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| Date | June 6, 1988 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Venue | Las Vegas Hilton, Winchester, Nevada, U.S. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Title(s) on the line | WBC middleweight title | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Tale of the tape | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Result | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Barkley wins via 3rd-round KO | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Thomas Hearns vs. Iran Barkley , billed as Knockout Nite, was a professional boxing match contested on June 6, 1988, for the WBC middleweight title. [2]
In his previous fight on October 29, 1987, Thomas Hearns had captured the middleweight title after knocking out Juan Roldán becoming the first four-division world champion in boxing history. [3]
Then on March 6, 1988, Iran Barkley beat Michael Olajide by technical knockout, becoming a top contender to WBC middleweight champion Thomas Hearns in the process. [4] Two weeks after Barkley's victory, the fight between Hearns and Barkley became official. [5] Having had only one title fight before his fight with Hearns, Barkley came into the fight as a 4–1 underdog. [6]
Hearns controlled the first two rounds, landing punches almost at will and winning both rounds on all three scorecards. Midway through the first round, Hearns had opened up a cut above Barkley's left eye, and by the end of the second Barkley had a cut above both his right eye and lower lip. In round three, Barkley got off to a quick start, but Hearns took control and hammered Barkley with body shots throughout the round. However, in the final minute of the round, Hearns threw a left jab and then briefly dropped his hands as he attempted to move to his left when Barkley caught him flush with a powerful right hand and then landed another as Hearns fell to the canvas. Clearly hurt from the exchange, Hearns struggled to get back up and barely answered the referee's 10-count. Hearns was allowed to continue, but was immediately met with a barrage from Barkley which sent him through the ropes. Referee Richard Steele would step in and stop the fight giving Barkley the victory at 2:39 of the round. [7]
The Ring magazine named the fight their Upset of the Year for 1988. [8]
Confirmed bouts: [9]
| Weight Class | Weight | vs. | Method | Round | Notes | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Middleweight | 160 lb | Iran Barkley | def. | Thomas Hearns (c) | KO | 3/12 | Note 1 |
| Super Lightweight | 140 lb | Roger Mayweather (c) | def. | Harold Brazier | SD | 12/12 | |
| Light Heavyweight | 175 lb | Virgil Hill (c) | def. | Ramzi Hassan | UD | 12/12 | |
| Super Bantamweight | 122 lb | Fabrice Benichou | def. | Efren Chavez | UD | 8/8 | |
| Light Heavyweight | 175 lb | Michael Moorer | def. | Keith McMurray | TKO | 2/4 |
^Note 1 For WBC Middleweight title
^Note 2 For WBC Super Lightweight title
^Note 3 For WBA Light Heavyweight title
| Country | Broadcaster |
|---|---|
 United Kingdom | ITV |
 United States | Showtime |
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