Hall of Fame trainer Emanuel Steward once had high praise for a welterweight star that he spent a number of years working with.<\/p>\n
The 147lb division has produced a number of elite fighters throughout history, including the likes of Sugar Ray Robinson, Henry Armstrong, Floyd Mayweather, Manny Pacquiao and Sugar Ray Leonard.<\/p>\n
It is a former rival of Leonard that Steward viewed as the best ever fighter he trained, after he heaped praise on boxing legend Thomas Hearns.<\/p>\n
Speaking to East End Boxing<\/a>, Steward explained what separated Hearns from some of the other world champions he coached, such as Lennox Lewis and Wladimir Klitschko.<\/p>\n \u201cNot only was Tommy the best fighter I ever worked with, he was also the most exciting. For me, climbing in the ring whenever Tommy fought, it was just so exciting. Tommy was very special.<\/p>\n \u201cHe was probably the closest reflection to my own style of fighting. With Tommy, he had so many outstanding qualities it\u2019s hard to list just one \u2013 but he was so dedicated.<\/p>\n \u201cTommy worked so hard in the gym. If I told him, \u2018Tommy, today you spar 20 rounds.\u2019 He\u2019d say \u2018Okay.\u2019 That\u2019s just the way he was \u2013 dedicated.\u201d<\/p>\n