I think Leonard would always handle Benitez at any time and at any weight. Ray was just a tad stronger, quicker and a harder puncher. I do wonder though how many gamblers threw themselves out the window after this championship fight. How many people bet, maybe large amounts of money, that Wilfred would last the distance? Then to have it stopped with just a few seconds left in the fight and Wilfred still hanging on, albeit dazed. Anyone think the fight should have gone the distance?
btw i don't think Leonard was much quicker of hand than Benitez really.It was more Wilfred's inconsistent and lower workrate\ less focused punchpicking than being too slow that truly cost him imo. You could see at the end of the fight as he just smiles and congratulates Leonard, he couldn't have given a toss about losing, whereas Leonard was busy and intense.Winning was everything to him.
Good question. Probably because Benitez moved up and fought Maurice Hope soon after. That fight was so grueling, I suppose he wanted to move up. And to be honest, at 154 he had one of his best complete fighter reigns as champion.
No surprise, I think that was Benitez's best weight. He coldcocked Hope and whipped Duran, as well as going 15 with Hearns. I think a rematch at 154 with Leonard would have been a better showing for Wilfred, though I think SRL would have edged it.
Leonard beat Benitez very decisively & beats him any time they fight IMO. A rematch would have still been good to see though, 2 master boxers.
he fought so well in his title reign at 154. one of his best reigns. Had Hearns not beaten him I think he might have kept winning for a year or two, but Hearns disrupted his momentum.
Couldn't disagree more with this. Benitez put in a champion's effort, pulling himself together numerous times after being hurt, shipping quite a bit of punishment, especially to the body, and still went for a strong late rally. He only went down in the last round because he was exhausted and his legs were gone.
Round 15 Entering Round 15, Wilfred was behind on points, and his brother Gregorio told him that he needed a knockdown in the round to get a Draw, and a knockout for a win. Wilfred could have boxed, and easily made it through the round, but he went out like a 'warrior' trying for a knockout win. 6-seconds were left in Round 15, after he was floored and took the mandatory 8-count. Wilfred could have easily made it to the bell. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- It was a bout with equally talented boxers, but Ray Leonard was the stronger man in the ring that night, and was the harder puncher. Ray took the first 3-Rounds, and had a 2-point edge in Round 3 by scoring a 'flash- knockdown'. That gave Ray a 30-26 point (4-point) lead after 3-Rounds. From Rounds 4 thru 13 (10 Rounds), Wilfred had the edge 4-2-4 in Rounds.
Too much boxing politics to comment on why no rematch but why is everyone saying this was a Ray cake-walk by the late rounds? Benitez never trained properly and his dad flew back to Puerto Rico a week before the fight saying his son didn't give a damn if he won or lost. Wilfred lost, not so much because of Ray's talents, but because he simply didn't have have the moxie or the attitude to prevail. He had every bit as talent as Ray. Just another example of so little being done with so much (Gregory-Benitez, other underachievers over the decades) who could have have gone down in history as ATG's.
I'm thinking, that maybe, just maybe, Ray was a bit wary of Wilfred.He probably knew that Benitez was potentially capable of giving him a tougher fight, so he was wary of him.Plus, Wilfred dating Ray's sister would come into play at some point.