Better chance to beat SRL...Cuevas or Benetiz at WW?

15 rounds with a former lightweight.

 

I actually think Rooster is being reasonable and reserved for once.

 

I don't see Cuevas having the tools to beat Leonard. Yes he has power, but Leonard besides having an under-rated defense had probably an under-rated chin aswell. I can't see Cuevas beating him at all.

 

Benitez, and he didn't do the trick.Cuevas wouldn't do much more than probably stun Leonard, he had that great chin, and he would have Cuevas out of there by the ninth.

 

Cuevas is going to be outclassed against Leonard, plain and simple.

 

Guys Andy Hawk Price took Pipino. SRL blitzed Price.

 

Kurvist or Benetiz? Benetiz. Kurvist would've gotten Timmy Nerris out of there though. :hey

 

I can't help but think we should see what Burst ballscock's thoughts are here.

 

I think the key words for this hypothesis is "better chance", i.e. who would have the better chance to beat SRL. This doesn't mean either man should be favored to beat SRL.

Both Leonard and Benitez were far more skilled than Cuevas. Nobody would dispute that. Both men would have likely beaten Pipino, but....There's also no doubt a prime Pipino Cuevas would have had a puncher's chance against any fighter. Hearns was a freak himself and Cuevas could never get near enough to land anything.

However, Leonard was only slighter taller than Cuevas and wouldn't have had the tremendous height-reach advantage Hearns did. It's certainly theoretically possible Cuevas could have gotten Leonard before Leonard got him. One punch could have busted a jaw or facial bone that could have determined the fight. Cuevas had that kind of power.

Would it have happened? Who knows? But certainly it was possible.

 

Before Hearns Cuevas was a machine-I think Leonard would take him but if Cuevas landed flush on Ray it would turn into a war.
Cuevas actually broke facial bones,eye sockets,jaws-the man had stonehands but I think Ray would be too much for him even though it would have been fun.

 

Andy Hawk did beat Cuevas but it was a heck of a fight and it wasnt easy.Price was a good boxer who Ray just caught early-it happens.Price alsoo beat Palamino.

 

Cuevas.

If they fought Leonard 10 times a piece, they would both lose all 10 times.

But Cuevas could swing and get REALLY lucky(Not likely, not even Hearns power troubled Leonard to terribly much), whereas Benitez failed to win a chessmatch with Leonard, which is where he's at his best.

Cuevas KO is more likely than Benitez UD. They were both pretty peak, and Benitez got stopped while way behind on points. Cuevas has that punchers chance.

Really, though, Leonard is such a dramatic favorite. I'd bet my house on him to stop Pipino in five or less, if he felt like violence.

 

Benitez at 154 had a good chance to beat Leonard in 1982. Leonard at WW always would win. I thought Benitez at 154 could beat anyone. Hearns was tough because Tommy with his jab didn't let Benitez box and control the action with his defense and counters. I cannot see Cuevas beat Leonard, but Pipino was quality. I just see Ray win a decision. Might be a nerveracking fight for Ray.