Dennis Andries vs. Thomas Hearns
DateMarch 7, 1987
VenueCabo Hall in Detroit, Michigan
Title(s) on the lineWBC light heavyweight title
Tale of the tape
Boxer Dennis Andries Thomas Hearns
Nickname The Hackney Rock The Hitman
Hometown Hackney, London, England Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
Pre-fight record 28–6–2 43–2
Height 5 ft 10½ in 6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
Weight 159 lb (72 kg) 173 lb (78 kg)
Style Orthodox Orthodox
Recognition WBC light heavyweight champion 2–division World champion
Result
Hearns wins via 10th–round TKO

Dennis Andries vs. Thomas Hearns was a professional boxing match contested on March 7, 1987, for the WBC light heavyweight title.

Background

In November 1986 2–division world champion Thomas Hearns had come to an agreement to face reigning WBC light heavyweight champion Dennis Andries. Hearns, who at the time had won world titles in both the welterweight and light middleweight divisions, decided to temporarily bypass an opportunity for a world title in the middleweight division and move up 15 pounds to the challenge for the light heavyweight title.[1]

The fight was originally planned to take place on February 7 in Las Vegas, but Showtime, who owned the rights to broadcast the fight, chose to postpone the fight in hopes of instead scheduling it for a March 20 date in Hearns' native Detroit. Andries' manager was against postponing the fight to such a later date after Andries had already trained for the initial February date, as such the fight was moved to its final March 7 date.[2]

The fight

Hearns would put forth one of his most dominating efforts as he scored six knockdowns over the overmatched Andries. After a mostly tactical first five rounds largely controlled by the challenger, Hearns would connect with a short right hand that dropped Andries for the first time and then was knocked down a further three times after numerous flurries by Hearns, though he was able to answer the referee's 10–count each time. As there is no three knockdown rule in effect during world title fights, Andries was able to continue the fight though Hearns would take a commanding lead on the scorecards with a rare 10–5 round. Hearns would send Andries down for the fifth time with a right hook in the ninth round, but Andries would quickly get back up once again. In the tenth round, Hearns dropped Andries for the sixth and final time after ducking a wild swing by Andries and countering with a short right hand of his own. Andries was able to get back up, but the referee stopped the fight as Andries was too dazed to continue.[3]

Aftermath

Hearns reign as light heavyweight champion would be brief as he announced after the fight that he would go down in weight to challenge for a world title in the middleweight division stating "I want that fourth title"[4] In his next fight Hearns would make history, becoming the first fighter to claim world titles in four different weight classes after knocking out Juan Roldán to claim the WBC middleweight title.[5]

Andries would rebound from his loss to Hearns and would reclaim the WBC light heavyweight title after defeating Tony Willis 2 years later in 1989. After losing the title to Jeff Harding in his first defense, Andries would become capture his third light heavyweight title after knocking out Harding in their rematch, joining only Marvin Johnson at the time as the only three–time world champion in the light heavyweight division.[6]

Fight card

Weight Class Weight vs. Method Round Notes
Light Heavyweight 175 lbs. Thomas Hearns def. Dennis Andries (c) TKO 10/12 Note 1
Light Middleweight 154 lbs. Milton McCrory def. Rafael Corona TKO 1/12 Note 2
Super Featherweight 130 lbs. Erskine Wade def. Richard Campbell TKO 3/8
Super Middleweight 168 lbs. Philip Morefield def. Tim Richardson TKO 2/8

^Note 1 For WBC Light Heavyweight title
^Note 2 For NABF Light Middleweight title

References

  1. ↑ A Hearns Challenge, NY Times article, 1986-11-12, Retrieved on 2022-09-18
  2. ↑ World Boxing Council light-heavyweight champion Dennis Andries' title defense..., UPI article, 1986-12-26, Retrieved on 2022-09-18
  3. ↑ Hearns Wins Title, NY Times article, 1987-03-08, Retrieved on 2022-09-19
  4. ↑ Hearns Wins Title, LA Times article, 1987-03-08, Retrieved on 2022-09-19
  5. ↑ Hearns Is First To Take 4 Titles, NY Times article, 1987-10-30, Retrieved on 2022-09-19
  6. ↑ Andries Wins Back Title . . . Again, LA Times article, 1990-07-29, Retrieved on 2022-09-19
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