Thomas Hearns has revealed the greatest fighter he ever crossed paths with.
Hearns entered the paid ranks back in 1977 and would embark on an outstanding professional career which spanned across just shy of thirty years.
Throughout the course of his tenure, ‘Hitman’ Hearns won world titles in five weight classes, becoming the first fighter in boxing history to accomplish this feat when he defeated WBA world light-heavyweight champion via unanimous decision in 1991.
The bulk of his success came during the 1980’s, standing alongside a number of legendary fighters such as Roberto Duran, Marvelous Marvin Hagler and Sugar Ray Leonard, who were collectively known as the ‘Four Kings’.
Despite going up against Duran, Hagler and Leonard during his career – beating Duran, losing to Hagler and Leonard but suffering a contentious draw in the rematch – Hearns once named the greatest opponent he ever faced and the answer may come as a surprise.
In a round of Best I Faced with the Ring Magazine, ‘Hitman’ revealed Wilfred Benitez as that man, paying homage to the ‘slick’ boxing skills of ‘El Radar’.
“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.”
Proving himself to be one of the best defensive fighters of all time, Benitez, referred to by many in the sport as ‘the fifth king’ due to his skillset, had an exceptional professional career which began way back in 1973 when he was just 15-years-old.
He remains the youngest world champion of all time, breaking this impressive record when he dethroned WBA world light-welterweight champion Antonio Cervantes in March of 1976 aged just 17-years-old.
Benitez faced three of the four kings, losing by fifteenth round stoppage to Leonard in ’79, beating Duran by unanimous decision in January of ’82 and losing to Hearns via majority decision later that year. In between facing Duran and Hearns, the Puerto Rican called out Hagler but a fight did not materialise.
Sadly, and as a reminder of the dangers of the sport, Benitez suffered severe brain damage from repeated head trauma during his boxing career, leading to a tragic decline into neurological illness.
