For decades, Thomas Hearns stood as one of boxing’s most electrifying champions — a Detroit icon whose devastating right hand earned him the nickname “The Hitman” and helped reshape the sport in the 1980s. At 67, however, Hearns now finds himself navigating a very different kind of fight — one unfolding not in an arena, but in probate court.
A Michigan judge has placed Hall of Fame boxer Thomas Hearns under guardianship and conservatorship after concerns about his health and finances. Oakland County Chief Probate Judge Pro Tempore Daniel A. O’Brien appointed Hearns’ eldest son, Ronald Hearns, as sole guardian and conservator, granting him authority over his financial decisions.
The decision followed testimony that Adult Protective Services had begun examining whether the boxing legend was vulnerable to financial exploitation or undue influence from relatives. APS workers also told the court they struggled to locate Hearns after some family members refused to disclose his whereabouts.
Despite the legal tension, Hearns has tried to reassure fans that he remains in good spirits.
“I’m fine. I want the world to know that I’m doing fine. I feel good,” he said in an exclusive interview with WXYZ.
He also expressed hope that the family dispute would be settled.
“I just want things to just be calm and good, and just move smoothly,” he said.
For many in Detroit, the court proceedings are difficult to square with the towering legacy Thomas Hearns built inside the ring. Competing professionally from 1977 to 2006, he became the first boxer to win world titles in five divisions — welterweight, light middleweight, middleweight, super middleweight and light heavyweight.
His fights with Sugar Ray Leonard and Marvin Hagler remain iconic chapters in boxing history. The 1981 showdown with Leonard, when Hearns entered the ring undefeated at 32-0, produced a combined $17 million purse — the largest payday in sports at the time, equivalent to roughly $50 million today.
Despite those earnings, Hearns’ finances grew complicated in retirement, with his estimated net worth now around $450,000.
Hearns’ financial troubles first became public in 2010 when he reportedly owed about $450,000 in back taxes. To settle the debt, he auctioned memorabilia and personal items, including the silk robe he wore in the Leonard fight. Vehicles, boats, and collectibles were also sold. Family members later suggested his generosity toward extended relatives added to the strain.
More recently, a dispute involving his longtime Southfield, Michigan home has drawn renewed scrutiny, with reports suggesting the boxer may have unknowingly become entangled in a mortgage fraud scheme years after paying off the property.
Documents reviewed by reporters indicate that in 2014, a man named Jack Wolfe allegedly issued Hearns a $90,000 mortgage and established business paperwork in the boxer’s name. Wolfe — currently serving prison time for property theft and forgery — reportedly foreclosed on the home within months despite not being the legitimate creditor.
The property later became entangled in multiple ownership transfers before being sold after a tax foreclosure triggered by about $100,000 in unpaid property taxes. The 8,700-square-foot home sold for $226,000, though estimates suggested it may have been worth closer to $500,000. Under Michigan law, Hearns could have claimed roughly $126,000 in surplus funds, but the legal window to recover that money has since closed.
The probate case also raised questions about a GoFundMe campaign allegedly connected to family members. Attorneys for Ronald Hearns say the court’s involvement is intended to protect the boxing legend.
“Mr. Hearns is revered in this community for all he’s done — for Detroit, for boxing and for the people who admire him,” said attorney Wolf Mueller. “Our responsibility is to ensure no one takes advantage of him.”
For Ronald Hearns, the priority is stability and protection.
“My dad is a great man with a big heart, and seeing him go through this now is terrible,” he said. “My goal is to make sure he enjoys his life and that nobody can hurt him — financially, physically or mentally.”
For a fighter who once ruled boxing’s toughest divisions, the moment reflects a sobering truth: some battles come long after the final bell.
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