The boxing world will forever be indebted to the ‘Four Kings’. In the post-Muhammad Ali era, fights between Tommy Hearns, Sugar Ray Leonard, Roberto Duran, and Marvelous Marvin Hagler literally kept the sport alive. The quartet carried the torch through the 1980s decade and passed it to the next rung of legends, including Mike Tyson, Evander Holyfield, Oscar De La Hoya, and many more.

Some of their fights have entered the League of Immortal Classics. Fans still relish the 1985 ‘War’ between Tommy Hearns and Marvelous Marvin Hagler. Many haven’t forgotten Duran’s ‘No Mas’. Amidst these unforgettable masterpieces remain the two fights between Hearns and Ray Leonard. Spanned across eight years, the bouts still remain a matter of contention between fans on either side of the fence.

In 1981, Ray Leonard took away the first one. But the 1989 second edition ended in a much-debated draw. Now, some 34 years after they stepped into the ring together, ‘The Hitman’ has a poser for all the fans: what would have happened had he fought Ray Leonard a third time?

From the responses flowing in, it seems most have only one answer.

Legends never fade!

In his latest Instagram post, Tommy Hearns wrote, “The scoreboard reads 1-1… Who do you guys think would’ve won a 3rd bout?!?” It appears his puzzle followed the resurgence in popularity of the clips on the Hotboxing episode where he joined Mike Tyson, alongside Sugar Ray Leonard, and ‘Sugar’ Shane Mosley.

The talks invariably broached the outcome of their rematch. Contending that he could still knock him out, Sugar Ray Leonard called out Tommy Hearns for an impromptu face-off. “Tommy, I can knock you out now,” said Ray Leonard, to which Hearns replied, “You can try.”

The two living legends eventually stood opposite, perhaps for the third time. The only difference is that it was not in the ring. Moreover, the clip further featured a few highlights from their two fights. One video displayed the sequence where the referee halted the 1981 fight and a jubilant Ray Leonard raised his hands in victory. Then another had the Montreal Olympic gold medalist dropping on the canvas twice during ‘The War’.

‘Sugar’ Ray Leonard vs. Tommy Hearns: And the winner is…

The decision of the rematch remains a hot topic for several fans. However, given that it ended in a draw, many felt that a trilogy would go only one way. Let’s check what a few of them had to say.

This fan didn’t speak much about the hypothetical third match. Nevertheless, it was traveled down memory lane. They recalled undergoing an emotional rollercoaster as they saw their icon losing the first match. But as far as the rematch was concerned, the fan, like many, remains certain about who won. The fan said, “You had the first fight in the bag, and you went out after him and got caught. I cried as a kid when that happened. But I respect that you didn’t just coast the last two rounds. And that second fight was highway robbery!!!”

This fan acknowledged that Hearn’s poser was a tough nut to crack. But still given a choice, the final winner would be ‘The Motor City Cobra’. “Hard choice. But I’m going with you, Hitman.” Likewise, the next supporter remains certain that Tommy Hearns would take away the third bout by an early stoppage. And why shouldn’t he? After all, Hearns lost the first meeting by a whisker and won the rematch; hence, there shouldn’t be any doubts about the third contest. This is what the supporter said, “You hands down! You were ahead in #1 and #2; everyone knows you won, so #3 you definitely would have won possible by KO or TKO.”

To make their case strong, this fan took up the contemporary career trajectory of both legends. While by 1997 Ray Leonard retired following the loss to Hector Camacho, Hearns was still fighting hard in the upper divisions. Hence, the outcome of the third fight becomes anyone’s guess the fan posited. “Well, in 97 Ray was KTFO by feather-fisted Hector Camacho. During that same time, Tommy was beating cruiserweights. So…,” the fan said.

But this fan decided to go against the tide and felt that the third match would follow in the footsteps of the rematch, i.e., a draw: “Both a draw again.”

Perhaps, had Sugar Ray Leonard sought responses to the same question, the replies would have followed a different pattern.

After the rematch, Sugar Ray Leonard fought Roberto Duran in a rubber match. He hung up the gloves; thereafter, only to return for one last time. In 1997, he retired following his third career and only stoppage loss to Camacho. Tommy Hearns, on the other hand, continued winning titles in super middleweight and further. It wasn’t until 2006 that he finally decided to bid goodbye to boxing.

Which is your favorite fight involving the ‘Four Kings’?