Following the exciting bout with Ray Leonard in November 1979, in which Wilfred lost his WBC Welterweight Championship, but received a $1,200,000 fight purse - This content is protected Managers Jimmy Jacobs and Bill Cayton got 'El Radar' back into the ring fairly quickly. March 16, 1980 (Miami, Florida) The still young 21 1/2 year-old Wilfred, now with 'one-loss' on his 38-1-1 record, needed to impress. He was now the #2 WBC Welterweight. Over his last '7-bouts' Wilfred had gone 6-1-0, but had only scored '1-knockout'. The boxing pundits appreciated his tremendous ring skills, but his punching power was suspect. His first opponent for the '1980 Comeback Tour' was New York Welterweight, 'Irish' Johnny Turner. The 26 year-old Turner was no stranger to Wilfred, as Johnny had defeated Wilfred in a 1973 Amateur Tournament, and had also knocked-out Wilfred's older brother Frankie by {KO 8} in May 1978. Johnny Turner ranked as the #12 Welterweight, had a record of 34-3-1 (26 KO's), and carried good right hand power, in his 5' 11" frame. Turner had been a little 'chirpy' before this bout, claiming that 'El Radar' had avoided him since 1978, and that Wilfred 'pulled-out' of '3' scheduled bouts with him. Johnny Turner, 'I was supposed to fight Wilfred in May 1978 at Madison Square Garden, but Wilfred 'chickened out' and they sent his brother Frankie in to fight for him. So I made Frankie pay for that, and I beat him up, and knocked him out {KO 8}. I already beat Wilfred back in 1973 (Amateur Meet), and I'll do it again.'
Double N, 'Irish' Johnny Turner was out of Brooklyn, New York and fought out of the Sweeny Center Boxing Group as an amateur. In the 1973 New York Golden Gloves, Johnny was the 'Runner-Up' at Lightweight (135 lbs.). In May 1973, at the North American Amateur Championships, Johnny fought at the 63.5 Kg (139 lb.) division. In the 'semi-finals' he defeated Wilfred Benitez by a 'decision'. - Johnny went on to win the 139 lb. Championship. Wilfred, who was only 14 1/2, had won the 1973 Puerto Rican Golden Gloves (February 1973) Championship at 135 lbs. before moving up to the {63.5 Kg) Light-Welterweight ranks. These two were 'originally' scheduled to fight at Madison Square Garden on May 15, 1978. But '3-days' before the bout, 'Papa' Benitez pulled Wilfred, and installed older brother Frankie as a replacement. Johnny Turner won by a 'knockout' {KO 8}. Then Madison Square Garden set-up Johnny to face Wilfred on June 22, 1978 - but again 'Papa' Benitez pulled Wilfred out of the bout. A year later - Madison Square Garden had set-up a date in August 1979, for Wilfred to defend his WBA Light-Welterweight Championship versus Johnny Turner, who at the time was the #8 Welterweight with a record of 31-2-1 (24 KO's), but again Wilfred was 'pulled out' of that bout.
'Papa' Benitez pulled Wilfred out of a bout with Johnny Turner in {May 1978}.....That is a fact.......:deal Johnny Turner called Wilfred a 'chicken'.....in the New York Daily News. Do your homework Wilfred pulled out of '2' title defenses in 1979 * May 26, 1979 vs. Davey Boy Green (in Monte Carlo) * August 1979 vs. 'Irish' Jonnny Turner (in Madison Square Garden) It wasn't worth it to fight Johnny Turner for $125,000 in Madison Square Garden- when they had a $1,200,000 fight purse waiting for them in November 1979 versus Ray Leonard.
