Wilfred Benitez vs. Roberto Duran from 1982

''El Radar'' one of the best puertorican fighters!!!!

 

Wilfred Benitez was incredible. I hope people see this video because Wilfred is one of the underrated fighters ever. Too bad he had to fight Leonard and Hearns who took his 147 and 154 pound titles from him, because he was great. But at least he lost to those greats, so no insult there. Duran was sort of confused by Benitez and his speed.

 

Benitez would always give Duran Hell,but this wasnt Duran at his best.

 

This was about 20 years before Duran's last fight. Duran fought well here, but it was Wilfred Benitez in front of him, and Wilfred was great. If people say Roberto deserves credit for beating Moore and Barkley, you have to give Benitez credit for beating Duran here 7 years before that Barkley and 1 1/2 years before Moore. Duran had fought at 154 since 1978, 4 years before. Duran was only 30 years old here.

 

All of that doesnt change the fact that Duran wasnt at his best for that fight,even SRL who was commentating the fight noticed that Duran had nothing in his punches as early as the second round.

 

Benitez had something to do with that.

 

154 since 78? are you sure?

 

Ok I just looked it up since I wanted to be sure, but I knew he did since I looked at his record years ago. He fought 151 pounds in September of 1978.

 

151..that was ring weight right? anyhow he fought at 140 around that time so i imagine that was a one off against some bum. Duran sometimes had personal issues, drank alot etc.. thats why Hearns beat him so easily, just months after Hagler... infact most of his losses are due to ill preparation, personal issues

 

But those were meanigless stay active fights against some bum,dont see what are you trying to prove with that.

 

That is the excuse Duran made at the time and every time, but Duran always made excuses after a loss. Everytime he lost the fans got excuses. So far on this thread he was given excuses for his two losses to legends Wilfred Benitez and Thomas Hearns at 154 pounds, two fighters who were greater than anyone he fought at lightweight. That is a fact. He still could not deal with the speed of Tommy's right hand.
Yet for Davey Moore his fans think he had a legendary performance. Fact is fighting Thomas Hearns and Wilfred Benitez was different than fighting Davey Moore. Had he lost to Moore he would have come up with his binge drinking excuse or his eating two steaks before the fight which gave him stomach cramps. Always excuses on a loss. And the amazing thing is his fans bought it.

 

I am trying to show that he did fight at the higher weights way before the fought Benitez and Hearns at the weight. I admit those fighters were not elite, but Duran could make that weight for a division in 1978 and that is significant. He fought at 151 before Hearns ever fought that high.

 

Seems like there is an excuse for every Duran loss. Leonard even gets blamed for him quitting.

No other fighter would've got away as unscathed (legacy wise) with such failures.

Anyway, great victory for Benitez. He was a great fighter, unfortunate he had to compete with Hearns, SRL.. But in saying that, he was given the opportunity to fight a few future ATGs, and had he managed to get the best of them would've had quite a legacy.

 

Im not making excuses for Duran but just trying to point out he wasnt peak against many fighters. You can see the physical condition of Duran for Hearns fight- and just happens that was Tommys peak and best weight, 154 I believe