Yorgey Knocks Hearns Out in Nine Rounds, Upset

Mar 28, 2009 • 12:00 AM ET

By Mark Vester

At the Buffalo Run Casino in Miami, Oklahoma, a battle of junior middleweight prospects saw Harry Joe Yorgey (22-0, 10KOs) kept his undefeated record by knocking Ronald Hearns (21-1, 17KOs) out in the ninth round.

After boxing for the first two rounds, a fight broke out in the third when Yorgey tried to test Hearns, who countered well off the ropes. In the fourth, Yorgey stunned Hearns and sent him down from a hard combination. For some reasons Yorgey did not jump on him to finish and a moment later Hearns knocked Yorgey down with a quick combination. Yorgey complained that the knockdown was a slip, and then took the fight to Hearns to seal the round.

In the fifth, Yorgey landed a huge right hand to send Hearns down on his face. This time Yorgey pushed him against the ropes and tried to finish him. Hearns was able to survive as Yorgey got tired. Hearns began to land some good body punches to close out the round. In the sixth, Hearns was able to do better by keeping Yorgey back with his jab. Hearns continued to work the jab in the seventh. Near the end, Yorgey pressed forward and once again had Hearns in serious trouble to end the round.