Thomas Hearns picks Wilfred Benitez over Leonard, Duran, Hagler

As the world remembers the iconic wars of the “Four Kings,” Hearns maintains that the Puerto Rican maestro was the most complete fighter he ever shared the ring with.

His career is often linked to fights with Sugar Ray Leonard, Roberto Duran and Marvin Hagler, a group later called the Four Kings. He stopped Duran, lost to Hagler and Leonard inside the distance and fought to a contested draw in his rematch with Leonard.

Despite those fights, Hearns pointed to Wilfred Benitez as the most complete opponent he’s shared the ring with.

“Wilfred Benitez was very good, smooth and very smart. He moved well and fought all around the ring,” Thomas Hearns told The Ring, recalling one of his previous opponents.

The two met in December 1982 with Benitez’s WBC light middleweight title on the line. It was a 15-round clinic in high-level boxing. Benitez, the youngest world champion in history at age 17, used his incredible defensive instincts to make Hearns miss, while Hearns had to rely on a disciplined, pressing attack to secure a majority decision.

Benitez’s resume beats any era: He was a three-division champion, winning titles at light welterweight, welterweight and light middleweight. He defeated Roberto Duran and pushed Sugar Ray Leonard to the limit before their late-round stoppage.

For Hearns, a man who built a legacy on devastating knockouts, the “cunning and clever” Benitez remains the ultimate measure of boxing intelligence and skill.