14 rounds here at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas.

01:03:10This is an event, a happening, if you will.

01:03:13Ray Leonard is now not only the people's champion, he's the undisputed champion of the world.

01:03:18Ray, a lot has been made of the fact that you were, in fact, behind on points.

01:03:22And I think you might have heard Angelo Dundee say to you between the 12th and 13th rounds,

01:03:26you're blowing this kid, you're blowing it. Were you really that much aware of it?

01:03:30I was aware the fight was close, Barry.

01:03:32Although Angelo, he always said, Ray, it's too close for comfort.

01:03:37You're blowing it or it's getting away from you.

01:03:39And Jenks Morton would say the same thing.

01:03:41I just felt I had to pick the pace up.

01:03:45And I think the reason I was letting the fight get too close was because of the injury itself.

01:03:50You threw an awful lot of punches in the 13th and 14th rounds.

01:03:53What if you had to go to a 15th round?

01:03:55Would you have had anything left?

01:03:57I would have had enough to finish the fight off.

01:03:59I mean, I always have a reserve tank.

01:04:01And I'm always conditioned to end the fight very strong.

01:04:05And in fact, those are some of my major points.

01:04:07I can finish the fight strong at the end of the last round.

01:04:11But I was so exhausted mentally and physically that I knew to collapse.

01:04:17Is there any way that you can describe the feeling that you had when the referee stepped in and said, that's it?

01:04:23I want to shake his hand.

01:04:25No, but really, I think that the referee did the right thing.

01:04:29Because I threw, it had to be over 15, maybe 20 punches that were unanswered.

01:04:33Hearns was completely defenseless.

01:04:35Although, as a fighter, it's very difficult for a fighter to say, okay, now I was defeated and I could not come back.

01:04:41And I respect that.

01:04:43I understand what he's trying to say.

01:04:44All right, we've talked about the end of the fight.

01:04:46Let's go back and talk about the beginning of the fight.

01:04:48The first five rounds, so say the judges, went the way of Thomas Hearns.

01:04:52Ray, this is action in the fourth round.

01:04:55And early on, it was really kind of a counterpunching deal.

01:04:58It was, Barry.

01:04:59You know, as a matter of fact, I was so comfortable by moving in the first couple rounds.

01:05:04And I thought I also just carried my plan out, which was to basically fight him inside and outside.

01:05:10But Hearns began to dominate.

01:05:12He started to be the aggressor.

01:05:14And being aware of how the judges score fights that I'm involved in, I feel I had to go to work.

01:05:20But he delivered a lot of shots.

01:05:22He was very strong inside and outside.

01:05:25Let's go now to the sixth round.

01:05:27And offensively, this was your first really big round of the fight.

01:05:30Well, I knew I had to take control, and I heard it with the left hook.

01:05:33The left hook was pretty much the major punch in the fight itself.

01:05:37Although Hearns is so tall, it was very difficult to land just a clean punch on him.

01:05:42You have to work your way inside.

01:05:45I worked the body.

01:05:46I think the body shots was a factor in the fight.

01:05:50Hearns, at this point now, he's fighting based on instinct.

01:05:54I really didn't think that you threw as many punches as you did in the early rounds.

01:05:58Well, not really, because I was pretty windy.

01:06:02You know, a lot of times, as a round starts, that body shot there hit him.

01:06:06And I knew from that point on, it was just a matter of staying close to him and getting my punches off sooner.

01:06:11And looking for that one shot at this point.

01:06:13Yeah, but sometimes that can create problems looking for one shot.

01:06:16You have to put them together.

01:06:18So this was a really big round for you.

01:06:20And, of course, it went on into the seventh round.

01:06:22You had another big round in round seven.

01:06:24You're looking right now at the end of round six.

01:06:27That's Thomas Hearns on the left.

01:06:28Ray Leonard on the right.

01:06:32Well, the first five rounds of this fight went the way of Thomas Hearns on all but two judges' cards.

01:06:37Those two judges giving Ray just the third round.

01:06:40Then in the sixth and seventh rounds, Ray, you had big rounds.

01:06:43We saw the sixth round, so we know it was a big round there.

01:06:45Seventh round, the same kind of thing.

01:06:47And yet, you only won those rounds on the judges' cards 10-9.

01:06:50And as I understand the scoring system, 10-9 means a slight advantage.

01:06:55That's true.

