Ronald Hearns Opens Showtime Weekend of Boxing

The Showtime Network’s weekend of boxing began with junior middleweight Ronald Hearns (18-0) taking on Kansan Jose Luis Gonzalez (12-3-1) in the Caribbean splendor of the Grand Cayman Islands. Hearns is the son of the legendary Thomas Hearns.

It is hard not thinking about the father while watching the son.

The Motor City Cobra was in The Chosen One’s corner often taking the advice reins from his son’s trainer. After the fight Thomas had the endearing smile of a proud father. He might have been happier after this fight than he had been for any of his own. It was a touching scene.

Ronald’s lanky body, body shoulder blades, hard punch, easy gait, and facial similarities quickly remind you of Thomas. But sadly Ronald is not the elite level fighter that his father was. Not everyone can be. Ronald disposed of Gonzalez in the 7th when the Kansas fighter’s corner through in the towel after he took in a few rounds worth of pounding blows to the head.

A lot more was expected of Hearns if he was to prove worthy of a middleweight contender. At 29, Ronald isn’t young. When his father was 29 he was 45-2-0, had already beaten Wilfred Benitez and Roberto Duran. The losses, of course, were to Sugar Ray Leonard and Marvin Hagler.

Is Ronald getting TV time because of his famous name? Maybe, but it doesn’t matter. He’s winning his fights, his offensive skills are entertaining, and the physical similarities he shares with his father elicit a fond nostalgia for a better age. We want to see more of Ronald, at least until his severely lacking defensive prowess is exposed by a more skilled fighter.

Photo Source: Newscom.com