79 Benitez vs More recent WWs

OK, my quick take:

I hate to say this, but the ONLY fight I don't see Benitez with a real chance to win, is the one against that %$#@ Fairweather :twisted:

I am in a hurry now, so I will elaborate later, but in the other fights I think Benitez has a fair chance to pull a win; and in some case a very good chance

 

The more I see of Wilfred Benitez (I would like to see more), the higher my opinion gets of him in regards to his abilities in the ring. However I caan't put my finger on it, but I'm not convinced he's a big fight boxer. In his defense I also think he was burned out at a young age.

 

I would favour him to beat Pacquiao, Mosley, Trinidad and De La Hoya. Pac and Tito because of the styles match-up purely, and Mosley because i think a frustration could kick in as the fight progresses. The fight with Oscar could go either way for me, that's a good fight, but i think Benitez could take that and i'll put myself out there for that.

Cotto actually matches up well stylistically imo, he needs to be the agressor against any top level fighter to beat them, and he would be here, the only thing is, i think Benitez is better, so i'm picking him regardless.

Forrest matches up well also, Benitez might win again, regardless, but i think Forrest has a fantastic chance. Whitaker i take to beat Benitez, and Floyd- i'm on the fence.

 

OK, here is my take in a Benitez-Fairweather fight:

Somehow, both fighters share key characteristics: they are smart, fast fighters with punching power and great defensive skills. Thus, the fight could be evenly matched.

But Fairwather has a slight edge in two key areas: defensive skills, too smart to fall in some trap, and.... he can take a hard punch and survive.

That means that:
a) Benitez won't be able to catch Fairweather with a decent punch; and
b) Even if Benitez manages to catch Fairweather somehow, I don't know if that will be enough to stop Fairweather.

In a nutshell: even if Benitez is a great figher, fast and strong, he is simply not fast enough and strong enough to take Fairweather out. Benitez can't hurt Floyd, but Floyd can hurt Benitez.

Thus, in my mind, the fights goes in a similar way to Benitez-Leonard: two fighters on top of their games, too smart defensively to be caught easily; but Floyd is simply better in the defensive skills department and in the offensive skills department he is good and smart enough to be able to open Benitez's fine defense and wear him gradually.

Fairweather late stoppage or points :twisted:

 

I would take Benitez over all those guys.

 

I dont think Floyd's power is going to worry Benitez in the slightest.

Wilfred showed he could punch against Mo Hope and Shields, and he really didnt have a bad chin.

Benitez can and will catch Floyd...unlikely with anything fight changing but its going to be a tactical affair decided on a few punches a round. Floyd will frustrate Wilfred but you best believe Benitez will be returning the favour. The will be very few check hooks landed in this one.

I do favour Floyd at 140 and slightly at 147, where I think Benitez was a bit flakey with his performances. At 154 when it was clear that he was training a bit harder, was more focused and he had filled out into a grown man Id quite clearly favour Wilfred.

 

Well, I woulnd't expect Floyd to knock Benitez out, it would be more a gradual demolition process; perhaps a late stoppage, but more probably a win by points.

I agree with that, and again that is a reason I would expect this to be a remake of Benitez-Leonard, with Wilfredo going the full distance or almost to the very last rounds.

Here I disagree, and it is the key point. Sure Benitez will land some hits on Fairweather, but I don't think that he will be able to hit Fairweather strong and frequently enough to get the advantage.

Perhaps, but in that case that would be a MW fight and the question is how Benitez would perform against Fairweather in a WW bout. At WW level Fairweather has the upper hand, I think.

 

Floyd Mayweather Jr - too fast, too slick for WB

Manny Pacquiao - too fast, too busy

Shane Mosley - 50:50

Miguel Angel Cotto - edge to Cotto to break down the passive WB

Zab Judah - edge to WB

Vernon Forrest - Edge to WB

Felix Trinidad - edge to WB

Oscar De La Hoya - Oscar on points

Pernell Whitaker - Pernell outslicks WB

Julio Cesar Chavez - edge Benitez

 

Benitez beats the lot of them. Forrest has the best chance but still comes short.

 

At his absolute best, I'd pick Benitez over all of them...But Benitez wasn't always the most consistant fighter.

 

This is a great breakdown. This is going to sound crazy but I think that Judah would be a more interesting challenge stylistically than Cotto, because of his speed (combined with his respectable power). I would pick Benitez to pick Cotto apart and frustrate him. And I'm fine with the Chavez pick but younger 140-lb Chavez would probably be a different story...