Benitez vs chavez at 140

Benitez clearly. He's a nightmare for Chavez IMO. Probably THE worst matchup for Chavez at 140.

I think the key to beating Benitez was to take him outta his rhythm early, but with Chavez's methodical approach he'd let Benitez build an early lead, and once Will really got comfortable (and when he was in shape) he could go all night.

Plus, Benitez is the bigger man, and if you think about, Benitez NEVER lost to a smaller man.

Chavez gets thoroughly outboxed. He was tailor made for El Radar.

 

Moreover, even though he's not as high on all time lists as Chavez, Benitez sure as Hell has the better wins of the two.

Wins over Cervantes, Palomino, and Duran are better than any three wins on Chavez's resume.

 

Chavez by decision with a late rally/knockdown. El Radar can slip and slide all day but the body don't move.
Chavez was old school he broke you down body and then the head. I think Benitez was at his best at '47 and maybe even '54. At 140 he was a brilliant talent but maybe didn't peak until he moved up. Just my opinion. I wouldn't count him out but I think Julio when he first got to 140 was still a great force.

 

Agreed.

 

I think Benitez. The speed and style would outbox Chavez and make it look easy against a guy no one looked calm against. But Benitez had that speed and defense to do that. Too bad Benitez was in that era with Hearns or Leonard, he would have done well a little later.

 

Benitez UD.

 

Agree with consensus so far. Benetiz gets off to the early lead and chaves is forced to play catch-up. Hard to play catch-up and win rounds against this guy if you are down 4-1 on the cards and have so much ground to make up. And this guy being such an effective counterpuncher.

I think he'd counter Chavez to death whenever Julio went to the body. Decision bout all the way and like the Leonard-Benetiz fight, the over/under would be like 14.5 rounds.

 

Benitez by moderately close decision, unless the judges from the Whitaker fighting are scoring things.

 

I agree Benitez’ peak was higher up. I felt 154 was where he looked best.

 

I would agree that he peaked at 154, but still, he was awesome at 140 - even as a kid. Beat Cervantes, and looked amazing against Tony Petronelli and Ray Chavez.

 

Yes and Julio was probably at his best at '35 but think his maturity would play a factor in a fight with Benitez at this stage of their respective careers.
Some are looking at the Whitaker fight but that maybe misleading cause that was 1993 90 fights into Chavez career..at Welterweight no less.

 

Conditioning does play a big role when your facing someone like JCC. Tough guys quit on their stools. He has precision to the body and ofcourse he shifted his attack to the head flawlessly.
You have to keep him off for 3 minutes a round.

 

As much as I respect Chavez ,I see him being soundly beat here .Benitez ,at the top of his game would whip Julio , the score cards though would probably be closer than they actually should be .
Benitez by split Dec .