Saturday - March 16, 1980 Miami Beach CBS-TV Sports Spectacular Wilfred Benitez looked excellent at (150 lbs.) versus a very capable 'Irish' Johnny Turner. A more filled out and well-built Wilfred, than the one that entered the ring versus Ray Leonard on November 29, 1979 - dominated the 'hard-pucnhing' Johnny Turner from the opening bell. Moments into the 1st-Round, Wilfred floored Johnny with a coutner left-hook at the 0:53 mark. Up at the '4-Count', Turner was 'stung', but not badly hurt. Wilfred stalked, and at the 2:00 Mark, Wilfred landed a good left hook that wobbled Turner, and had him dazed. From that point on, Wilfred fought patiently, and fighting more 'flat-footed' than normal, put more power into his now shorter punches, which rocked Johnny Turner more than a few times. Johnny had a good Round 2, by staying aggressive, but that was his only shining moment. Wilfred rocked Johnny in Rounds 5, 6, 7 and 8. Both boys went toe-to-toe at the end of Round 8, which was the best exchanges of the bout. Johnny left the round with bad cut over his left eye-brow. In Round 9, Wilfred opened up on a 'sliced up' Turner, and dominated the entire Round - forcing Referee - Eddie Eckert to call a halt to the bout at 2:57 of Round 9, for a (TKO 9) victory. The victory gave the 21 1/2 year-old Wilfred a mark of 39-1-1 (26 KO's).
An interesting fact,,,,, When Wilfred jerked the WBA around in late-1976,,,,,,they suspended him, and would not rank him in their ratings after that incident with the Antonio Cervantes rematch. After he lost his WBC Welterweight Championship Ray Leonard in 1979, Wilfred had no avenue to a WBA Championship,,,,,,,,, Wilfred could only go after the WBC Titles and then later the IBF. As of March 1980 WBC Welterweight Champion - Ray Leonard Scheduled bouts with Davey Boy Green, and then either WBA Champion - Jose 'Pipino' Cuevas or #1 WBC-ranked Roberto Duran. WBA Welterweight Champion - Jose 'Pipino' Cuevas Scheduled bouts with Harold Volbrecht, and either WBC Champion - Ray Leonard or #1 WBA-ranked Thomas Hearns WBC Light-Middleweight Champion - Maurice Hope Scheduled bouts with fomer WBC Champion - Rocky Mattioli and #1 WBC-ranked Carlos Herrera WBA Light-Middleweight Champion - Ayub Kalule Scheduled bouts with Emiliano Villa, and European Champion - Marijan Benes, and #1 WBA-ranked Bushy Bester. 1980 would be a 'positioning year' for Wilfred Benitez, as more of a 'wait-and-see-what-happens.'
Somehwhat blocked out of the WBC Welterweight race,,,,,,, And 'frozen out' of the WBA July 1980 Jim Jacobs and Bill Cayton tried to 'finagle' Wilfred into a (September 1980) bout with WBC Light-Middleweight Champion - British - Maurice 'Mo' Hope. Maurice Hope had a 'mandatory rematch' with former Champion - Rocky Mattioli in July 1980, and had to meet the #1 WBC Challenger - Argentinian Carlos Herrera within '120-days' after that bout. Jim Jacobs and Bill Cayton offered Carlos Herrera $50,000 'side-step-money', to permit Wilfred fight Maurice Hope first,,,,,,, But the #1 WBC Challenger - Carlos Herrera would not accept the 'side-step money' that was offered him, as he believed he could defeat Maurice Hope in November 1980. To stay busy,,,,,,,,,,,,,enter Tony Chiaverini
August 1, 1980 At Caesar's Palace. 'A Night with the Light-Middleweights' Main Event------Tony Chiaverini...37-5-0 (25 KO's) vs. Wilfred Benitez...39-1-1 (26 KO's) Semi Event------Clint Jackson...7-0-0 (6 KO's) vs. Ray Hammond...17-5-1 (7 KO's) Undercard-------Ted Saunders...19-11-2 (9 KO's) vs. Rocky Mosley Jr...31-6-0 (13 KO's)
Friday Night - August 1, 1980 Caesar's Palace - Las Vegas, Nevada Tony Chiaverini vs. Wilfred Benitez Tale of the Tape Tony Chiaverini (Kanasa City, Missouri) Age.........26 1/2 Height......5' 8" Reach......69" Weight.....155 1/2 lbs. Record.....37-5-0 (25 KO's) Ranking....#9 WBC Light-Middleweight Wilfred Benitez (Carolinas, Puerto Rico) Age........21 1/2 Height.....5' 10" Reach.....70" Weight....154 1/2 lbs. Record....39-1-1 (26 KO's) Ranking...#2 WBC Welterweight The Skinny Tony Chiaverini is a 'bull-dog' 154 lb. fighter, with good strength. The Kansas City-based fighter has now added Trainer - Angelo Dundee to his team. A victory here, and Tony has been offered a Light-Middleweight Championship bout by both the WBC Champion - Maurice Hope and WBA Champion - Ayub Kalule. Tony, a southpaw, must get inside, to work his hard hooks to the body, which helps him wear down his opponent. Tony will usually work the body first, then go upstairs later in the bout, and unload his heavy hands. Wilfred Benitez will be fighting at his heaviest weight. The 'Wunderkind' is now 10 lbs. heavier than when he entered the ring versus Ray Leonard on November 29, 1979 (8-months earlier). Physically, Wilfred looks fantastic. Wilfred will be facing the strongest fighter he has ever faced, and will he be able to hold off the hard charging Chiaverini, and withstand his heavy hooks to the body. Wilfred must box, by using his quick and accurate left jab. Since he is facing a southpaw, Wilfred will have to use his right-hand lead more often in this bout, in slowing Tony down. Wilfred must win, and can ill-afford a loss, if he wants to move toward a World Light-Middleweight Championship opportunity. A win here, and Wilfred has been offered a bout for the NABF Light-Middleweight title next, for a bout set for October 1980.