01:06:56I felt that the way the rounds ended, I mean, as far as Thomas Hearns taking barrage of punches,

01:07:02I threw so many punches in those series of rounds, brother, that I felt that I was way ahead on points.

01:07:08It was like a knockdown.

01:07:10If you knock a guy down in a round, you win that whole round.

01:07:13And I think the way I displayed punches and dominated the rounds pretty much should have been the same thing.

01:07:19Critics, I think, would be quick to say Ray had him on the ropes in the sixth and seventh round, and he didn't go get him.

01:07:25But what was going on in the back of your mind?

01:07:26You knew, obviously, he had to fight another eight rounds if he did survive.

01:07:29Were you just looking for the one punch?

01:07:31Well, not really, because I think in the sixth round when I hurt Tommy,

01:07:34and I threw some dynamite and devastating punches, and he survived that.

01:07:39And from that point on, I knew that he was durable enough to take my punches.

01:07:44So I felt that I'd better play it cool and rest out a little bit and wait for the later rounds

01:07:49to see whether or not he'd begin to tire then.

01:07:51Well, while you were playing it cool and you were resting,

01:07:53Thomas Hearns, meanwhile, was getting his legs back after that rough sixth and seventh round.

01:07:57And by the eleventh round, he had him back pretty good.

01:08:00Ray, while Hearns was getting his legs back,

01:08:02the swelling on your eye was getting worse and worse at this point,

01:08:05and you stuck it a couple of times in this round.

01:08:07Well, Barry, at this point, now I'm just trying to get a breather.

01:08:09I'm trying to reserve myself and have some energy left for the late rounds.

01:08:13You know, he couldn't hurt me, although his punches were scoring,

01:08:17and I was just trying to get a little closer to see what damage I could do inside.

01:08:22Hearns continued to move around, and I was trying to make his left hand stay down.

01:08:28You see he'd bring it up once in a while, he'd throw it,

01:08:30and he'd snap it back up because I was trying to time it with the right hand.

01:08:33And I got a little lazy, and then he threw this shot here.

01:08:38He woke me up, and I had to go to work with him.

01:08:40So in the minds of the judges, Thomas Hearns wins rounds 9, 10, 11, and 12.

01:08:45He wins them all 10-9.

01:08:47And the thing that I just have to ask as one observer to this fight,

01:08:50if he won those rounds 10-9, how did you not win rounds 6 and 7, 10-8?

01:08:55Barry, if I knew the answer, I would tell you.

01:08:57I really don't know. I think I'm just an exception to the rule.

01:08:59I think that in my field, in my game, my position, I would never win a fight on a close decision.

01:09:09And that was proven, Montreal, and it could have been proven in this last fight here.

01:09:14Who, was it Tommy Hearns?

01:09:16I think that's what it was. Big tall guy from Detroit, as I recall.

01:09:19By the 10th or 11th round, the swelling on your eye had gotten pretty serious.

01:09:22Was it of real concern to you at that point?

01:09:24It was of major concern. As a matter of fact, it changed my whole strategy, my whole fight plan,

01:09:29because I was going to move. Originally, my plan was to outmaneuver him.

01:09:32But after the swelling started, I knew I had to go to work.

01:09:36You were just saying, when am I going to win a round on this film?

01:09:38Well, I'll tell you when you're going to win a round.

01:09:39You're going to win number 13, and of course, you're going to win number 14 big.

01:09:42Let's relive those rounds right now from Caesars Palace in Las Vegas.

01:09:46Ray, between 12 and 13, Angelo Dundee said, you better get getting, and you got getting.

01:09:53Well, normally, after a tough, let's say, 10, 11 rounds, I knew fully where to put my face up.

01:09:59And I hit the hands with the right hand, and I thought it was pretty much over.

01:10:02And here, I tell you, this is why I give the guy so much respect, though.

01:10:06I hit him with a barrage of punches. I mean, I threw every punch in the book, and he still stood.

01:10:11And I couldn't believe that he was able to come back, or attempt to come back.

01:10:16Fourteenth round now, Ray, and once again, by this time, it was just about over.

01:10:20That was a good shot.

01:10:21Well, the right hand did a number on him.

01:10:22In fact, I was trying to motion referee to stop the fight at this point here.

01:10:26Hearn's backing up. I think here, he's fighting basically on instinct.

01:10:30The body shots did a number on him.

01:10:32They weakened him, slowed his punches down, slowly put his hands down.

