Thomas Hearns once revealed his best ever opponent, overlooking three of the greatest fighters of all time in the process.

Hearns entered the paid ranks back in 1977 and would embark on an accomplished professional career that would span across four decades before his eventual retirement in 2006.

He would capture world titles in five weight classes over the course of his tenure, becoming the first fighter in the history of boxing to accomplish this feat when he defeated Dennis Andries back in 1987 to win the WBC world light-heavyweight title.

‘The Hitman’ was a part of the ‘Four Kings’ alongside Marvelous Marvin Hagler, Sugar Ray Leonard and Roberto Duran – an iconic quartet of fighters that shared the ring with each another on at least one occasion.

However, speaking to the Ring Magazine, Hearns named his best ever opponent as Puerto Rican icon Wilfred Benitez, overlooking the rest of the kings.

“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.”

Benitez – moniker ‘El Radar’ – became a world champion for the first time in 1976 when he was just 17-years-old, defeating Antonio Cervantes to capture the WBA world light-welterweight title.

He would go on to win world titles in a further two divisions along the way and is perhaps best known for his 1982 victory over Roberto Duran, defeating the Panamanian icon via unanimous decision to retain his WBC light-middleweight title for the second time.

Benitez would face Hearns one fighter later, suffering the second defeat of his career to ‘Hitman’ to surrender his WBC crown in what would prove to be a closely fought 15-round contest in New Orleans. He was inducted into the Boxing Hall of Fame in 1996.