From the archive · December 6, 1980
Thomas Hearns vs Luis Primera
WBA World Welterweight Title · Joe Louis Arena, Detroit, Michigan
Record 29-0-0 · 146 1/2 lb
Record 15-0-0 · 146 3/4 lb

The fight
On December 6th, 1980, the WBA World Welterweight Title fight between Thomas Hearns and Luis Primera took place at Joe Louis Arena in Detroit, Michigan. The promoter for the event was Harold Smith and the referee for the bout was Ismael Wiso Fernandez.
Thomas Hearns, from the United States, entered the fight with an impressive record of 29-0-0. His opponent, Luis Primera, from Caracas, Venezuela, had a record of 15-0-0. On fight night, Hearns weighed in at 146 1/2lbs while Primera weighed 146 3/4lbs.
The fight was highly anticipated, and 9,250 fans packed into Joe Louis Arena to witness it. From the opening bell, Hearns dominated the action and displayed his superior power and technique. Primera was down once in the 2nd round, once in the 5th, and then again for the count in the 6th. Despite his best efforts, Primera was unable to withstand the relentless barrage of Hearns' punches and the fight was ultimately stopped in the 6th round, resulting in a TKO victory for Hearns.
After the fight, Primera was taken to the hospital to have his ribs examined. Despite the loss, Primera's courage and determination were evident throughout the bout, and he left the ring with the respect of fans and boxing aficionados alike.