Tommy Hitman Thomas Hearns Placed Under Conservatorship of Son Ronald Hearns
By Robert Brizel, Head Real Combat Media Boxing Correspondent
Detroit, Michigan (March 15th, 2026)– Hall of Fame multi-division world champion Thomas ‘Hitman’ Hearns, with dementia, who recently lost his home to tax foreclosure, has been placed under guardianship and conservatorship of his son, former boxing contender Ronald Hearns, and is now residing with his son. Ronald has been given control over his father’s financial matters and tax issues.
According to Ronald, “Just keep praying for me and my dad, and the family as we move forward with our lives. My main goal is to make sure he (my father) is enjoying his life, and nobody else can hurt him in any way, financially, physically, or mentally.” Ronald also urged the general public not to donate to any online fundraisers claiming to be on his father’s behalf, stating they are not legitimate at present.
Hearns, 61-5-1 with 48 knockouts, Detroit, Michigan, debuted with a second-round knockout of Jerome Hill at Olympia Stadium in Detroit in November 1977, and ended with a tenth-round stoppage of Shannon Landberg at The Palace in Auburn Hills, Michigan, in February 2006.
An emergency guardianship hearing took place on February 23, 2026, in the court of Chief Probate Judge Pro Tempore Daniel O’Brien, investigating whether relatives were financially exploiting Thomas Hearns and was the victim of a family kidnapping. Hearns daughter Natasha Barnes refused to disclose his whereabouts. Bartnes refused to state where Thomas was under threat of being found in contempt of court. Thomas was eventually turned over to other family members at Detroit’s 12th precinct police station.
The Detroit courts are now addressing the bankruptcy and tax problems of Hearns. Attorney Wolf Mueller, former chairman of the Michigan Unarmed Combat Commission, is now representing Hearns. Mueller told Fox News Detroit, “My job with the conservator and the court is to make sure nobody takes advantage of him (Thomas), and he is treated with the dignity and respect he so richly deserves.”
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Robert Brizel – Head Boxing Correspondent