Donald Curry v Wilfred Benitez. 15 rounds, welterweight.

Man, I don't know. Last time I picked this fight I picked Curry. I would definitely pick Benitez at 154. Curry wasn't the same at 154 and Benitez had some excellent efforts there (Duran, Hope). I think Curry was a little more available to hit than Leonard, moreso due to fighting range than defensive holes. The only 2 guys to beat a prime Benitez (with apologies to Hamsho) were Leonard and Hearns and a big part of that was the ability to outjab Benitez. I think Curry would have a good chance to do the same. Other than that, I don't think there's a lot to choose between these guys prime for prime. I'll stick with Curry by razor thin decision.

 

I don't know about any of this. Will explain in detail later, in class now.

 

Curry UD.

 

I agree Robbi, that was part of what I disagreed with. Leonard's main edge is that he was simply quicker off the draw than Benitez, allowing him to get off first more often than not and counter efficiently.

I also don't think Curry was any worse at JMW than he was at WW based on his performances there. His fight with Baez was one of his most impressive overall showings IMO, and he was outboxing McCallum prior to being stopped in their bout, something he wouldn't have to worry about with Benitez, and that was even post-Honeyghan.

 

He was more accomplished at WW for sure, but again, he looked just as good at JMW against Baez (and given the circumstances probably should've stayed there) as he did in any of his WW showings, and eventually ended up ****ing himself over by staying at WW, as we saw against Honeyghan.

What I'm saying is that I don't think I'd favor Benitez at JMW if I wouldn't favor him at WW, as there was no real drop-off IMO for Curry, though IMHO Benitez may have been at his best there based on his performances.

 

Let me clarify a little. First concerning Curry at 154. Curry was a remarkebly skilled fighter at 147 or 154. One of my favorite fights is Curry against Tony Montgomery at 154. Granted, Montgomery wasn't a great fighter, but it was a complete clinic by Curry. But the fact remains the Curry allowed things at 154 that never happened at 147 (pre-Honeyghan). Examples: Santos headbutt, Montgomery fouling out of the fight, Rosi roughing him up. Curry just stayed inside much more than he had to. As far as the McCallum fight, I was a huge Curry fan so there's no bias here, but I'm convinced that McCallum would have stopped Curry late in that fight regardless. McCallum was beginning to land some of his bodyshots (possibly contributing to Curry's hands being lower than normal) and Curry's left eye was closing rapidly. Something happened to Curry from the Honeyghan fight on where his durability went completely out the window. Benitez was a more aggressive, strong fighter at 154 than at 147 and 140 (examples being Duran and Hope). He beat up Duran and Hope. He hurt Duran with right hands and slowed Duran's charge dramatically. He also hurt Duran to the body. I seriously believe Benitez would've stopped Curry late at 154. Benitez was strong and physical at the weight yet stilled retained his reflexes and defensive brilliance.
As for my quote "Curry was more available to hit than Leonard". Let's face it, Leonard fought a nearly perfect fight against Benitez. Curry had the ability to fight that way but he often chose to fight at close range, where he was brilliant. Leonard rarely played that game with Benitez. Curry often chose to fight head to head on the inside. Again, he was brilliant, but a guy with Benitez's skill would not be completely shutdown in this type of fight.

 

Of course the swelling on Curry's eye had alot to do with him getting caught by Mccallum.Up until then Curry dominated the action.Pre Honeyghan Curry would have been too much for Mccallum.At 154 Curry was done.

 

Excellent post. I still don't think Benitez would stop Curry at 154, but you make great points.

 

He was an excellent in-fighter though, so he could get by with it, and certain stylists would've brought that kind of fight to him at any weight. He showed the same skill-set and ability there that he did at 154 IMO, and Benitez wasn't the type of fighter to bring that kind of fight to him anyway.

That may be true, the closing eye would've contributed, but Curry was getting the better of the action the further the fight progressed really, and was really coming on prior to being tagged with that one well placed hook. I wouldn't have expected most of their bouts to have gone that way.

True, but Curry was better than Hope, and probably better than the Duran Benitez faced, bigger as well, so Benitez wouldn't have been able to impose his size and reach on Curry the way he would've with a bloated Duran. I think it would be a very tactical affair, with great inside and outside action. I can't see a Benitez stoppage unless we're talking a big bomb like he landed on the more open Hope after the beating he'd been putting on him. Curry was rarely open for that types of shots, especially a pre-Honeyghan Curry whose durability was not in question. That's mainly the Curry I'm referring to when talking about a 154 pound Curry. I don't see any real edges Benitez would have other than defensively. Would've been a great fight.

Agreed, I don't think Curry would be as successful fighting with the same style Leonard imposed. He'd have tried to make it a closer range affair, with bits of out-boxing and feeling out in the center of the ring as well, particularly early on. Leonard just had the speed off the draw to get the better of Benitez throughout most of the fight, along with the reflexes. Curry was more straight up technically and I don't see him or many (if any) WW's having that kind of success against Benitez (then again I also don't believe Benitez was at his best for that fight, though I think Leonard would've always won and was the superior fighter). I do think Curry was generally more offensive minded than Leonard was for most of the bout prior to the late rounds when he had Benitez going. Leonard was content to just pick Benitez off and beat him at his own game for most of their bout, I don't think Curry/Benitez would've unfolded the same way, particularly at 154.