KO of the Day: Thomas Hearns v. Roberto Duran

One of the greatest knockouts in boxing history. Scintillating, thunderous, and sudden.

June 15, 1984. Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. Duran had come up a long way in weight since his high water days at lightweight and welterweight. He had just lost a 15-round decision to Marvin Hagler for the middleweight championship, and was stepping down to challenge Hearns at junior middleweight. Hearns' only loss at this stage of his career was to Sugar Ray Leonard, back in 1981. About ten months after this, Hearns and Hagler would stage their epic three-round war, one of the best fights in boxing history. Duran had been stripped of his WBA 154-pound title since the body did not approve of his fighting the WBC champion Hearns.

But this was a seek-and-destroy effort by Hearns. Duran would be back later, though, upsetting Iran Barkley at age 38 to win the WBC's middleweight strap.