January 4, 2006

BY FRANK WITSIL

Thomas Hearns, a seven-time world boxing champion, is expected to go before an Oakland County district judge Friday to respond to charges he assaulted his 13-year-old son Sunday.

Hearns, 47, was arraigned Monday before 46th District Magistrate Eugene Friedman in Southfield and charged with misdemeanor assault and battery. He was released on $10,000 personal bond and ordered to have no contact with his son.

Police arrived at Hearns' house in the 20500 block of Norwood in Southfield about 6:45 p.m. Sunday after receiving a call from Hearns' wife, who said there had been a domestic dispute.

The teenage boy had a swollen eye and a small cut on his chin, Southfield Police Detective John Harris said.

Harris said Hearns apparently told the boy to go to another room; the teen refused and there was a scuffle.

But, Harris said, Hearns and his wife gave slightly different accounts of how the boy was injured.

Police took Hearns into custody. Hearns could not be reached Tuesday for comment. He is to face District Judge Sheila Johnson on Friday.

A court clerk said Tuesday that Hearns' attorney had not been identified yet in the court file.

Hearns made a boxing comeback in July after five years without a fight, beating John Long with an eighth-round technical knockout in the cruiserweight bout at Cobo Arena.

At the time, Hearns, who boxed out of Detroit's Kronk Gym, said he planned "to keep fighting for a long time." If convicted, he could face up to 93 days in jail.

Contact FRANK WITSIL at 248-351-3690 or witsil@freepress.com.
http://www.freep.com/apps.../601040350

What do u guys think? Where do u draw the line between discipline and abuse? Do you hit your kids? Should Thomas Hearns be charged at all? Weigh in Orgers.

dreamfactory313 said:

any relationship between parents and children where the parents
can't express their love or affection through words and cuddles
and time well spent together hinges on abuse imo.

if there are punches, shoves, kicks or psychological violence in
the game as well than it's brutal abuse.

abuse as defined by society only comes after the legalised form
of abuse has been going on for far too long anyway.

humans are not punching bags

only 93 days huh

"If" he hit his son ...

dreamfactory313 said:

if he did hit his son like that he crossed the line. thats abuse period.

brownsugar said:

I agree. Whenever u put your hands on someone, u have lost control. Violence is never the answer. We have brains for a reason.

maybe his son looks like Hagler

lilgish said:

does this count towards his victory total?