Wilfred Benitez Discussion

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by mr. magoo, Oct 8, 2015.


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  1. mr. magoo

    mr. magoo VIP Member Full Member

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    Had wins over Duran, Palamino and Cervantes - all hall of fame unductees. Unbeaten in his first 39 fights. Three division champion who went 8-2 in world title fights. Took prime versions of Leonard and Hearns 15 rounds. scored some additional good wins over Carlos Santos, Maurice Hope, and Bruce Curry all world champions at one point or another.. He seemed to fizzle out early but what an amazing career.
     
    mr. magoo, Oct 8, 2015
    mr. magoo, Oct 8, 2015
    #1
  2. red cobra

    red cobra Loyal Member Full Member

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    I love Benitez...did then and still do. He was like a meteor...while he was "on", he was great...and while I am not generally a fan of arrogance,...Benitez's version was theatrical and cool as hell....needless to say, I was a huge fan back then. He was amazing.
     
    red cobra, Oct 8, 2015
    red cobra, Oct 8, 2015
    #2
  3. Vanboxingfan

    Vanboxingfan Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    I too am a huge fan of Benitez and hate it when posters in general, and here in classic too, refer to him as a poor man's Mayweather, nothing could be further from the truth.
     
    Vanboxingfan, Oct 8, 2015
    Vanboxingfan, Oct 8, 2015
    #3
  4. 2piece

    2piece Well-Known Member Full Member

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    Very different styles.
     
    2piece, Oct 8, 2015
    2piece, Oct 8, 2015
    #4
  5. red cobra

    red cobra Loyal Member Full Member

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    More modern day revisionist fruit fly bull ****.
     
    red cobra, Oct 8, 2015
    red cobra, Oct 8, 2015
    #5
  6. Webbiano

    Webbiano Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    I think we all have to accept one thing we should judge Benitez harshly on is that he's effectivley a poor man's Mayweather.
     
    Webbiano, Oct 8, 2015
    Webbiano, Oct 8, 2015
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  7. Cecil

    Cecil Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Well Benitez had to go up against better fighters than Mayweather ever had.
     
    Cecil, Oct 8, 2015
    Cecil, Oct 8, 2015
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  8. Unforgiven

    Unforgiven VIP Member banned Full Member

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    Benitez has a good record.
    I do wonder whether he would have beat Duran in 1979, 1980 if he had fought him then rather than 1982 though.
     
    Unforgiven, Oct 9, 2015
    Unforgiven, Oct 9, 2015
    #8
  9. Mendoza

    Mendoza Hrgovic = Next Heavyweight champion of the world. banned Full Member

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    Benitez was great, but I would not put him as a tier 1 hall of fame guy. To me he's more of a tier two Hall of fame guys. Still great, but not top 10 legend type in his weight class.

    Benitez was a speedy technician ( on defense and offense ) with some power, but not enough of it to turn the tide in a big fight and just an all right chin

    Tall for his weight class at 5'10" tall, he did not have much reach 70".

    IMO that cost him a bit. Speed combined with great technical skills are rare, but when you add length and power to the equation, you're really got something special.
     
    Mendoza, Oct 9, 2015
    Mendoza, Oct 9, 2015
    #9
  10. mr. magoo

    mr. magoo VIP Member Full Member

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    The expression " poor man's" generally applies when a lesser version of someone comes along LATER rather than EARLIER. That's not to say that I think Wilfred Benitez was better than Mayweather. But I'd be willing to bet that if Floyd had fought the first 45 bouts of Benitez career he'd likely have the same record, which would be two losses to Hearns and Leonard with Wins over Cervantez, Duran, and Palamino. And the Duran win is no given.
     
    mr. magoo, Oct 9, 2015
    mr. magoo, Oct 9, 2015
    #10
  11. latineg

    latineg user of dude wipes Full Member

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    lmao, theres always one :lol:
     
    latineg, Oct 9, 2015
    latineg, Oct 9, 2015
    #11
  12. Foxy 01

    Foxy 01 Boxing Junkie banned

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    Benitez's career went downwards after the fight with Hearns, as did his lifestyle.

    Which is a polite way of saying his " alleged " liking for cocaine caught up with him.

    Makes you wonder what he could have achieved with a " clean " lifestyle.
     
    Foxy 01, Oct 9, 2015
    Foxy 01, Oct 9, 2015
    #12
  13. mrkoolkevin

    mrkoolkevin Never wrestle with pigs or argue with fools Full Member

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    (minus the getting battered and almost stopped by Bruce Curry part).

    Tough to compare their careers though: Mayweather didn't reach 140 until he was 27; Benitez had accomplished everything he was going to accomplish in the ring by 25.
     
    mrkoolkevin, Oct 9, 2015
    mrkoolkevin, Oct 9, 2015
    #13
  14. mr. magoo

    mr. magoo VIP Member Full Member

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    all true. But I disagree that Benitez should be classified as a poor man's mayweather. Two totally different fighter, in two totally different eras under totally different circumstances.
     
    mr. magoo, Oct 9, 2015
    mr. magoo, Oct 9, 2015
    #14
  15. mrkoolkevin

    mrkoolkevin Never wrestle with pigs or argue with fools Full Member

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    what does "a poor man's mayweather" mean?
     
    mrkoolkevin, Oct 9, 2015
    mrkoolkevin, Oct 9, 2015
    #15
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