? about Wilfredo "El Radar" Benitez

His head movement was among the very best ever, very subtle but effective movements of the head. Always anticipating, and always looking to counter. Great at that game.

 

Benitez was just extremely well schooled, with exceptional reflexes.

I wouldn't say there's any set way of describing his defence.he wasn't using just one technique in there.

 

..............He had a real calm about him, which probably enabled him greater focus when it came to anticipating incoming shots. That and quick reflexes took him far.

 

His fight with Hearns involved the greatest staredown of all time IMO

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It was very good. He more or less just used it for balance and to create a moving target at times. Most of his defense relied on his head and upper body movement though.

 

Cervantes, Palomino, and Duran found out about Wilfred Benitez.

Rumor always was he didn't train very much for the Leonard fight, plus he was dating Ray's sister for whatever that means.

Hearns was just too big.

 

They were both great defensive fighters, but stylistically they weren't much alike. Benitez was more of a counter-puncher through and through, while Whitaker had a very active jab and was overall more offensively active in general. Benitez was one of the best ever off the ropes though definitely, then again Whitaker never fought off the ropes, his style was to fight off the backfoot, leaving the opponents no opportunities to cut off the ring and trap him on the ropes.

Definitely a great fighter, though he never fought Hagler.

 

I was watching the first few rounds of his bout against Cervantes, and he did sort of get into a 'Pernell Whitaker stride', moving around circular and pumping a poiint grabbing jab. A little like Pea at 135, but the movement wasnt maybe as much as Pea's. Anyway, i was under the impression that he was very similar to Pea after that, then i started to watch more of Wilfredo, and he was different in his style, Sweet Pea (the poster) has really described their differences very well. More of a counterpuncher, could wait on guys coming in and slip (very subtle) at the last moment and catch them, his hand speed was also a big factor for him aswell, he was very good at stepping into his own range and firing rapid ones and then being out of the way, but it looked different to how i have just explained that, it was really slippy! (that's the only way i can explain that part!)

 

That's Wilfred by the way and not Wilfredo.

 

Just out of curiosity, is it Wilfred for sure? Because i have so many books and some list as either.

 

Wilfred Benitez would have lost brutally by Marvin Hagler at Middleweight. Marvin was to big, to strong, and his relentless pressure would have almost rendered Wilfred's defense useless. A bad match up for El Radar.

However, I'm glad Benitez is getting some coverage here in the forums because he is a personal favourite of mine. Here is a video I found on youtube of clips of him fighting Duran, and Hearns. He fights brillantly off of the ropes, and his head movements help him avoid a lot of punches. Beautiful fighter.

I thought the staredown between him and Leonard was the greatest staredown ever.

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