'Benitez Pounds Chiaverini' Wilfred Benitez battered 'Kansas City' Tony Chiaverini, scoring a TKO 8, when the Missouri Brawler could not answer the bell for Round 9. The two-time World Champion battered Chiaverini in Rounds 7 and 8, as well as splitting the bridge of his nose, with hard left hooks and right hand leads. Tony Chiaverini had entered the ring as the #9 WBC-ranked Light-Middleweight. Wilfred Benitez who entered the bout as the #2 WBC-ranked Welterweight, will now campaign as a 154 lb. Light-Middleweight. Wilfred Benitez lands a hard left hand on the chin of Tony Chiaverini in Round 7. This content is protected
I remember watching the Benitez - Chiaverini fight on NBC, I think NBC had a Friday night fight series going on at that time. Benitez was a level above Chiaverini, who tried very hard only to be badly batter.
Correct Curtis,,,,,, An NBC Friday Night Series,,, Wilfred won, and controlled the bout early, and then dominated it in Rounds 6, 7 and 8. 'Kansas City' Tony, left his fight in the dressing room, as he never got off. Wilfred was supposed to fight Rocky Mosley Jr. next, in October 1980 for the NABF Light-Middleweight Championship. But, again Wilfred jumped ship after signing the contract.
Friday Night - December 12, 1980 Memorial Auditorium - Sacramento, California 'Welterweight Showdown' Wilfred 'El Radar' Benitez...40-1-1 (26 KO's) vs. 'Pistol Pete' Ranzany...50-4-2 (30 KO's) ----------------------------------------------------------------- Contract Weight; '150 lbs.' The #2 WBC Welterweight versus the #5 WBA Welterweight On the line, if Pete Ranzany wins, he has been guaranteed a Welterweight Championship bout versus WBA Champion - Thomas Hearns for early-1981 in New York. This content is protected
Lido, Wilfred Benitez vs. Pete Ranzany In "Pistol Pete's" hometown of Sacramento - Wilfred was the aggressor from the start, and worked his quick razor-like left jab, while trying to set-up his right hand over the first '2-Rounds'. Wilfred at (150 lbs.) was a bit stronger physically, but 'Pistol Pete' at (148 lbs.) appeared to have a slight-edge in power. 'Pistol Pete' seemed to get a slight-edge in Round 3, and Round 4 was 'Even'. But in Round 5, Wilfred scored with several one-two's, and staggered Pete with a hard right-cross. In Rounds 6, 7 and 8, Wilfred fought in a 'controlled effort' and did just a little more in each round, to edge out a Ranzany who was trying to land a big right hand. 'Pistol Pete' put in a 'good charge' in the last '2-Rounds' to make the bout closer on the scorecards. Scorecards { 99-92 / 97-94 / 97-94 } After Bout Comments; Wilfred Benitez; 'I had predicted a 2nd-Round Knockout. But Pete was more difficult than I thought. He is a very smart fighter, and he fought a good fight.' Pete Ranzany; 'Wilfred is by far the most difficult fighter I have ever faced. He is very hard to hit cleanly. One-second he is there, and the next second, he's gone.'