Thomas Hearns was part of an incredible generation of fighters which included Marvin Hagler, Sugar Ray Leonard and Roberto Duran.
‘Hitman’ had an outstanding professional career, which saw him become the first fighter in boxing history to win world titles in five weight classes when he won the WBA world light-heavyweight title from Virgil Hill in 1991.
The majority of Hearns’ success came during the 80s however, where he would capture belts at super welterweight, middleweight and super middleweight, defeating the likes of Duran and Wilfred Benitez along the way.
After facing an abundance of generational greats during his tenure, including Hagler, Duran and Leonard on at least one occasion each, Hearns gave a surprising answer when asked who his greatest ever opponent was.
In a round of ‘Best I Faced’ with the Ring Magazine, he named Wilfred Benitez, who he defeated back in 1982, as the best fighter he ever locked horns with during his glittering career.
“I would say Wilfred Benitez was very good. He was slick and very crafty. I like Benitez’s craft. He moved well and fights all around the ring.”
Benitez, who is often regarded as the greatest Puerto Rican fighter of all time, remains the youngest world champion in boxing history after he defeated Antonio Cervantes to capture the WBA light-welterweight title when he was just 17-years-old back in March 1976.
The Puerto Rican great would go on to win world titles in a further two weight divisions throughout his career, with perhaps his most famous victory coming in 1982 when he defeated Duran via unanimous decision to successfully retain his WBC light-middleweight title.
