'11th Grader Is World Champion'

April 1976 (UPI)

'11th Grader Is World Champion'

Within the walls of Julio Vizcarrondo Coronado Public School, Wilfred Benitez looks and acts
like all the other high school students. But beyond those, there is a 17 year-old who is not only
the Light-Welterweight World Champion, but Wilfred is also the youngest man ever to wear
a Championship Belt.

17 1/2 year-old Wilfred Benitez with his mother Clara Rosa, waves to the massive crowd in
Puerto Rico, celebrating Wilfred's World Championship victory.

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More on the 'Wunderkind'

Saturday - March 27, 1976

After a round of homages honoring his March 6, 1976 'Split-Decision' 15 Round
victory over WBA Light-Welterweight Champion - Antonio 'Kid Pambele' Cervantes
of Colombia, Wilfred Benitez was given the 'Key to the City' of San Juan.

On Saturday Night - March 6, 1976 - before a jubilant hometown crowd of 18,000
at the Hiram Bithorn Stadium in San Juan, Wilfred Benitez became Puerto Rico's
'third reigning' Champion, along with WBA Welterweight Champion - Angel Espada
and WBC Super-Featherweight Champion - Alfredo Escalara.

Remarkably, Gregorio 'Papa' Benitez (Wilfred's father) helps train both Champion's
along with his son.

Wilfred's High School Principal, Julio Bentacourt said, 'Four teachers were willing to help
the 17 year-old 11th Grader with his schoolwork, provided he continued his education.
The teachers would routinely tutor Wilfred, and drop-off and pick-up his homework
while he stayed at home to train for his bout with Antonio Cervantes. It was 3-months
of home-schooling, and Wilfred completed the work, the same as each of Wilfred's
highschool class-mates.'

Julio Bentacourt added, 'We were all willing to help, as long as Wilfred stayed up with his
schoolwork. We did not want to see him going through a correspondence program.
Wilfred is an average student, but is a model of respect and courtesy.'

 

In preperation for the March 6, 1976 bout at the Hiram Bithorn Stadium -

Wilfred boxed well over 350 Rounds with his brother Frankie, now the #8 WBA-ranked Lightweight,
and World-Class Professionals - #1 WBA-ranked Lightweight -Esteban De Jesus, WBA Welterweight
Champion - Angel Espada, and WBC Super-Featherweight Champion - Alfredo Escalera.

The sparring sessions took place in the metal airplane-hanger boxing gym that father
Gregorio 'Papa' Benitez had built for his sons back in the Summer of 1973.

Before fighting for the WBA Light-Welterweight (140 lb.) Championship, the 17 year-old teenager
had been competing at 147 lbs. in the Welterweight Division, while compiling an undefeated
record of 25-0-0.

In his previous 'most important' bout, back on Saturday - December 13, 1975 - Wilfred had won
a 'hard-fought' 10-Round Decision over veteran Dominican Light-Welterweight - Chris Fernandez.
The 'southpaw' Fernandez had baffled the youngster with his craftiness, but the 147 lb. Wilfred
'El Radar' was able to overcome those difficulties, and score with the better punches over the
last '4-Rounds', to win a Unanimous 10-Round Decision.

 

Before defeating the 30 year-old (going on 35) Antonio 'Kid Pambele' Cervantes
for the WBA Light-Welterweight Championship on March 6, 1976.

Wilfred had posted only 'two' of what you could call 'half-way' decent victories.

3-months before his Championhip Bout -

December 13, 1975 (in San Juan, Puerto Rico), the 147 lb. 'El Radar' defeated 'southpaw'
Dominican Republic - 32 year-old 'veteran' (145 lb.) - Chris Fernandez with a record
of 26-11-4 (5 KO's) by a 'hard-fought' 10-Round Unanimous Decision.

For the first '6-Rounds' - it was nip-and-tuck, as the 'crafty' veteran southpaw, was
able to baffle Wilfred with quick right jabs, and sneaky lead left hands, and then tie up
the 17 year-old before he could land anything.

But, over the last '4-Rounds, Wilfred was more aggressive, and was able to land some
good sharp right hand leads. They did not have any power, but they were decent scoring
blows.

Most at ringside scored the bout at 97-96, or (4-3-3 in Rounds) for Wilfred.