01:10:36At this point now, he's completely defenseless, and it's just a matter of time now.

01:10:41And you did hit him some good shots of the body.

01:10:44Oh, now you notice he tried to extend that left hand, but he was so tired, and so worn, and so beaten.

01:10:50This is all she wrote.

01:10:52Great feeling for Ray Leonard. Undisputed champ.

01:10:56Well, Ray, you finally got your 10-8. That came in the 13th round.

01:11:00Likely, it would have happened in the 14th round, too, because that was very lopsided.

01:11:03That would have meant, had the fight have gone on, the 15th round would have been the pivotal round.

01:11:08And that, of course, is what has led to some of the controversy, saying maybe he shouldn't have stopped the fight.

01:11:13Well, the people that say that the fight should have been stopped, you know, really, I don't think they have any concern for Thomas Hearns.

01:11:20Hearns was completely defenseless. He had nothing left.

01:11:23It was just a matter of me putting punches together. He could have gotten hurt.

01:11:27I think the referee did the right thing, and I'm quite sure anyone that is concerned about Thomas Hearns would have felt the same way.

01:11:34How did you feel Thomas Hearns dealt with the spectacle of the event itself? Did he deal with it as well as you did?

01:11:40I think he did. As a matter of fact, I put him on the top of the shelf.

01:11:44As far as being a guy that can maintain perspective and maintains composure, he's a special guy, a special kind of athlete.

01:11:53Well, you've talked about it time and again that a lot more of a championship fight like this one goes on than what goes on between the ropes on fight night.

01:12:00It's an event that starts, oh, maybe 60, 70, sometimes 90 days before the fight itself.

01:12:05And that was certainly the case this time around for the showdown in Las Vegas.

01:12:09On July 7th, 1981, a press conference in New York City officially announced the showdown between Sugar Ray Leonard and Thomas Hearns.

01:12:18It was billed as the fight of the century.

01:12:20I can thank everyone for coming out this afternoon because you are in store for what I consider the greatest boxing match in history.

01:12:29With those ominous words, both fighters embarked on a three-week media blitz to stir up public interest, ensure a $36 million promotion, the richest boxing history.

01:12:42After I knock Tommy Hearns out, I'll come here and give you the band, the works, and that's a promise.

01:12:47I keep promising people things. No, I'll come back and sing next time, yeah.

01:12:51How do you separate your feelings of humanity and brotherhood for Sugar Ray and make yourself the efficient machine that eliminates him as a boxer?

01:12:58Okay, first of all, just knowing what your job is about. I know definitely what my job is about and how to go by doing my job.

01:13:07By August 17th, both champions were hard at work as the daily grind of training had supplanted the talk show circle.

01:13:13Two to 3,000 spectators jammed public workouts. It was no longer just a fight in the Super Bowl and World Series of boxing.

01:13:24The print and electronic media gravitated to both training camps, searching for the new angle on a story whose ending seemed unpredictable.

01:13:33Finally, the day drew closer as fight fans and media representatives from all over the world landed in a small town worthy of a multi-million dollar bonanza.

01:13:45Las Vegas, Nevada, the new mecca of boxing, and a perfect locale for a fugilistic homecoming.

01:13:54A 24,000-seat temporary stadium was built by Caesar's Palace, and the gate was estimated at $6 billion by fight time.

01:14:02It was a throwback to the days of the Roman Empire. Over 300 writers, photographers, and television and radio personnel converged on the hallowed press room as the day of reckoning approached.

01:14:15And finally, it was September 16th.

01:14:18Ray Leonard, 1-46.

01:14:23Thomas Hearns, 1-4-5.

01:14:27By day, there was calm.

01:14:30And when the sun set, there was magic lit on television sets and large screens all over the world.

01:14:37The night deserving of global attention. The night which fulfilled grandiose policy.

01:14:45We took control now.

01:14:46We took control, yeah.

01:14:47Keep the right hand up, I'm about to tell you, so I'll get the right hand up.

01:14:50Yeah.

01:14:52Come on, Ray. You've got to be quicker. You've got to take it away from you, okay?

01:14:57Speed!

01:14:59And when it was over, all the glory belonged to the new undisputed weatherweight champion, Sugar Ray Leonard.

01:15:07Yet, many will never forget the valiant efforts of the game opponent, Thomas Hearns.

01:15:16And for sheer drama, there was the courage and determination of boxing's latest attraction.

01:15:23It was truly a night to remember, quite possibly, boxing's finest hour.

