Who Beat Benitez more convincingly - Leonard or Hearns

Hearns

 

Even though Leonard technically got the stoppage, I think Hearns did. The Leonard/Benitez fight was closer even though the official scorecards say otherwise, and the stoppage was highly inappropriate, in my opinion.

 

A funny thing,I was thinking of posting this question recently and had to double check to see if I did lol.Hearns in one or two of the rounds had Benitez badly hurt but the bell saved him if I remember right,sad that hand broke,just like with Hagler.Ya wonder how effective Hearns would have been with a more durable hand.

 

it was premature, although Leonard would have won the decision anyway. It is interesting how since the fight with Taylor was stopped similarly,,, yet Taylor in my mind was hurt worse than Benitez.. I think Wilfred could have survived that round and fought on more than Taylor, who was seconds away from being knocked out by Chavez.

 

Interestingly, it was said in those days that Benitez did all he could to get a re-match but that SRL refused to give him one. Dunno if this is true but the fight was so close that you have to wonder why they did not fight again. Such a fight would have given both a truck load of cash and a ship load to the promoters.

 

I don't think Ray wanted fights he won already which could be tough. I think a 154 pound Benitez would beat Ray in 1982 or 1983 at the time he fought Hearns. I don't think Ray wanted Benitez or Hearns. He had beaten them already and they were very tough at 154. Top fighters..