Wilfred Benitez (Early Career)

Wilfred Benitez (End of Career)

Salta, Argentina

In November 1986, he was there to fight former World-rated Light-Middleweight Contender, Carlos Herrera.

But, Carlos Herrera did help him out, by providing him with some money and a place to stay.

 

More details about that situation than anyone could know.

After Wilfred was 'blown-out' (L KO 9) by Matthew Hilton in February 1986, most felt
he should retire, as his his chin was gone, and he had shown 'nothing' in the bout with
the Canadian Light-Middleweight.

At 27 1/2, his career looked over. With '55' professional bouts and a record of 49-5-1 (30 KO's),
and boxing since the age of 5, the ring wars had taken their toll.

He was also showing signs of memory loss, and was having behavioral problems,
where he would go into 'laughing jags' while bouncing up and down.

Some thought it was 'drug issues', due to over medication of prescription drugs,
and others said it was addiction to crack cocaine.

But, his Manager, Yamil Chade still had faith in him, and got him a couple of bouts versus 'mid-level'
Light-Middleweights, and he suprisingly won both of them, while looking fairly decent.

* July 1986.............(W Dec 10)......Paul Whittaker (18-0-0)
* September 1986....(W Dec 10)......Harry Daniels (14-3-1)

After those wins, and improving his record to 51-5-1, Wilfred got rated in the Top 10 by all '3' boxing
organizations as a Light-Middleweight.
#8 IBF
#9 WBA
#9 WBC

This is where it gets 'muddy'. Supposedly, Wilfred had gotten into some 'drug dealing' in Puerto Rico, and
he had to get out of the country, as well as away from the United States.

So, his Manager Yamil Chade, sold his contract to Salta, Argentina Fight Promoter and Athlete Manager, Miguel Pereya
for approximately $40,000.

In early-November 1986, Wilfred headed to Salta, Argentina, a beautiful city, in the Northwest Mountain territory
of Argentina.

 

Frank 2x,,

The 'muddy part', supposedly the Argentinian Promoter Miguel Pereya was hoping
to get something out of Wilfred.

Wilfred moved into Salta, as there was a contract with Miguel Pereya.

Possibly a couple of wins, then a World Championship Light-Middleweight bout in
Salta, Argentina, for sometime in 1987.

 

Boxing Promoter Miguel Pereya,,,

Had Wilfred lined up to take on several 'fringe contenders' in Light-Middleweight bouts,
for November 1986, December 1986 and January 1987.

* Carlos Maria Herrera, (31 year-old former contender and World Light-Middleweight Championship challenger).

* Miguel Angel Arroyo, (Salta-based, Argentina Welterweight Champion)

* Lorenzo Garcia, (former World Light-Welterweight Championship challenger)

If all had gone well, Miguel Pereya was willing to spend 'mucho dinero' to get the
IBF Light-Middleweight Champion, Buster Drayton to come to Salta, to fight Wilfred in March 1987.

Instead, the 'bubble burst', when Wilfred was 'blasted-out' (L KO 7) by Carlos Herrera
on November 28, 1986, in a bout he was set-up to win.

According to Miguel Pereya, Wilfred was 'completely shot' and 'drug induced' when he got into the
ring versus Carlos Herrera. And that he was 'sold-a-bill-goods' that Wilfred Benitez was still a capable fighter.

Pereya, who paid $40,000 for Wilfred's contract, was now left with 'damaged goods'.

Miguel Pereya was also so upset with Wilfred's 'non-performance' in the ring with Carlos Herrera,
that he withheld {$17,000} of Wilfred's $22,000 fight purse, and took away his Passport.

 

Frank 2x,

Not sure about that,

Wilfred may have been 'On-the-Lamb' hiding out in Salta.

The Salta Boxing Commission pulled his boxing license after his performance in the
ring with Carlos Herrera, so Promoter Miguel Pereya could not get him booked for any
bouts.

Miguel Pereya then cut him loose, and pressured Wilfred into paying him back the
$40,000 that he had invested in purchasing his contract, as well as taking away his Passport.

Wilfred got money sent to him from Puerto Rico, so he had money to survive. And
boxer Carlos Herrera helped him out, by getting him a place to stay in Salta.

There were rumors that Wilfred was 'living in the streets', and he had no money, but
that story was not true. He lived in a nice Apartment-Villa within the city, and he
was also was working at an Athletic Facility 'Club Athletico Aguas Calientes' in Salta,
as a boxing instructor.

Not sure, but it looked like Wilfred wanted to stay in Salta, because he liked it there, and wanted
to wait until the 'heat' cooled down regarding the 'drug issue' back in Puerto Rico.

Carlos Herrera, did say that Wilfred had started to act in a 'bizarre manner' in mid-1987, and
there were times that drugs were involved.

Sometime in late-1987, he moved from the Apartment-Villa, to a small apartment in the
center of Salta. For work, he was employed at the El Fuego Boxing Gym, where he was a
trainer for young boxers, and sometimes a sparring-partner for the 'professionals'.

His family in Puerto Rico, after not hearing from Wilfred for several months, asked the Argentina
Government Agencies to look for him, and ask him to return home to Puerto Rico. After several
failed attempts, they finally tracked him down in Salta with the help of boxer Carlos Herrera,
and within weeks he was back in Puerto Rico.

