Legendary boxer Tommy Hearns’ son, Austin Hearns, just fought his second amateur boxing match. And the boxing world is ecstatic about it, as their wish for the fight came to fruition. ‘The Hitman’ Hearns dominated the boxing world in the 1980s on his way to winning six major world titles in five different weight classes. 

Hearns was honored as Boxer of the Year by Ring Magazine in 1980 and by the Boxing Writers Association in 1984, a testament to his incredible impact on the sport. His son Ronald Hearns also made a name for himself in the ring, compiling a respectable 28-6 record. Now, it’s Austin Hearns’ turn to make his mark, and he did so in spectacular fashion with a first-round knockout in his second professional bout.

Legacy in the Making: Austin Hearns Knocks Out the Competition

The 66-year-old boxing legend, Tommy Hearns, took to Instagram to rally his followers, saying, “Today marks the day of my son [Austin Hearns’] second amateur bout—go follow him and support him!” While the identity of Austin’s opponent remains unclear, the young fighter made an impressive statement with a dominating win in Warren, Michigan.

Later that day, Hearns shared a clip showing Austin securing a first-round knockout at 1:59, landing a thunderous right that sealed the victory. Hearns proudly captioned the post, “First round at 1:59, @austin_hearns7 is victorious…” In an interview with Keith Jason, Austin reflected on his performance and the win.

“Man, honestly it hurt my hand. I’m still feeling it right now in my hand. He had a hard hit, so, but it felt good though. So good to get the win. I got all my family here, my friends, so I’m happy I was able to put on the show for them,” Austin said about his knockout victory. He also spoke about continuing his father’s legendary legacy in the sport.

“I know exactly what my dad did for the sport. You know, all the hard work, [and] dedication he put in, he laid the blueprint for me. So I just got to stay on the right path, do what I got to do, and I think I’ll be all right,” Austin said. Regardless, with such a dominant performance, Austin made the hopes of fans a reality, proving he’s ready to carve his own path in boxing, just like his father.

Tommy Hearns’ DNA credited for confidence 

With Hearns’ reputation in the community, his initial post didn’t take long to attract attention from the public. One user expressed their support from Canada. “We will be cheering Austin on from Canada,” the user commented. Notably, Austin plans to continue dominating his future bouts, so he may count on people to rally for his support.

Meanwhile, the user had sent their best wishes to Austin. “Best of luck for him champ,” the user wrote. While luck might not have played a role in Austin’s win, it definitely would have motivated him. 

The next user appeared confident in Austin’s victory, attributing it to his genetics. “He has some awesome DNA… I like his chances,” the user commented. With Tommy Hearns boasting 48 knockouts out of his 61 wins, fans are hopeful that Austin can live up to that impressive legacy.

Another user had similar feelings about Austin’s chances of winning. “The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree,” the user commented. Hearns won his first 17 fights via knockouts—it’s yet to be seen whether Austin can replicate those numbers. 

Someone else had simply wished “Good luck Austin 🥊.” It’s safe to say that Austin Hearns has made all the wishes come to fruition. 

That being said, Austin Hearns has just taken another step closer to fulfilling the dream of becoming a world champion—one that his legendary father, Tommy Hearns, envisions for him. However, only time will tell what the sport of boxing has in store for the young boxer. What did you think about the knockout?