Another intriguing matchup involving one of the Puerto Rican Wilfredos created by me! Lol So..... Who, how and why?
Nino was a good fighter and very popular being Italian and handsome. But Wilfredo was on a little different level. He’d be too quick and rubbery for Nino. Benitez by decision or late tko.
Nino grew into a full middleweight. Wilfred hit his downward slide as his body reached 160, whether that was strictly physical as far as being too big for his body to be effective, or his brain and reflexes had gone into decline at that time, it really doesn’t matter. But Benvenuti also had a fairly full career in and around junior middle before maturing into a full-blown middleweight. So the way I see it … There’s no 154-pound version of Nino that can lay a glove on Wilfred in a meaningful way. It’s a shutout level defeat for Benvenuti and perhaps a stoppage. The Wilfred of Duran and Maurice Hope is at the very least as close to as good as anyone at junior middleweight ever, if not the best. And there’s no 160-pound version of Benitez who can defeat Benvenuti. Just a bit too strong and a bit too good for a version of Wilfred who is past-peak (given that his decline was steep). Take the best Benitez of 154 against a 160-pound best Benvenuti and I’ll still give the nod to Wilfred. Great vs very good.
At 154 I pick Benitez against anyone not named Thomas Hearns. I would have considered Benvenuti a Middleweight but I see he did have a Junior Middleweight career. Wilfred was not good at 160 whether it was just too heavy or he was falling off I don’t know but the Benvenuti of 160 should pound him.
One of the youngest champs ever. it took 15 tough rounds for Sugar Ray to stop him. He beat Duran and almost beat Hearns. Nino can’t come close to those credentials. Like I said just a little bit above Nino in Ability.
I’m leaning towards Benvenuti by a decision due to his naturally bigger size and achievements at that weight.
Mmmm Wilfred was a generational, maybe once in a life time talent. Nino was really good but not special
Pat, I could not agree with you more. The Benitez that beat Duran and Hope was exceptional. The only thing Nino brings to the table that he would have a leg up on over Benitez would be his constant mauling and clinching. I'm sorry to the Nino fans who may think I'm a bit rough on him but I have watched too many of Nino's fights to come up with any chance for him at 154 against this version of Benitez
Love Nino but Wilfredo was quicker and more skilled. Could be very competitive but Wilfredo by decision or late stoppage.
He never came close to beating Hearns and if Hearns would not have broken his right hand he might have stopped Wilfred.
