Boxing News: Tommy Hearns Pleads Nolo Contendere

Today in a Michigan court, Thomas “The Hitman” Hearns, former WBA, WBC, WBU and IBO champ at weights ranging from welter- to cruiserweight, who fought memorable wars against Marvelous Marvin Hagler, Sugar Ray Leonard, Roberto Duran and Iran Barkley, pled Nolo contendere to the charge that he assaulted his teenage son earlier this month.

Enough ink has been spilled on this case to fill a pool in Laguna Beach, but in exchange for his agreeing to plea No contest, the former champ was fined $515 and sentenced to nine months probation. If he keeps his nose clean, if he keeps his hands to himself, the law will leave the Hitman alone.

Raising a 13-year-old in this day and age can be a nightmare beyond belief, but there are times when the Old Testament’s (Proverbs 13-24) “He that spareth his rod hateth his son” makes no sense in the modern world.