Exclusive Boxing Interview: Ronald Hearns

ByGerald Rice

Stepping Out From Shadows

Last Friday at The Palace of Auburn Hills in Auburn Hills, Michigan, Fight Night presented a night of fights, including Mary Jo Sanders, Rubin “Mr. Hollywood” Williams and middleweight Ronald “The Motor City Cobra” Hearns, 12-0 (10). Saddoboxing spoke to Ron Hearns, who stopped Daniel Neal in the first round, as he seems on the eve of breaking out of his father’s shadow and carving a name for himself in the boxing world.

SaddoBoxing: Good afternoon. How are you?

Ronald Hearns: “Great.”

SB: Who has been the biggest challenge for you so far?

RH: “A guy named Hernandez.”

SB: At 6’3” you’re a big middleweight; do you expect to move up in weight?

RH: “I might fight 154 and 160.”

SB: Can you make that comfortably?

RH: “I can make that comfortably. My weight comes off very easily.”

SB: Who’s out there you want to eventually step in the ring against?

RH: “I don’t have anyone in mind. I’m just going to take my time to develop as a fighter and continue from there.”

SB: Stephen Pryor?

RH: “If there’s some real money involved. Maybe later down in the line if he continues to win and I continue to win; that can be a big money fight.”

SB: I’ve only seen you fight once, so I have to confess to not knowing too much about your style, but are there any similarities to your father?

RH: “Yes, that’s what everyone tells me, but I don’t try to emulate his style. I just box how I like to box and work off the jab.”

SB: Do you find any difficulty being the son of a Hall of Fame legend in the boxing world? It seems like on one hand, some people look at you only because you’re the son of Tommy Hearns and on the other hand, people don’t want to look at you because you’re the son of Tommy Hearns.

RH: “Yeah, it has its advantages and disadvantages. It’s hard to follow in a father’s footsteps, who left such a mark in boxing, but I’ve always had that. I grew up with that.”

SB: How many times would you like to fight this year?

RH: “At least once a month.”

SB: What’s next on the horizon?

RH: “I think I have something scheduled for Feb 17, I think in NY.”

SB: So do you have an opponent lined up or a venue?

RH: “Just a site for right now.”

SB: Do you think Peter Manfredo has any hope against Joe Calzaghe?

RH: “I think it’s going to be an interesting fight. Calzaghe has a lot of experience. It depends on how Manfredo can deal with his experience and speed. Manfredo looked pretty good in his last fight.”

SB: Is there anything you’d like to add?

RH: “Just continue to work with me, watch me grow and judge me on my ability and not on my father’s. He started at an earlier point than I did, but now I have the opportunity to fight.”

SB: Well, thank you for your time.

RH: “Thanks.”