Wilfred Benitez 1979 vs Jose Pipino Cuevas 1979, Title Unification, 147 lbs.

Compelling argument.

 

He did. Just the once against Randy Shields in his 8th or 9th defense.

 

I would in fact favor Cuevas in that fight if it happened in that year (1979).While Benitez was a great defensive fighter he was largely flat footed thus enabling Cuevas to hit with the kind of body attack that wilted Espada in their second fight. And that even thought Espada did box and move.

 

That 1982 fight was hardly Duran's best. Duran was carrying weight that nature never intended for his body and it showed; Duran was slow and sluggish in that fight. Three more weeks of training for Duran would have made a big difference.

 

Cuevas could be outboxed and there were few better boxers at 147 than Benitez.

Cuevas would have to land the left hook and badly hurt Benitez. Bruce Curry was able to do it and almost stopped Wilfred in 1977. A lot of referees would have stopped it but Wilfred was a favorite in NY City and referee Arthur Mercante gave him the benefit of the doubt. Benitez eventually recovered to win a disputed decision.

But Benitez seemed overconfident in the Curry fight and stood toe to toe putting himself in range of the left hook.

In this matchup, Benitez would be well aware of Pipino's reputation and would fight an intelligent, strategic fight. The slow of foot Cuevas would have trouble reaching Wilfred with the left hook. There's a chance Wilfred would be caught and stopped, but more likely he would would comprehensively outpoint Cuevas over the 15 rounds and win a clear UD.

 

I’m somewhat surprised that so many like Cuevas.

Hearns blasted Cuevas out in 2. Benitez and Hearns was a 15-round boxing match.

Duran belted Cuevas out in 4. Benitez outboxed Duran and he didn’t run to do it.

Leonard and Benitez was a fine and competitive boxing match with a fast stop in the 15th.

Benitez also beat an excellent fighter in Cervantes.

Sorry but I think Benitez was on another level in terms of chin, defense, speed, skill, and had enough pop to get respect. I don’t see Cuevas beating him.