Hearns Is Cut but Wins on a Decision Over DeWitt; Barkley Upsets Kinchen

DETROIT —  Thomas Hearns, fighting the last half of the bout with a cut over his right eye, pounded out a one-sided 12-round decision over Doug DeWitt and retained the North American Boxing Federation middleweight title Friday night at Cobo Arena.

In an earlier bout, James Kinchen of San Diego, the World Boxing Assn.’s No. 1-ranked middleweight contender and the man ranked No. 2 behind Hearns by both the International Boxing Federation and the World Boxing Council, was upset by Iran Barkley, a substitute. Barkley, of the Bronx, N.Y., who took the fight in place of the injured Robbie Sims, knocked Kinchen down in the ninth round and scored a 10-round split decision.

In the sixth round of Hearns’ fight, during an exchange in a corner, blood suddenly started flowing from Hearns’ right eyebrow on a cut that referee Robert Watson said was caused by an accidental head butt. Hearns also was cut on the left eyelid, apparently from another butt in the 10th round.

Hearns, of Detroit, almost had his opponent in serious trouble in the third round, but DeWitt, of Yonkers, N.Y., who has never been knocked down, stayed on his feet. Hearns, who weighed 160, as did DeWitt, had DeWitt in trouble again in the ninth, but again the challenger refused to go down.

Judge Rich Fischer scored it 118-109, Rose Grable scored it 117-110, and Harold Lederman had it 116-110, all for Hearns, who has a 42-3 record. DeWitt is 27-4-3.