In Thomas Hearns’ opinion, only two men –– both of whom fought in a weight class he never competed in –– can be considered better than him.
Ironically, two fighters who defeated him rank lower on Hearns’ own top-10 list, which features four men he faced during his Hall of Fame career.
Hearns, one of the defining figures of 1980s boxing, was known for his distinctive look, gangly frame, rapid-fire combinations and a right hand that remains one of the sport’s most devastating equalisers outside the heavyweight division.
When asked by journalist James Slater to name his top 10 fighters of all time, the 6 ft 1 in icon placed middleweight legend Marvin Hagler at No.10. Hagler famously stopped Hearns in their unforgettable three-round “War” in 1985.
Sugar Ray Leonard, who outpointed Hearns in one of the decade’s greatest fights in 1981, ranked only No.6. Wilfred Benitez –– who went the distance with Hearns in 1982 –– opened Hearns’ top five, while Roberto Durán, whom Hearns demolished in two rounds in 1984, was placed one spot higher at No.4.
Despite those defeats, ‘The Hitman’ listed himself at No.3, putting only two fighters above him. The top two positions went to Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier, the iconic heavyweights whose rivalry captivated the sporting world in the 1970s.
Across a 67-fight, 29-year career, Hearns compiled 61 wins, five defeats and one draw. The Detroit legend captured world titles at welterweight, super-welterweight, middleweight, super-middleweight and light-heavyweight. Towards the end of his campaign he had talked up the idea of facing Mike Tyson, but was talked down by trainer Emanuel Steward.
