Famously nicknamed ‘The Hitman’ and, in some circles, ‘The Motor City Cobra,’ Thomas Hearns is a retired professional boxer. Praised as one of the greatest punchers, Hearns won various championships and awards in a career spanning three decades. Born on 18, October 1958 in Tennessee, Tommy began boxing professionally in 1977 and continued until 2006. Throughout his boxing career, Hearns fought some of the biggest names in the sport, including Roberto Durán, José Cuevas and Sugar Ray Leonard.

Who is he?

The retired boxer grew up in Detroit, Michigan, where he moved with his family when he was five years old. He boxed at an amateur level with a 155-8 record. Hearns was the 1977 Amateur Athletic Union Light Welterweight Champion after beating Ohio’s Bobby Joe Young. That year, Tommy joined the professional ranks, training under Emanuel Steward to become one of the most devastating punchers. His slim build enabled him to move up several weight classes, accumulating wins in multiple divisions.

Thomas Hearns Net Worth

Due to the scarcity of public records, pinpointing the boxer’s exact worth is difficult. Multiple sources put the figure at $450,000 as of 2026. Others say the current Thomas Hearns net worth is at least a few million. The retired boxer earned approximately $40 million throughout his career from various fights.

Key Earning Moments

In his prime, Hearns was highly bankable, competing in competitions worth millions. The Showdown against Sugar Ray Leonard, one of the biggest fights, earned Hearn a combined prize of $17 million. While wealth among athletes evolves over time, thanks to investments and other ventures, tracking down figures can be hard without official reports.

Financial Struggles

Thomas Hearns had trouble holding on to his fortune in his later years due to several issues. Supporting a large extended family is one of the causes attributed to the boxer’s dwindling net worth. Certain reports say that he also accumulated massive debt, including unpaid taxes. He had to sell some assets to cover the debts. Fans helped him out by buying items from him. However, some news outlets speculate that Hearns may still be worth millions.

Accolades

Hearns is the first boxer in the history of the sport to win five world titles in different divisions. During his career, he won the welterweight, light middleweight, middleweight, super middleweight and light heavyweight championships. When he began his professional career, he defeated his first 17 opponents by knockout. His record was 28-0 in 1980 when he beat the legendary ‘Pipino’ Cuevas via TKO. Hearns has had 67 fights as a professional boxer, winning 61, losing 5 and drawing one. His final fight was against Shannon Sandberg in February 2006. Ring Magazine ranks The Hitman number 18 among the 100 greatest punchers of all time. Hearns became an International Boxing Hall of Famer in 2012.

Thomas ‘Hitman’ Hearns remains one of the biggest fighters in boxing history. Apart from his in-ring achievements, the boxer is lauded for his contributions to the sport. Through public appearances and the coaching of young fighters, Hearns ensures the sport lives on in his community.