This is an interesting matchup at welter. The Benitez that easily avoided Palomino's onslaughts and most of SRL's for 15 rounds isn't going to be caught to the head much by the onion farmer but Carmen would also keep throwing to the body for the entire bout. I see this close with Wilfredo's cleaner shots giving him the edge.
I actually like Basilio here. Benitez has nothing to deter him, and he tended to be lazy inside the ring (as well as outside). Basilio will punish him for that. Benitez should be tough enough with sufficient defensive savvy to survive but IMO Basilio outworks and outhustles him and wins a decision.
My Initial feeling was that Carmen is too persistant for Wilfredo, and i see no reason to change that view, Try to Box with Wilfred and it will probably bring a smile to his Face... Try to find that Head... and you might think he is blessed with the Houdini Gene.. Go for the Body, Miss with Punches..I, 2 and 3 See what Punches 4,5,and 6 gets you... Repeat Prescription... and Ernest Quantity may well overcome Intermittant Quality... A tolerant Ref who is not shy of a bit of rough-housing... The Carmen'Miranda Rights... Carmen by Late Stoppage...
The Bible of Boxing preaches his sermon, avoiding Basilio's shots with his heavenly radar and picking him apart for a comfortable decision. Basilio is regarded as a brawler, but is a bit too calculating and cautious to rush in madly from what I've seen -- the Gavalan fight being a good example of allowing himself to be outboxed. And Wilfredo had the ability to fight at close quarters (especially with his back to the ropes) and get the better of the action against this type of opponent.
C.mon guys,...Basilio was a great fighter but Benitez was greater...he had the stuff to dominate Duran...he'd do the same to Basilio as well.
He was also knocked around the ring by Bruce Curry and fortunate to escape with a split. I just see Basilio's ruggedness, relentless work and aggression being the right antidote to Benitez' style.
In hypothetical matchups like this you have to factor in the BEST version of a fighter.....Benitez vs Curry was NOT El Radar at his best.
So Duran is the only Benitez performance we can refer to here? At the time of the Curry fight Benitez was 32-0-1, the reigning light-welterweight champ and a year away from winning the welterweight title. It's not as if this was some bout when he was completely shot. I don't see why it can't be mentioned. Gavilan is being held against Basilio.
I think Benitez improved considerably as he matured into a junior middle...I wouldn't penalize Benitez for his bout vs Curry in his 32nd bout anymore than I would Basilio for his losses to Chuck Davey or Billy Graham.
Berlenbach, in other words, you want to take a sub par version of Benitez vs a high level version of Basilio?
