Thomas Hearns shared the ring with a number of legendary fighters throughout the course of his storied professional career.
The Memphis-native made his way into the paid ranks back in 1977 and would embark on a career that would stretch across no less than four decades before his retirement in 2006.
He became the first fighter in the history of the sport to win world titles in five weight classes when he dethroned Dennis Andries of the WBA light-heavyweight title in 1987, stopping the Brit in the tenth round of their clash in Michigan.
Hearns played a pivotal role in one of the sport’s greatest eras during the 1980s, becoming a member of the iconic ‘Four Kings’ alongside Roberto Duran, Marvelous Marvin Hagler and Sugar Ray Leonard, a legendary quarter that took boxing by storm.
In a feature with The Ring Magazine, ‘The Hitman’ was asked to reveal the hardest hitting opponent that he ever crossed paths with, naming none other than countryman Leonard.
“I’ll have to think about that one. Iran Barkley, he was one of them … Marvin Hagler and Leonard. Ray punched pretty good. Pipino Cuevas never hit me, nor did Duran. I’d give it to Ray; he punched pretty good.”
Hearns and Leonard shared the ring with each other on two occasions – the first of which came back in 1981 when ‘Sugar Ray’ stopped Hearns in the 14th round of their memorable showdown in Las Vegas to capture the undisputed welterweight championship.
They locked horns for the second time eight years later and after yet another entertaining match-up between the duo, the fight was declared a draw as ‘The Hitman’ kept a hold of his WBO middleweight title.
Leonard was a five-weight world champion in his own right, and was the only one of the Four Kings to beat the other three men.