After 14-months in Salta, Argentina - in March 1988 Wilfred left Salta and returned back to Puerto Rico.

 

Morgan,

No accurate information on Wilfred Bentiez' supposed amateur record of 123-6-2.

That was the information that his father Gregorio threw around.

Though the way Wilfred Benitez ended up, you would think that just maybe he
had more than '131' amateur bouts before turning professional, as he started boxing in
1966 at age 7, and boxed amateur until October 1973.

Puerto Rican Amateur Boxer, Joe Luis Vellon - said that Wilfred had about '100' sanctioned
amateur bouts, according to what he could come up with.

 

Red C,

The unfortunate thing,

Miguel Pereya tried to give Wilfred an 'easy bout' -

Carlos de Valle Herrera, was pretty much shot himself.

The one-time southpaw Light-Middleweight contender was almost 32 years-old.

And though he had a record of 54-9-0 (35 KO's), he was not nearly the fighter
he had been in the early-1980's.

In previous bouts, he was 'a fair fighter' at best.

On Friday Night, November 28, 1986

In front of 7000 boxing fans at Polideportivo Ciudad de Salta, where they were expecting to
see the once great Wilfred 'El Radar' Benitez - the 7000 fans saw nothing of the sort.

Moments into the bout, Wilfred was staggered by the first punch that Carlos landed,
a straight left to the chin. For the next '5' Rounds, the only thing Wilfred did, was
back into the ropes (like he would usually do), and take punches from Herrera, without
offering any return. He was, to put it bluntly, a 'punching bag'.

Most of the boxing fans, boo'd Wilfred's 'non-performance', not realizing that they were watching
a 'seriously damaged' fighter. Even, Carlos Herrera backed off numerous times, realizing that
Wilfred was hurt.

In Round 6, Wilfred got up off the stool, and never left his corner, as Carlos Herrera moved in.
With a hurt fighter in front of him, Carlos only tossed 'easy' right jabs at Wilfred.

At the end of the round, in a 'sympathetic gesture', Carlos Herrera told Wilfred and his cornermen
to stop the fight, as he did not want to hurt Wilfred. But, foolishly, they sent him out for Round 7.

Moments into Round 7, Carlos backed Wilfred into the corner once again, and threw a quick flurry
that had Wilfred reeling and 'defenseless', where upon Referee Jose Maria Sosa stopped the bout.

Later, after the Salta Boxing Commission examined Wilfred, they informed Miguel Pereya (Wilfred's Manager)
that they were pulling his boxing license.

 

Vantage_West,

Very good point,,,,,,,that nobody ever dug deep into.

No knock on Wilfred, but,

Up to challenging Antonio Cervantes for the WBA Light-Welterweight Championship, on March 6, 1976.

The 17 year, 5-month old 'Wunderkind' had gone 25-0-0 (20 KO's) in 'legitimate logged' bouts.

But, not one bout was under 140 lbs., as most, if not all of his bouts were fought at 145 lbs.,
and versus over-blown Lightweights or above-weight Light-Welterweights, with not one fighter
World Ranked.

And for quality wins, there were none. The best fighters he faced were;
* December 1974... {W Dec 8}...Lawrence Hafey
* May 1975............{W Dec 10}..Santos Solis
* June 1975...........{W Dec 10}..Angel Robisnson Garcia
* December 1975....{W Dec 10}..Chris Fernandez

* Santos Solis was a 21 year-old Light-Welterweight prospect with a 6-0-0 (1 KO) record.

* Chris Fernandez, was a faded 28 year-old Light-Welterweight with a 26-11-4 (8 KO's) record.
The Dominican Republic southpaw, who at one time was a ranked 140 lb. fighter, was now a
journeyman. Though, in his last bout, Fernandez had 'upset' Wilfred's brother Frankie Benitez (23-1-0)
in a 10-Round Light-Welterweight bout.

 

More of the Wilfred Bentiez Tragedy,

His fight purse earnings,,,,,,,,,,$8,000,000

As of June 1986, his savings had 'dwindled'.

There was supposed to be a $1,000,000 cash annuity deposited in a Puerto Rican Bank
in 1983, where upon Wilfred could have drawn out up to $100,000 per year.

Also, a $250,000 'Trust Fund' in the Bank of San Juan, that could not be touched until
2-years 'after' Wilfred had retired from boxing.

And a $250,000 Tax-Free Municpal Bond, that payed 9% annual interest yearly, netting
Wilfred another $22,500 per year.

And, approximately another $400,000 positioned with '40' $10,000 Certificate of Deposits
in Dutch banks, located in Aruba and in St. Maarten.

He also owned, a 'Multi-Family home' in San Juan, Puerto Rico valued at $200,000,
a 'Two-Family home' in the Bronx, New York, valued at $175,000 and a Beach-front
condominium in Puerto Rico valued at $150,000.

He also owned '3' Time-share condos at the Aruba Beach Club, in Aruba. (Cash Value; $75,000)

And, a bank account with approximately $125,000 in an Orenjestad, Aruba Savings Bank.

Not including, his jewels, cars and other miscellaneous Bank Accounts (savings).

Somehow, by late-1986, the funds and possessions,,,,,,,,,,,had mysteriously vanished.