Will his record of becoming a world champion at the tender age of 17 ever be beaten? Wilfred Benitez is never going to appeal to fight fans who want to see gore and concussive knockouts, but there's no denying his boxing skills. Here's a link to my Daily Motion channel video of Benitez against Duran: This content is protected
There is proof to suggest he wasn’t 17. Benitez got bounced up and down by Curry. My Impression is he only looked as good as people tell us against Duran, that was also after the fire had gone out in RD.
I agree that Duran looked lackluster, not exactly gunshy or out of shape, but nowhere near the fierce animal he had been against Leonard who he bulled fearlessly against the ropes and manhandled for large portions of the fight. Leonard himself in the commentary said that Duran was very strong in Montreal, very weak in New Orleans and looked weak and frustrated again vs Benitez. He boxed with Benitez and waited on him far too long.
I stand corrected. He won the first title against Cervantes, (I saidv Curry, my bad). I saw the Curry fight, was not impressed. I was never impressed with Benitez. He did not last long for whatever reason. Once the 80s rolled around he looked shot to me.
There’s probably a good thread idea in ‘occasional greats’ — above lightweight, that would describe Duran (and sometimes at lightweight too, tbf). Joe Walcott (the one from Jersey) also. This idea has got me thinking.
The fact that so many of his classmates from school were at ringside suggests he was 17. And he was 16 when he got his first world ranking.
Benitez was a brilliant defensive fighter, one of the best in the history of the sport. He doesn't get the credit he deserves. In his prime his only losses where to two of the greatest fighters in boxing history in Hearns and Leonard. And if you watch those fights, one must appriciate his unique skill set , though he loss the fights. He coudn't match Leonard and Hearns offensive output. That was the key diffrence. His fight against Duran was a masterful display of his defensive and countering abilities. (All the Duran excuses aside, Duran looked in great shape and seemed mentally prepared.) Benitez seemed to fall off a cliff at the end of his career. Perhaps starting at such a young age (His father had him sparring seasoned pros's in his early teens, in what is described as actual fights, not sparring sessions.) is the reason for his swift downfall. The human body can only take so much physical punishment, and he was showing early signs of memory issues as early as his mid 20's. Benitez's style depended on razor sharpness and timing. Sort of like Roy Jones Jr. Once he loss that unique sharpness and timing, he was just a guy boxing.
Duran always had an excuse. I believe the narrative for this one is they sent Duran to a prison colony to train to keep him from overeating and away from the nightlife (which was his excuse for some other losses). So Duran claimed he had trouble sleeping because the chickens would crow in the mornings and wake him up too early. Or some such.
Yes, I know people who went to school with him and were at the fight I know his sister Yvonne too. He was 17.
Benitez is an all-time great. Sure, he burned out young, but his championship years still spanned 6 years 9 months which is longer than guys from back then who we don’t perceive as lacking longevity. Look at him at his best, he was absolutely phenomenal. Mesmerizing at times like in the Palomino fight.
Duran wasn’t lackluster against Benitez. If you watch that fight pay close attention to how brilliantly Benitez took away Durans right hand, his best punch. He was rendered a one armed fighter in that fight. Those trying to sell Benitez short by saying Duran was past his prime ignore that the same can easily be said of Benitez who by that point was already suffering brain damage. I dont see Duran ever beating Benitez the way Benitez rendered Durans style impotent. Just a bad style matchup. Benitez’ problem was his lack of dedication and the wear and tear he suffered from such an early age. The guy was almost totally shot by his mid 20s and he a complete vegetable now. Thats years and years of fighting at such a young age and taking punishment while still developing. Very sad story. But when the guy came to fight, trained, and with a plan he was absolutely brilliant and his ability to make people miss while fighting off the ropes or in a corner was breathtaking.
154 Duran was never that great tbh, outside of a few vintage performances. Wasn't fast at that weight and not the murderous puncher he used to be at lower weights. His performance above 147 depended hugely on the style of opponent he was fighting. Benitez would always give him trouble.
He was still pretty good in the Hearns fight which was his last performance at the top level. After that it was downhill. He had the same disciplinary problems as a lot of talented latin American boxers.
