The Showdown
Sugar Ray Leonard vs. Thomas Hearns
Date: 1981-09-16Venue: Caesars Palace, Las VegasResult: Leonard TKO 14
The unification of the WBA and WBC welterweight titles. Hearns was a 6-1 favourite; Leonard came in heavier and used the lead foot to circle outside. After 13 brilliant rounds — Leonard down on all three scorecards — he stopped Hearns in the 14th. The most consequential welterweight fight of the decade.