DETROIT (Michigan), July 2: Boxing legend Thomas “Hit Man” Hearns will return to the ring here on July 30 at age 46 and after a five-year retirement when he faces American journeyman John Long.

Hearns announced his comeback Friday, the 1980s American boxing icon saying he was returning to the ring at Cobo Arena against Long, 35, despite his former manager and trainer Emanuel Steward trying to talk him out of it.

Hearns is a seven-time world champion from welterweight to light heavyweight whose most recent bout was a loss to Uriah Grant here in April of 2000, an ankle injury leaving Hearns unable to compete after the second round.—AFP