Hearns wins in return to the ring

Thomas "Hitman" Hearns returned to the ring on Saturday night posting an eighth round knockout of John Long in his first fight in five years. The 46 year old Hearns was ahead 79-72 on all three judges' cards when the referee ended the cruiserweight fight when Long failed to answer the bell for the ninth.

The seven-time world champion, a true legend of the sport won his first 32 fights before losing to another boxing legend in Sugar Ray Leonard in 1981. Many experts believed Hearns to be ahead on points only to fail to hold on until the end, falling to Sugar Ray in the 14th round.

He followed that up with another superfight in 1985 when he and Marvelous Marvin Hagler stood toe to toe for three exhilarating rounds of non stop action which Hagler won.

Great betting odds on Boxing
Huge 20% Deposit Bonus + $20 Free Bet! Click here

The rematch with Sugar Ray Leonard eventuated in 1989 at the Caesar's Palace hotel in Las Vegas. With both boxers passed their prime this fight didn't have the same aura about it as their previous one eight years earlier.

Hearns dropped Leonard in rounds three and 11. It still remains a mystery how the judges scored the fight a draw.

Hearns improved his record to 60 wins and five losses with one draw with 47 knockouts.