Date: 11th February 1984
Venue: Joe Louis Arena, Detroit, Michigan, USATitle: WBC World Super-welterweight Title
Promoter: Fight Night Inc
Thomas Hearns
(
37
-
1
-
0
)
Weight: 153 3/4 lbs
Luigi Minchillo
(
43
-
2
-
0
)
Weight: 153 lbs
Having won the WBC World Super-welterweight Title from Wilfred Benitez in December 1982, Hearns had to make do with a 10 round non-title bout against Murray Sutherland as his only outing in fourteen months when he made his first defence against Italy's Luigi Minchillo in his hometown Detroit.
Minchillo was known to the American audience due to his 1981 ten round loss to Roberto Duran in Las Vegas. He had victories in recent times over Louis Acaries and Maurice Hope, but despite this, he was given very little chance against Hearns who was on a good run of form since his sole loss to Ray Leonard in 1981.
Hearns may have been expected to finish the Italian challenger inside the distance but he had been suffering from injuries to his right hand. This, coupled with Minchillo's rock-solid chin saw the challenger from Pesaro, Italy hear the final bell, even if the scorecards were lop-sided in the champion's favour.
Scores: Abraham Chavarria 120-110 | Guy Jutras 118-109 | Cesar Ramos 120-109.