32 years ago

Date: 3rd June 1991

Venue: Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, Nevada

Title: WBA World Light-heavyweight Title

Promoter: Forum Boxing

Tv:

Virgil Hill
( 30 - 0 - 0 )
Weight: 173 lbs

Thomas Hearns
( 49 - 3 - 1 )
Weight: 174 lbs

The Virgil Hill vs Thomas Hearns WBA World Light-heavyweight Title fight took place on June 3, 1991, at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, Nevada. The fight was the 11th defence of the title for Hill, who came into the fight with a record of 30-0-0, while Hearns was 49-3-1. The referee for the bout was Mills Lane and the promoter was Forum Boxing.

Hearns was the stronger fighter in the ring, utilizing his left jab effectively to control the pace of the fight. Hill, who was from Williston, North Dakota, was handicapped by a hyperextended right elbow suffered during training, which prevented him from using his right hand effectively. Despite this setback, the fight remained relatively even until Hearns pulled away in the final rounds, taking four of the last six on all three judges’ scorecards.

The judges' final scores were unanimous, with Chuck Giampa scoring 116-112, Art Lurie 115-113 and Jerry Roth 115-113 in favour of Hearns, earning him his sixth and final world title. The fight was watched by over 14,000 people live in the arena and was also broadcast live on pay-per-view and closed-circuit television. Hearns was rewarded with a $4.25 million purse, while Hill received $1.5 million.