They known as it “World Conflict II,” an odd if not barely offensive billing, however the logic was plain. In 1980, no division in boxing mattered extra or impressed higher pleasure than the welterweights. It was as if a lot expertise had assembled itself within the 147 pound weight class that it reached crucial mass and exploded in a collection of terrific match-ups. Carlos Palomino, Wilfred Benitez, Roberto Duran, Pipino Cuevas, Sugar Ray Leonard, Randy Shields, Thomas Hearns — the depth of the division embarrassed most others. Lower than two months earlier than, Leonard and Duran had fought in Montreal, galvanizing the eye of the sports activities world like no combat had in years. That was “World Conflict I”; the promoters of Thomas “Hit Man” Hearns vs Jose “Pipino” Cuevas had been hoping for the same box-office bonanza.
And Hearns vs Cuevas was an enormous combat, no query, proven on closed-circuit telecast all through North America, though the combatants weren’t as well-known to mainstream sports activities followers as Duran and Leonard. However inside boxing circles, the reputations of those two energy punchers loomed simply as massive. For true followers of the combat recreation, this match-up was hotly anticipated as they knew it was a tilt destined to not go the gap.
Hearns — younger, undefeated, a hero to the folks of Detroit, Michigan — had been a extremely profitable newbie boxer, however not like Leonard, had did not make the Olympic workforce. However many in boxing now considered him as an much more spectacular expertise than Sugar Ray. He had chewed up the division, knocking out one contender after one other, shocking anybody who had seen him compete as an newbie.
Up to now, Hearns had been a cautious boxer, utilizing his lengthy arms and nimble ft to stay and transfer. It was coach Emanuel Steward of the Kronk Fitness center who modified Hearns’ fashion, exhibiting him the right way to use his freakish 6’1″ top and 78″ attain, corresponding to that of a heavyweight, to generate unbelievable energy, particularly with the fitting hand. Steward taught Hearns about a bit of factor known as leverage and as soon as Tommy acquired the cling of it, his opponents ran for canopy and the followers in Detroit began calling him “The Hitman.”
Mexico’s Pipino Cuevas had been WBA welterweight champion for 4 years, and the mere point out of his title impressed a furrowing of brows. He was not simply revered, however legitimately feared. Preventing professionally since he was solely fourteen, he had by no means been knocked down, and had defended his title eleven instances, ten by knockout. His punching energy was legendary. His left hook didn’t simply harm his opponents or knock them out; it despatched them to the hospital. Angel Espada: damaged jaw; Billy Backus: fractured orbital bone; Harold Weston: damaged jaw and damaged ribs. Merely put, Cuevas was one of the harmful welterweights who had ever lived.
Now Leonard had misplaced to Duran, and followers had been questioning if one other younger American expertise was about to lose to a different fearsome, hard-punching Latino champion. The combat was held in Joe Louis Enviornment in Detroit in entrance of a fervent crowd, everybody there to see one among their very own make it. Nobody left disenchanted.
On the opening bell, two gunslingers, males accustomed to dominating opponents with sheer firepower, confronted off. They sized one another up for some seconds, Hearns snapping out his sharp left jab, earlier than closing the gap and concurrently exchanging left arms. Each landed nevertheless it was Tommy’s hook which despatched Cuevas stumbling throughout the ring. Hearns didn’t want an invite; the Motor Metropolis Cobra instantly moved in and struck together with his superior proper hand. After which struck once more. And once more. Earlier than the primary spherical was over the beforehand steel-chinned Cuevas had been staggered 4 extra instances by Hearns’ thunderous proper.
Within the second, the challenger picked up the place he had left off. His six and eight inch benefits in top and attain, plus his apparent edge in hand velocity, made it not possible for Cuevas to get in vary and produce his left hook into play. Hearns punched freely, in complete command. Lastly a devastating proper landed completely on Pipino’s jaw and turned his legs to spaghetti; the Mexican’s complete physique weaved and buckled like a palm tree in a hurricane as he struggled to remain erect. Hearns watched for a second after which struck residence one other proper and Pipino hit the canvas face first.
Amazingly, Cuevas beat the rely, however his supervisor had seen sufficient and stepped via the ropes. Thomas Hearns was the brand new WBA champion, and the countdown to the inevitable showdown with Sugar Ray Leonard had begun. — Robert Portis
Portray by Damien Burton.
