Benitez via decision Pryor was very open and came right at you Benitez would counter him constantly and make Aaron miss more then anyone. I could see some rounds being close to call with Pryor landing more shots but Benitez landing the more accurate and effective shots Wilfred might get knocked down but wins a competitive decision. Benitez UD 9-6.
Odd how people favor Pryor over Whitaker but not Benitez, especially considering how Benitez was the more flat-footed of the two. I'd favor Pryor slightly in this matchup at 140.
The key elements in this fight would be: Pryor's chin Pryor could withstand very hard punches & Benitez was not that powerful.(Maurice Hope Aside). Against Arguello & Dujan Johnson Pryor kept on throwing punches without regard to both fighters above average power. Against Benitez, Pryor would throw even more shots. Pryors Workrate: Pryor would throw many,many shots. With Benitez' great defense many shots would miss, but not all. Benitez' Chin: With so many punches being thrown by Pryor odds are a few would catch & hurt Benitez, that would be the difference. All these factors should add up to a close Pryor decision.
Pryor outworks Benitez in a close 1. Pryor never faced anyone as skilled as a Benitez/Leonard/Whitaker and imo gets overrated a little overrated because of this. Benitez is the more skilled and his defense, counters, movement all cause Pryor problems. But Benitez could be a little lazy especially compared to Pryor and Pryor would win more rounds on workrate.
This might be the biggest pick em Mythical Matchup that can be made. I'm truly torn on who to pick. Pryor was a beast, and his swarming style would give ANYONE problems, but he never faced a boxer as talented as Benitez. The fact that Benitez schooled an atg in Cervantes at age 17 is quite remarkable. He's the most talented fighter that 140 has ever seen, and has to be amongst the most talented boxers in history. With a gun to my head... Imma go with Benitez by close decision.
I guess we saw different fights. I thought the Cervantes bout was a close one and a bout Benetiz loses by decision if the bout isn't held in his backyard. And I sure didn't see a ton of those Benetiz skills against Curry in either fight. I think Benetiz does better against the boxer types that he can counter than a top notch swarmer. Wilfredo was hardly a guy that extended himself by throwing lots of punches and sure liked his breathers in there. But Aaron Pryor doesn't give breathers to opponents and forces them to fight at his pace. And Pryor didn't get discouraged because he missed a punch and got countered.
Pryor UD15 Too much pressure from the hawk, although benitez would land some good counter-punching, but pryor's pressure would be too much.