Shane Mosley has named one of the four kings – Sugar Ray Leonard, Tommy Hearns, Marvin Hagler and Roberto Duran – who he would never wish to fight in a fantasy matchup.
Ordinarily, the former two-weight world champion was never one to swerve a challenge, having tested himself against several of the sport’s fiercest competitors.
After defeating Oscar De La Hoya at 147lbs, back in 2000, Mosley would go on to face the likes of Floyd Mayweather, Manny Pacquiao and Miguel Cotto.
His last world title fight, at 154lbs, then saw him lose a unanimous decision to Canelo Alvarez in 2012, with ‘Sugar’ calling time on his Hall of Fame career around four years later.
But despite facing some of the most elite fighters this sport has ever seen, Mosley doubts he would have been equally keen to collide with a certain member of the four kings.
In an interview with The Art Of Dialogue, the American said he would sooner lock horns with Leonard and Duran than agree to face Hearns, a towering puncher at both 147lbs and 154lbs.
“I wouldn’t have wanted to fight him [Hearns]. I’d rather fight Sugar Ray Leonard and Duran than fight Tommy Hearns.
“Tommy Hearns back then – 6ft 1in, 6ft 2in; long arms – no [thanks].”
Despite losing to Leonard at 147lbs, Hearns went on to score career-defining victories over the likes of Wilfred Benitez and Duran, before losing a thrilling three-round shootout against Hagler up at middleweight.
Then, in his rematch with Leonard at super-middleweight, many felt ‘The Hitman’ was unfortunate to come away with only a draw in 1989.
But still, Hearns ultimately ended his glittering career in 2006 as a five-weight world champion, widely regarded as one of the all-time greats.
