What would have happened Marvin Hagler/Wilfred Bentiz

I always suspected the worst for Benitez if he had ever met Hagler.

 

slick and brilliant as he was, it would only take him so far. this hagler was just a **** hair away from his true peak but he was forming into a formidable combination of boxer puncher and iron chinned brawler. beautiful offensive aggression but still retained the boxing technique and mind to outbox his opponents if need be.

benitez was great but lacked the punch or physicality to hold hagler off for 15 rounds...or even 12

 

I think Benitez lasts the distance. I mean, Vito Anteufermo and Duran were able to do so, and Wilfred was slicker than them. Even face first Hamsho lasted eleven rounds. If this fight had taken place in summer 1982 I think Hagler wins a close decision.

 

I think a Pipino Cuevas vs Wilfred Benetiz would have been a great fight.

Even Saensak Muangsurin in 1977.

 

Benetiz against the ropes and Pipino wailing away.

 

I think this assessment is pretty much on the money.

 

Great as Benitez may have been technically, his best days were past by this time. Not to mention that he would've been out of his element at MW. El Radar would give a good defense early on, but Hagler's arsenal would've been too much to overcome. Hagler would steamroll him.

 

Maurice Hope was having early success with Benitez behind his right jab, then got away from it. Hagler wouldn't have made the same mistake.

Antuofermo, Duran and Hamsho could take a punch. Wilfredo was decked early by an SRL jab, and the right jab was one of Marv's power shots. This is a horrendous match up for Benitez, who wouldn't have the power to bother Hagler in the slightest. The southpaw pocket Liston would be able to box conservatively and still floor him or knock him silly at any time with just a single right jab. Once Wilfred is stunned, he's kaput. Marv had a 75 inch reach, long enough to keep safely away as Hearns did.

 

Well one thing we can say with absolute certainty is that that Duran was a complete bum.

 

After New Orleans, Flash Gordon called him the "Eight Million Dollar Tanker" (a wry reference to "The Six Million Dollar Man" which was such a staple of 1970s pop television culture, for those of you not around at the time.) There are plenty who have never forgiven him for that, regardless of Moore, Hagler, Barkley, etc...

 

With respect to a great fighter in Benitez, Hagler would have ate him for breakfast at that time

 

I think Benitez's countering ability and defense give Hagler plenty of problems but he clearly loses a UD

 

My initial thought was that Hagler would walk over him eventually, but I can't see anything MW Duran did better than Benitez. Benitez carried 154 so well that five more pounds shouldn't make too much of a difference.

If Hagler had trouble tagging an aging Duran clean and was wary of his counters, why wouldn't that be true of a peak Benitez who was probably more elusive at 154 than Duran was at any weight above 135? I don't think he necissarily was a lighter hitter above WW either.

Hagler is the clear favourite, though, but I can see Benitez making him look a bit foolish at times and lasting the distance.