Though the official cards had Wilfred winning by scores of { 97-94 / 97-93 / 98-93 }

The victory put Wilfred at 25-0-0, and he was ranked as the #16 "Welterweight", at
147 lbs.

It was 'sweet redemption' for the Benitez family, as Chris Fernandez had 'upset' Wilfred's
older brother Frankie, a World-ranked Lightweight - by a 10-Round Decision in October 1975.
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Monday Night - October 20, 1975 (Felt Forum, Madison Square Garden, New York)

Wilfred, at 150 lbs. - took on Argentinian Light-Middleweight, southpaw Omar Ruben 'Piton' Realecio
with a record of 11-4-1 (6 KO's).

The tough 23 year-old Realecio fought good for the first 3-Rounds, but appeared tired
heading into Round 4. Wilfred was just 'peppering' away with stiff left jabs, and an occassional
right-cross to the Argentinian's chin in both Rounds 4 and 5.

In Round 6, Wilfred landed a pretty good 7-punch flurry, and the Referee Johnny LoBianco just
jumped in, and stopped it. Omar Realecio complained about the quick stoppage, and was livid
as he screamed at the Referee.

It was Wilfred's (24th) win and (20th) Knockout.

 

March 6, 1976

'Teenager Upsets Champion'

Cocky 17 year-old, Wilfred Benitez of Puerto Rico 'upset' WBA Light-Welterweight Champion
- Antonio 'Kid Pambele' Cervantes of Colombia tonight at the Hiram Bithorn Stadium in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

The stadium was packed with over 18,000 'pro-Benitez' fans, during the lightly-rained upon boxing match.

The 30 year-old Champion, who was making his '11th' Title Defense, was an early-week 4-1 Favorite,
but by fight time on Saturday Night, the odds dropped to 3-1, amidts some rumors.

Still, very few had given the 17 year-old Wilfred little chance of defeating Antonio Cervantes.

The Champion who entered the ring with a 74-9-3 (35 KO's) record, had been the WBA Champion
for '3 1/2-years', since winning the Championship in October 1972 over Alfonso 'Peppermint' Frazer
in Panama. And the Champion had an 'incredible run' of having only experienced 'one loss' since
December 1969 (6+ years).

The 17 1/2 year-old Challenger, who was at 25-0-0 (20 KO's), had only entered the WBA Ratings
at #10 in January 1976 (2 months earlier), and the teenager had 'not' defeated any top-rated
contender in his 25-wins.

The boxing match in itself, was relatively dull, with very few hard punches landed. And for the majority
of the rounds, it was little more than left jabs and ineffective counter-punches from both fighters.

The Champion, at a rail-thin 5' 9" and 140 lbs., and with a 'spear-like' left jab, was unable to land
his favorite weapon without any regularity. And he missed often with his 'power punch' left uppercuts
and right-crosses.

The Challenger a 'well-built' 5' 8" and 138 1/2 lbs., was at his best when he counter-punched with
left jabs, and mixed them in with quick right hands. The Puerto Rican showed excellent defensive skills,
and used his 'radar-like' senses to avoid the hard punches from the taller Champion.

At the end of the bout, Wilfred Benitez's handlers rushed into the ring, and lifted their fighter before
the 'Split Decision' was announced.

Judge, Roberto Ramirez Sr. (Puerto Rico) scored the bout.........147-142 (8-3-4 in Rounds) for Wilfred Benitez
Judge, Jesus Celis (Venezuela) scored the bout.......................147-145 (5-3-7 in Rounds) for Antonio Cervantes
Referee, Isaac Herrera (Panama) scored the bout....................148-144 (6-2-7 in Rounds) for Wilfred Benitez

The Associated Press scored the bout.....................................147-145 (5-3-7 in Rounds) for Antonio Cervantes
The Caribbean Press scored the bout......................................146-146 (4-4-7 in Rounds) for a Draw

The Champion, Antonio Cervantes received a reported fight purse of.....$200,000.
The Challenger, Wilfred Benitez received a reported fight purse of..........$10,000.

Each fighter recieved the 'largest' fight purses of their career.

