Hearns Wins Light-Heavyweight Title, Knocking Andries Down Six Times

Challenger Thomas Hearns knocked down Dennis Andries six times and stopped him at 1:26 of the 10th round of the scheduled 12-round bout Saturday to win the World Boxing Council light-heavyweight championship.

It was the third world title for Hearns, 28, who previously had held the World Boxing Assn. welterweight title and the WBC super-welterweight crown. Hearns became the 12th man to win world titles in three weight classifications and the first since 1985, when Wilfredo Gomez won his third title as a junior lightweight. He also became the first fighter to jump three weight classes and win a world title.

Andries, a 31-year-old native of Guyana who was making his second title defense, was knocked down four times in the sixth round and once in the ninth. When he went down again in the 10th, the fight was stopped.

Hearns, 44-2 with 37 knockouts, has lost only to Sugar Ray Leonard and Marvelous Marvin Hagler. “I want that fourth title,” said the 173-pound Hearns, who needs the middleweight crown to become the first boxer to win world championships in four divisions.

The 175-pound Andries, who won the title on April 30, 1986, in London in a decision over J.B. Williamson, is 28-7-2 with 17 knockouts. He had won 15 consecutive fights going into Saturday’s bout, which drew 11,230 to Cobo Arena.