01:15:29So the story ends, or does it?

01:15:33A fight may last a few minutes or as much as an hour, and then a few days as we rehash it in the newspapers and in the media.

01:15:41Occasionally, rarely, a fight goes on beyond that.

01:15:45This may indeed be one of those fights that we talk about and remember for a very long time.

01:15:51A few fights that we look forward to, or a few events of any kind for that matter, really live up to their billing.

01:15:57This one did.

01:15:58And I think in the end, what we're going to have to write about this is that Sugar Ray Leonard may be the golden boy, but underneath that gold is a man of steel.

01:16:08Well, Ray, let's see, you won an Olympic gold medal.

01:16:13You won the Welderweight Championship of the World.

01:16:15You avenged the only man to ever beat you, Roberto Duran.

01:16:18You won the junior middleweight title, beating Ayub Kaluli.

01:16:21And now you beat the only guy who people said can really give Sugar Ray Leonard a good go in the Welderweight division.

01:16:26You're running out of worlds to conquer.

01:16:28Not really.

01:16:29You know, I feel like a, well, in such a way, bud.

01:16:31You know, I feel like a barber.

01:16:33You know, I sit back in my chair and say, Knicks?

01:16:36I'll be more than happy to accommodate anyone.

01:16:38You've got a lot of people in a waiting room right now, too, pal.

01:16:40I'll tell you that.

01:16:41I think so.

01:16:42The one thing I do want to ask you, too, and you've talked about this time and again.

01:16:44You've said what you want to get out of the sport of boxing is to be financially independent and to be thought of as the champion of his sport.

01:16:50And you've really done that.

01:16:51Yes, and also I think I like to pretty much exemplify the class and the mannerism inside the ring.

01:16:58I think that in this fight with Tommy Hearns, both of us show mutual respect and I think that was class.

01:17:04Ray, was that the most emotional fight that you've had?

01:17:07I would say outside the Olympics, Barrett, that was the fight because it was a fight that everyone, they dreamed about and they wanted to see become a reality, became a reality.

01:17:17Fortunate with good endings.

01:17:19Are you going to have a chance to sit back and enjoy this one?

01:17:21I'm going to take it easy.

01:17:22I don't know.

01:17:23I might buy myself a yacht.

01:17:24I don't know.

01:17:25Just take it easy.

01:17:26Take a cruise around the world.

01:17:27You invited, pal.

01:17:28I'll be there.

01:17:29I'll tell you what.

01:17:30We got one other date before then.

01:17:31October 3rd at the Rosemount Horizon in Chicago.

01:17:34We got a pretty good fight upcoming there on HBO.

01:17:36Sugar Ray Leonard will be with Larry Murchin and myself ringside and it should be a great one.

01:17:40Mike Weaver, the heavyweight champion.

01:17:41He'll be going against Quick Tillis and that should be a good go.

01:17:44And of course, Marvin Hagler.

01:17:46Somewhere in the future, there could be a Marvin Hagler in your life.

01:17:49And Mustafa Ham show middleweight championship.

01:17:51So a great double bill right here on HBO.

01:17:53It happens on October 3rd.

01:17:55And I do want to tell you, I think I mentioned this the first time we ever worked together,

01:17:58that you're as much of a champion outside the ring as you are inside the ring.

01:18:01And it's a pleasure to have you here.

01:18:02Thank you, Barry.

01:18:03For Ray Leonard then, I'm Barry Tompkins.

01:18:05And we'll see you next time.

01:18:07Moving in for the kill tonight.

01:18:09You got every advantage when they put out the line.

01:18:14It's not so pretty when it fades away.

01:18:17Cause it's just an illusion in this passion play.

01:18:23I've seen you burn on before.

01:18:25I've seen you burn on before.

01:18:29Byron eyes.

01:18:32You come on out of the flame.

01:18:34And you turn and control.

01:18:36Byron eyes.

01:18:39I want to give you my love.

01:18:42Won't you just take a little piece of my heart.

01:18:49So you think you thought it all figured out.

01:18:52You're an expert in the field without a doubt.

01:18:57But I know your benefits inside and out.

01:19:00And I won't be taken.

01:19:02The showdown between Sugar Ray Leonard and Thomas Hearns

01:19:05has been a presentation of HBO Sports,

01:19:08the network of champions.

Sugar Ray Leonard vs Thomas Hearns Replay - HBO 9-26-81

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