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January 1976

A 'few' controversial circumstances revolving around the Antonio Cervantes vs. Wilfred Benitez
bout on March 6, 1976 in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

1) Amidts rumors, Antonio Cervantes, who had wanted to fight Roberto Duran for
'big money', realized that the bout with the Panamanian was 'never' going to happen
in 1976 and probably not in 1977 either, as Duran had no intentions of moving up in
weight for another 2-years.

2) Antonio Cervantes, at age 30 (but closer to 35) had wanted to retire in 1976, and
was looking to 'cash in' before relinquishing his WBA Light-Welterweight Championship.

3) After his last defense in November 1975 (versus #1 WBA Challenger - Hector Thompson)
there were no 'big money' bouts out there at the time.

4) Ramiro Machado (Antonio's Manager/Advisor) had put 'feelers' out to there to
other fight managers, for the right 'price' Antonio would dump the Championship, providing
he would get a 'lucrative fight purse', and a 'rematch clause' within 9-months.

5) Antonio had looked 'awesome' in 1975, with very impressive victories over 'two'
#1 Ranked Challengers (Esteban De Jesus and Hector Thompson), and no other 140 lb.
Light-Welterweight out there looked like they could give him a decent challenge, and
there were none who were clamoring for a chance to fight him, especially in Venezuela
or even Central America.

6) With the 'political unrest' in his native Colombia in mid-1974, Antonio had moved to Caracas,
Venezuela, and had more or less become a 'travelling Champion'.

7) The money being tossed around for a 'Championship Dumping', was a minimum of $150,000
plus a 'guarantee of a return match'.

8} Challengers - Lion Furuyama, Ken Buchanan and Perico Fernandez had no interest. And WBC
Champion - Saensak Muangsurin was locked up with multiple fight contracts for 1976. And former
Champion, 36 year-old Argentinian - Niccolino Locche was not in demand.

* Early January 1976

9) The only decent offer came in from, Indonesia, where new OPBF Champion - 30 year-old and
undefeated #7 WBA-ranked - Wongso Suseno was based. But, very few would believe that
a 'Wongso Suseno' could defeat even a 'badly faded' Kid Pambele, let alone one who just
came off 'back-to-back' impressive title defenses. The Indonesian Promoters 'first' offered up
a 'paltry' $75,000 to Ramiro Machado, but eventually doubled upped that figure to $150,000.

10) At first, it looked like Antonio Cervantes and his Manager - Ramiro Machado were going to
sign for the Indonesian bout

10) But out of nowhere, came a 'crazy offer' of a $200,000 fight purse from Gregorio 'Papa' Benitez.

 

Here's The Skinny -

On January 5, 1976 - Gregorio Benitez signed a contract to bring his 17 1/2
year-old son to fight at Madison Square Garden (not of legal age, to fight in New York).

The opponent was to be the #8 WBA-ranked Welterweight, New York's - 23 year-old
Harold Weston Jr. - It was to be Wilfred's 'first ranked' opponent that he would meet.

Harold at 19-6-3 (5 KO's) had been giving everyone he faced, a very difficult time, and
would 'not' be an easy opponent.

The bout was schedeuled for Friday Night - February 6, 1976.

The contract was for $10,000 for each boxer.

But, with rumors coming out of Venezuela, that Antonio Cervantes was willing to
'play ball' for the right price, Gregorio 'Papa' Benetiz and his Puerto Rican contingent
made an 'unbelievable offer' to Ramiro Machado, the Manager for the Champion.

Mr. Machado already had a $150,000 offer from Indonesia, and he was looking for a
counter-proposal. Enter 'Papa' Benitez who came in with a $200,000 fight purse bid
for Antonio Cervantes.

By January 15, 1976, the deal was 'signed, sealed and stamped'.

Gregorio 'Papa' Beniyez then cancelled Wilfred's scheduled February 6th bout with
Harold Weston Jr. at Madison Square Garden, and immediately began to make
preperations for Wilfred to fight Antonio Cervantes in 7-weeks, set for Saturday Night
on March 6, 1976.

The plan was to have the venue at the Hiram Bithorn Stadium in San Juan, an 18,000 seat
baseball stadium. With a sell-out, the 'live gate' could bring in close to $300,000 - enough
to cover the fight promotion, plus additional ancillary fee's for Caribbean, Central American
and South American television broadcast rights.