The Leonard-Hearns Saga

This 1989 video chronicles the two great fights between Sugar Ray Leonard and Thomas Hearns. Promoted as “The Showdown,“ Leonard (30-1 with 21 KO) fought Hearns (32-0 with 30 KO) on September 16, 1981 at Caesars Palace to unify the world welterweight championship in a scheduled fifteen-rounder. Trailing on all three judges scorecards Leonard would rally to floor Hearns twice in the 13th round before scoring a TKO stoppage in the 14th. After almost eight years, the Leonard-Hearns rematch finally happened. Promoted as “The War“ Leonard (35-1 with 25 KOs) and Hearns (46-3 with 38 KOs) would met on June 12, 1989 at Caesar’s Palace in a scheduled twelve-rounder for the WBC & WBO super-middleweight titles. Despite dropping Leonard twice and controlling much of the fight Hearns was denied victory as the judges scored the fight a draw. A very unpopular and controversial result with even Leonard eventually admitting that Hearns had deserved the decision. A rubber match