Cannock's Bar Sport makes it Three Kings

Six-time world champion Hearns was the latest attraction to Bar Sport's Premier Suite, Cannock Town Centre, recalling his life and times to a packed house.

Together with Hagler, Roberto Duran and 'Sugar' Ray Leonard, the 'Hitman' was one of a legendary quartet who dominated the sport in the 1980s.

By the time of his final professional fight in 2006, Hearns had racked up world titles across five divisions.

He became, during the course of a career spanning four decades, regarded as one of the sport's hardest-ever hitters and his series of fights with Duran, Hagler and Leonard still rate among the greatest ever.

He followed in the footsteps of Duran and Leonard last night, who have both appeared at the same venue in the past 12 months, with owner Scott Murray lining up an evening with Hagler in 2015.

Hearns admitted to being taken aback by the number of people there, saying: "You never know how many fans you have in city or in a country until you arrive.

"This feels bigger than it did at home. I was lucky to be around in a great era of boxing, when the sport was huge."

Hearns, who has continually threatened to make a comeback despite now being aged 56, was quizzed about his career.

The questions were posed by Birmingham-born former super middleweight world champion Richie Woodhall, who described him as one of the heroes of the sport.

Telford-based Woodhall said: "To get to meet them all down the years is a dream come true. I really enjoy it.

"I have studied their careers, watched them develop and become world champions, that's where I wanted to be and I managed to get there myself.

"Hearns has got to be up there with the best and, in that era, he was one of four who I consider to be some of the greatest fighters ever.

"They weren't just middleweights, they went up the weight divisions while still retaining power. And Hearns was the biggest hitter of them all."