| Main article: wikipedia:Thomas Hearns |
Thomas Hearns is a real life retired American professional boxer. Nicknamed the "Motor City Cobra" and more famously "The Hitman", Hearns became the first boxer in history to win world titles in four divisions. He would also become the first fighter in history to win five world titles in five different divisions.
References in Hajime no Ippo
In Round 2 - Sugar Ray Leonard vs. Thomas Hearns
- In Round 2, Yagi Haruhiko and Kamogawa Genji are watching Sugar Ray Leonard vs. Thomas Hearns match.
- In Round 16, Mashiba Ryō is shown using the Flicker Jab in his debut match. Takamura Mamoru explained to Makunouchi Ippo that Thomas Hearns was really good at using it, where he was able to defeat five different weight classes.
- Note in Episode 9, during the Pro Test, Mashiba is shown using the Flicker Jab, where Takamura explains the history behind it to Ippo after the Pro Test, instead of Mashiba's debut match.
Round 15 - Thomas Hearns
- In Round 67, during Miyata Ichirō vs. Mashiba Ryō match in the East Japan Rookie King Tournament, Fujii Minoru made a reference to Thomas Hearns after he saw Mashiba start to use the Flicker.
- In Round 233, Iimura Mari mentions her favourite boxers are Thomas Hearns, Sugar Ray Leonard, and Roberto Durán.
- In Round 383, while watching Takamura Mamoru use his speed against Bryan Hawk, Sendō Takeshi noted that Sugar Ray Leonard and Thomas Hearns have incredible speed, but he thought Takamura was faster than their own featherweight class.
- In Round 1081, prior to Takamura Mamoru vs Richard Bison WBC & WBA Unification Middleweight Title match, the ring announcer mentioned that a Japanese boxer has never attempted to unify the titles of two different organization in the weightclass of Sugar Ray Robinson, Carlos Monzón, Sugar Ray Leonard, Thomas Hearns have all fought in.
- In Round 1093, Sendō Takeshi and Mashiba were sharing the same locker. Sendō commented about "Tommy" after seeing Mashiba use the Chopping Right, but Mashiba doesn't know who Sendō was talking about.
- In Round 1128, after Miyata's match against Luisito Ico, Sendō, Makunouchi Ippo, and Takeshi's Teacher head to Coffee Shop Hearns.
Trivia
- Mashiba has the same nickname as Hearns with "The Hitman".
- Richard Bison is also modelled after Hearns, where his nickname is "Motor City Bison".
- Characters that have used the Flicker Jab are:
- Mashiba Ryō vs Miyata Ichirō match is modelled after Sugar Ray Leonard vs Thomas Hearns[1]
- Mashiba Ryō vs Kimura Tatsuya match was modelled after Thomas Hearns vs James Kinchen, where the Dragonfish Blow was modelled after Kinchen's use of the Overhand Blow in the match.
References
- ↑ Kodansha, "Hajime no Ippo & 栄光のチャンピオンの勝つ方程式", page 155.