In the late 70s, Detroit, Michigan was striving to regain its former glory after years of economic decline. Part of this ambitious comeback plan involved the creation of a new sports and entertainment hub along the riverfront. This venue, named Joe Louis Arena after Detroit’s legendary boxing icon and one of history’s best heavyweight champions, swung open its doors in December 1979. Just a few months later, in March, the arena held a monumental boxing event that paid homage to Joe Louis while showcasing the talents of the city’s up-and-coming fighters. It wasn’t just a spectacle; it was an overwhelming success.
The spotlight first shone on 21-year-old Thomas Hearns as he squared off against former welterweight champ Angel Espada. The match, expected to be fiercely competitive, quickly unfolded as a one-sided affair, with Hearns dominating the aging Espada. After sending Espada to the canvas twice in the third round and once more in the fourth, the referee had no choice but to call it. Echoing throughout the rafters of the brand-new arena, fans erupted into chants of “We Want Leonard! We Want Leonard!”—their rallying cry for a showdown with Sugar Ray Leonard, the welterweight champion of the time.
Next in the ring was lightweight fighter Hilmer Kenty, Hearns’ stablemate, who faced off against Venezuelan Ernesto Espana for the WBA world title. For nearly two decades, no American had claimed a lightweight world title, making Kenty’s quest particularly noteworthy. Despite having just sixteen professional fights under his belt, an inexperienced Kenty was up against the seasoned and accomplished Espana, himself seen as the heir apparent to Roberto Duran. Few expected Kenty to withstand Espana’s feared right hook, with the boxer and his trainer, Emanuel Steward of the famed Kronk Gym, even suggesting they’d focus on defense. Kenty was viewed as a five-to-one underdog.
But when the fight began, and with Joe Louis himself in the audience, Kenty stunned the crowd by aggressively taking on Espana. What was anticipated to be a cautious battle turned into an intense head-on collision. Far from playing the defensive boxing game, Kenty went on the offensive like a whirlwind, similar to Jake LaMotta, contradicting his earlier stated strategy.
The ferocity of Kenty’s attack almost cost him in the first round when he stumbled from a sharp right but quickly regained his footing, seemingly unfazed. Propelled by superior speed and relentless energy, Kenty tightly pressed his advantage, throwing a barrage of blows that Espana struggled to handle. By consistently pushing Espana around the ring, Kenty dismantled the champion’s defenses in most rounds.
Despite a momentary slowdown in the eighth round, where Espana connected with a few body shots, Kenty still managed to land more significant punches—all the way to landing three solid right hands near the bell. In the ninth round, Kenty unleashed a furious offensive, overwhelming Espana as the latter’s legs wobbled. Kenty’s relentless assault pinned Espana against the ropes until the referee intervened, halting the bout and crowning Hilmer Kenty the new champion.
The arena erupted in celebration. Detroit had found its hero, the latest world champion from the famed Kronk Gym. Amid the roaring fans, one could only imagine the approval from boxing legend Joe Louis watching proudly from ringside.
— Robert Portis
