What if Wilfred Benitez had instead challenged for the WBA Championship , against Pipino Cuevas instead of Palomino. When he moved up to Welterweight.
Benitez would've given Pipino trouble with his slippery tactics...until Cuevas gets PO'd, and then Benitez is KO'd.
Benitez wins a decision by a WIDE margin......... 12 rds to 3 over 15 total.................. Cuevas' skill level was NOWHERE near Willie Benitez' skills in '79 or so........... Power? not really a factor, since Benitez would see ALL of what the slower Cuevas would throw..... MR.BILL
A humiliating 15 round decision loss for Cuevas. Benitez at his best, remember..not an inattentive 2nd rate version of him would have been as "untouchable" as Locche in this fight.
Benitez doesnt have the balls to last with Pipino. Cuevas would break that body down and a few broken ribs later, succumbs by tko.
What makes you think he wouldnt? Of course he'll land. It may take a couple rounds to close in. Benitez' mistake will be when he thinks he can invite Cuevas to the ropes thinking to do the usual. Pipino will do a matthew Hilton on him with left hooks galore and continue his assault until he has broken WB in body and spirit just like Davey Moore and even better, Matthew Hilton!! Wilfred the cutey isnt well suited for a destroyer like Cuevas. Why do you think he picked Palomino as his opponent? Because everything about him reeks of average, middle of the road talent. Everybody would choose to pick Palomino, nobody would pick Cuevas