Hit Man - Brian Hughes [83]
This pattern, of Hearns attacking without throwing any meaningful combinations whilst Olajide retreated at an alarming pace, soon began to frustrate the five and a half thousand spectators, who started to jeer and boo. The criticism spurred Hearns to try and lure the Canadian into a toe-to-toe punch-up but the intimidated challenger point-blank refused to take the bait. It was not until late in the fourth round that Olajide finally came out of his shell and scored with a right hand shot that troubled Hearns. Unfortunately for him, Tony Orlando ruled it a low blow and deducted a point as Hearns staggered to a neutral corner to recuperate.
Hearns was the only one who tried to make a fight of it. He came out and started to throw his heavy artillery to Olajide’s slim body along with further right hands to the head. Despite his efforts, the spectators continued to heckle and express their disappointment but Olajide appeared impervious to their complaints. Whenever the challenger did come out of his defensive posture to land a punch, Hearns mockingly pretended to stagger to prick his opponent’s pride, but to no avail. He began to hook off his left jab and landed to both the body and head but his punches lacked the sharpness to trouble his reluctant foe.
There was some excitement to lift the torpid fare in the ninth round when the Hit Man connected with a stiff right cross which dumped Olajide onto the canvas. He clambered back up at the count of seven and took the mandatory eight count from referee Orlando, but the shock seemed to galvanise him and for the first time in the contest, Olajide became aggressive and began chasing the champion, with some success. He scored with fast left hooks and then mocked Hearns by beckoning him to come and exchange punches. Despite breathing heavily and visibly tiring from the rigour of making the fight, Hearns responded and the final three rounds were enlivened by both men trading leather. Olajide scored with left hooks whilst Hearns responded with chopping right hands and the fans greeted each attack with acclaim. When the bell signalled the conclusion, Hearns was awarded the fight by the widest of margins. Judge Vincent Rainone gave it to him by 119-107, Samuel Conde-Lopez by 120-107 and Cesar Ramos by 119-110.
“Come on Ray, how about it? One more time … please,” he told the post-fight press conference at the Taj Mahal. “I’m looking to be a star,” said Hearns. “I’m already a star, but I’m not that shining star, the one that stands out in front of everybody else. I want to be out there in the light, shining. There is new life for Thomas Hearns, another chance to once more rise above everybody else.” It was clear, for all of his success, there was still a monkey on his back. “Hearns has always been considered one of the best rather than the best,” said American boxing writer Nigel Collins. “It’s a distinction that bothers him.”
THIS DISQUIET IN Hearns soon manifested itself in a most unexpected way. Speculation arose about the breakdown of the long relationship between Hearns and Emanuel Steward. Although Hearns strenuously denied it, the New York Times reported that he felt his career was stalling after the Olajide contest. The report claimed that Hearns desperately wanted a third fight against Leonard but was frustrated that negotiations had broken down. It also suggested that a dispute had arisen