Boxers Content Even When They Come Out Even

Who won?

Who cares?

Neither Sugar Ray Leonard nor Thomas Hearns, it seems.

Neither uttered so much as a discouraging word after the 12-round draw at Caesars Palace Monday night at Las Vegas. Neither pointed a finger at the judges nor argued with the decision.

It seemed as if everyone in the crowd of more than 15,000 had an opinion after the controversial finish.

Promoter Bob Arum, perhaps beating the first drums for yet another match between the two, hauled fighter after fighter to the microphone as the crowd waited for Hearns and Leonard in the post-fight news conference.

One by one they came--Roberto Duran, Iran Barkley, Michael Nunn, Virgil Hill, Evander Holyfield--and one by one they declared Hearns the winner.

And then in marched Hearns, who figured to be bitter.

After all, he had waited nearly eight years for a rematch after losing to Leonard on a 14th-round knockout in Leonard-Hearns I in 1981.

He had talked about the “little monster” he had carried around for eight years, the memory of losing a fight he was winning on the score cards.

He had to endure a humiliating loss to Barkley last June and a near loss to James Kinchen late in the year.

And this week, Hearns had to deal with a family tragedy when his younger brother, Henry, was charged with first-degree murder in the shooting of his girlfriend at the home Hearns owns in Southfield, Mich.

But going into the final round Monday, it appeared that after hanging on for eight years, all he had to do was hang on for another three minutes and vindication was finally his.

“I’ll leave that up to the judges,” Hearns said of the decision. “The judges make the decision. I’m proud of a draw. It could have gone the other way.”

Leonard had similar sentiments.

“It’s up to the judges,” he said. “I have no control over that. The way it was fought, it was justified. I accept it.”

What might have figured to be an end for Hearns was instead a revival of his career.

Hearns put one foot on the table in front of him, broke into a wide grin and began talking about the importance of religion in his life.

“I learned something by going to church every Sunday,” he said. “I like it. And I’m going to be there this Sunday, too.”

He and Leonard then clasped hands like two politicians who had just been elected on the same ticket.

“What Thomas Hearns proved tonight,” Leonard told reporters, “was that he is a true champion. He overcame adversity. The legs were there. The chin was there. All the attributes you said he didn’t have were there. I hit him with everything I had. He’s a tough cookie.

“I think you should apologize to Tommy.”

Leonard perhaps forgot for a moment that it was he in the past few months promoting the fight, who had questioned Hearns’ ability.

Hearns returned the compliments in kind.

“He was there,” Hearns said of Leonard. “The man can’t fight, they said. He’s too short. But he’s got a big heart. I didn’t know he had such a big heart.”