Hearns wants to end nightmare

Press, 12 June 1989, Page 40

Hearns wants to end nightmare

NZPA-Reuter Las Vegas Tommy Hearns is hoping an eight-year nightmare will end when he attempts to take Sugar Ray Leonard’s World Boxing Council (W.8.C.) super-middleweight title tomorrow (N.Z. time). The odds are against him with bookmakers laying 3-1 on Leonard for their first encounter since September 1981. Leonard, slightly behind on points at that meeting, erupted in the fourteenth to

stop Hearns for what was then his first .'defeat as a professional.; s "It’s been a definite nightmare, over and over again,” Hearns said. “I’ve been living with pain for eight years. It’s like a little monster following me around. It never left me and now it’s time to relieve my mind.” To rid himself of the monster Hearns, aged 30, will have to improve on his last three bouts. Last October Argentine Juan

Roldan had Hearns in serious trouble before the “Hit Man” from Detroit stopped him in the fourth round. In his next fight, Iran Barkley, bleeding badly and far behind, shocked Hearns with a brutal third-round knockout to win the . W.B.C. middleweight title. Then in a comeback fight, Hearns was nearly knocked out by American James Kinchen. Hearns survived by

hanging on to everything in sight — Kinchen, the referee and the ropes — until he recovered to gain ■ a points decision. The promoter, Bob Arum, says Leonard, aged 32, is assured of $l4 million and Hearns Si2 million for their highlypublicised encounter. Neither fighter needs the money, but Hearns wants his revenge. “This (re-match) is the greatest thing that can happen to me,” Hearns said, *