I think Benitez could beat him, obviously i accept that speed is a killer, but i think Wilfred can offset a lot of Meldrick's stuff and counter to a win.
I agree. Even though Taylor had the faster hands, Benitez was by far the better technician, with the better defense. Plus Wilfred was faar from slow himself. I think Benitez would exploit Mel's defensive holes, and win a competitve yet clear UD.
This is a rather tasty match-up. Taylor's speed is quite remarkable. He might well be the quickest LWW that ever laced' em up. Benitez's hands were fast as well, just not quite in the same league as Taylor's. And speed will be crucial throughout this fight. Benitez's sharp reflexes and foot movement would be put to the test like never before. Taylor isn't just a boxer with a quick jab and straight right hand. He's got those "shoe shine" flurries inside. Triggering off not just 3's and 4's, but 5's and 6's. Benitez's swift counters might not find the mark often for him to take rounds to win a decision. If Taylor comes into this fight with an "in and out" type of gameplan, then Benitez might not land his counters. Taylor's feet were quick as well, not just his hands. Benitez is the far more controlled fighter, and probably possesses the better precision and accuracy. But with Taylor's volume, speed, and more offense in reserve, he'll squeeze out the decision.
Meldrick Taylor is one of my favourite fighters ever by far but I can't see him finding the radar enough to slow him down at all. His hands were fast but Benetiz's movement and reflexes were remarkable
Taylor's hand speed was impressive, but his defense wasn't. I feel the shoeshine flurries wern't coupled with enough attention to "getting the hell out of there", witness his fight with Chavez. Benitez, as has been mentioned already, wasn't exactly slow fisted himself, and made things competitive and tough for another quick-fisted guy, who had a lot more pop on his punches than Taylor, and that was Leonard. Wilfred's amazing radar would be working sufficiently against Taylor, and his counters would find his man as well. He would make Taylor miss sufficiently to counter off of him. It would be a close fight but I think Benitez takes it on points, narrowly, over 15. That's another factor in itself..Benitez had gone 15, and Taylor didn't, how effective would his hand speed be over the long haul of a 15 round fight?
Wilfrez would win a clear-cut unanimous decision by exploiting the holes in Meldrick's fighting style.
I may have to agree with Robbi here. A super fast volume puncher is never good for a fighter who makes his living off point-scoring counters. Benitez would counter a lot, but you can't slip and counter each punch of an 8 punch combo. You'd be slipping a few, landing a punch or two yourself, and eating a few. Not to mention the constant workrate would make it very difficult for the more stationary Benitez (in comparison to other slicksters) to settle into a groove. I think Taylor by hard-fought Decision.
This could go either way! I would lean towards Meldrick taking a close decision, but would not be surprised if Benitez pulled one out.