What caused Wilfred Benitez to decline so sharply?

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by m8te, Dec 31, 2010.


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  1. m8te

    m8te Oh you ain't know? Full Member

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    I personally think that in his prime, wilfred benitez was one of the slickest fighters I've ever had the pleasure to see. His fight with Kid Pambele was a sight for me, and the fact that Wilfred was just s high schooler with his entire graduating class in attendance is still probably one of the best subplots i've ever known about in a boxing match. I think he gave tommy hearns a headache for a good part of their fight, fought a great, losing effort against sugar ray, and soundly outboxed roberto duran, but not without taking a few big shots.

    My thing is, what happened after that, if you look at his record? to go from winning and losing spirited battles against first ballot hall of famers like the greats mentioned above, to even getting tko'd by a novice in Davey Moore (all credit to him), the same guy Duran utterly decimated literally two fights before? He also lost other very questionable fights throughout the remainder of his career that just naturally make me question just how? and why?

    any thoughts? because i've got nothing.
     
    m8te, Dec 31, 2010
    m8te, Dec 31, 2010
    #1
  2. Jorodz

    Jorodz watching Gatti Ward 1... Full Member

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    i blame magic...possibly papa shango
     
    Jorodz, Dec 31, 2010
    Jorodz, Dec 31, 2010
    #2
  3. red cobra

    red cobra Loyal Member Full Member

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    Who knows...was it physical at all, like some possible neorological change in his makeup,.ot a loss of confidence or maybe both.
     
    red cobra, Dec 31, 2010
    red cobra, Dec 31, 2010
    #3
  4. salsanchezfan

    salsanchezfan Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    I go along the lines of something neurological as well. It showed it self big time later, which means something was probably going on a few years earlier to start the ball rolling.
     
    salsanchezfan, Dec 31, 2010
    salsanchezfan, Dec 31, 2010
    #4
  5. m8te

    m8te Oh you ain't know? Full Member

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    if true, that's a damn shame. I'll say boldly that if Benitez's neurological issue didn't manifest itself early, we'd be reflecting on the "fab four" of boxing in the 1980's, and calling them the "fab five"
     
    m8te, Dec 31, 2010
    m8te, Dec 31, 2010
    #5
  6. klompton

    klompton Boxing Addict banned

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    Brain damage. By the late 1970s Benitez was already diagnosed with fairly serious brain damage.
     
    klompton, Dec 31, 2010
    klompton, Dec 31, 2010
    #6
  7. SLAKKA

    SLAKKA Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Wilfred never trained at all and he was kinda half ******ed to begin with.
     
    SLAKKA, Dec 31, 2010
    SLAKKA, Dec 31, 2010
    #7
  8. PowerPuncher

    PowerPuncher Loyal Member Full Member

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    Allot of us already do....but yes if Benitez carried 160 well I think his style would give Hagler nightmares. I wonder if the drug habit contributed to his issues...
     
    PowerPuncher, Dec 31, 2010
    PowerPuncher, Dec 31, 2010
    #8
  9. boza81

    boza81 Member Full Member

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    Evidence? Do you think he would have been licenced to fight with this damage? He didn't start declining as afighter until 1983. How could he have had serious brain damage in the '70's and won two more world titles. Late '80's maybe he had the brain damage, but late '70's. I think not.
     
    boza81, Dec 31, 2010
    boza81, Dec 31, 2010
    #9
  10. slip&counter

    slip&counter Gimme some X's and O's Full Member

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    Wilfred's biggest strength was also his biggest weakness ala James Toney. Fighters who can do things so easily, what it takes the normal person years and years of practice always seem to have this problem. Actually it's not even unique to boxing. It's not the only reason though.
     
    slip&counter, Dec 31, 2010
    slip&counter, Dec 31, 2010
    #10
  11. Il Duce

    Il Duce Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Too many fights at an early age.
    Chin, very suspect.
    Derrick Holmes blasted him out as a 125 lb. Featherweight in the amateurs.

    The aura of invincibility vanished, the day Bruce Curry dropped him 3-times and staggered him several other times in MSG in 1977.

    Too many fights with tough guys that could hit.

    Should have stayed at 147 lbs.

    Wilfred Benetiz vs Colin Jones,,,,,,,,,now thats a well-balanced fight.
    vs. Donald Curry
    vs. Marlon Starling
    vs. Simon Brown
    vs. Milton McCrory
     
    Il Duce, Dec 31, 2010
    Il Duce, Dec 31, 2010
    #11
  12. Sangria

    Sangria You bleed like Mylee Full Member

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    Half ******ed!?!? I did read that he used to wipe his ass with Camille Ewald's expensive bathroom hand towels. I digress...
     
    Sangria, Dec 31, 2010
    Sangria, Dec 31, 2010
    #12
  13. salsanchezfan

    salsanchezfan Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    I would merely commend him on his obvious good taste! :think
     
    salsanchezfan, Dec 31, 2010
    salsanchezfan, Dec 31, 2010
    #13
  14. Rock0052

    Rock0052 Loyal Member Full Member

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    :lol:

    I think the reported gym wars he had in sparring probably didn't help matters.
     
    Rock0052, Dec 31, 2010
    Rock0052, Dec 31, 2010
    #14
  15. SLAKKA

    SLAKKA Boxing Addict Full Member

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    That was said about both Wilfred and brother Frankie.
     
    SLAKKA, Dec 31, 2010
    SLAKKA, Dec 31, 2010
    #15
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