Thomas Hearns and Sugar Ray Leonard are recognised as two of the greatest pound-for-pound fighters in boxing history, but Matchroom promoter Eddie Hearn believes that there is one active world champion that is on the same level as the two ‘Kings’.
Hearns became the first ever five-division world champion when he decisioned James Kinchen back in 1988, after sharing legendary fights with Leonard and Marvin Hagler and famously running through Roberto Duran inside two rounds.
Meanwhile, Leonard beat each of his fellow ‘Four Kings’ and became boxing’s second five-division world champion just three days after Hearns’ accomplishment, knocking out Don Lalonde to simultaneously capture the WBC super-middleweight and light-heavyweight marbles.
Despite the vast achievements of both men, Eddie Hearn told The Punch Podcast that he believes two-division conqueror, Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis, to be on the same level as Hearns, Leonard, Terence Crawford and Pernell Whitaker.
“Jaron Ennis, I’ve said it for a while now, I think that you are looking at the pound-for-pound number one in the sport. I think that he is Crawford, I think that he is Leonard, I think that he is Hearns, I think that he is that level, Pernell Whitaker – I think he is that good.
“The performance against Xander [Zayas] was unbelievable, the way that he come in. It’s the way that he fights, people criticise ‘Boots’ sometimes because ehe gets hit a lot, he chooses to fight like that.
“If you want, he can make it boring and box you for 12 rounds, but it’s not what he does and that is why he is one of the most exciting fighters on the planet.”
Following his victory over Xander Zayas, WBA and WBO champion Ennis is currently plotting a charge towards the undisputed super-welterweight throne, with a clash against IBF titleholder Josh Kelly expected to take place in either December or early 2027.
