Donald Curry v Wilfred Benitez. 15 rounds, welterweight.

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by Robbi, Dec 1, 2008.


  1. Sweet Pea

    Sweet Pea Obsessed with Boxing banned

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    I don't agree that Curry would rely on his outside game against a slick defensive counter-puncher like Benitez. It was against the slicksters, like Starling, that he generally went to press the fight to make it a close range affair so he'd be able to maintain a steady workrate and offense. If he were to fight on the outside against Benitez, his workrate would decline and he'd stand a better chance of being countered or beaten. I see him pressing to make it an inside fight, with moments of out-boxing, combinations from mid-range, etc, rather than the other way around as you said.
     
  2. Robbi

    Robbi Marvelous Full Member

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    Starling was a busier fighter than Benitez at welterweight IMO. In many ways Curry decided to fight Starling on the inside due the style he faced, which was hard to penetrate at long range, and generally unorthodox. Benitez relied on suttle head movement and placement of punches, counter-punching, and ducking under punches, etc. He was a more orthodox fighter than Starling. Curry's long range game stacks up better against Benitez IMO. I think Starling gave Curry no option but to fight up close for the best part.


    Why would his workrate decline? Curry himself was a brilliant counter-puncher. And defensively at long range he's pretty sound against Benitez. Nothing to fear when it comes to serious power or a scenario of 40-50 jabs per round. Curry's high guard to block, superb judgement of distance, and punches from underneath at mid-range would cause Benitez problems.

    Curry would fight at arms length like Leonard, circle in the centre of the ring, drop inside briefly, then skip away to set up his attacks from distance, and drop inside again when the moment was right for him to do so.

    Thats how I see it going, for the most part.
     
  3. Sweet Pea

    Sweet Pea Obsessed with Boxing banned

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    I'd figure his workrate would decline if faced with such a defensively sound, slip and counter style of fighter, which could make his workrate go down and cause him to fight a more cautious fight, or push him to make it an inside fight, which is what he'd usually do in those situations, and why I think he'd do so against Benitez.

    I don't think Curry would fight like Leonard regardless, because while he was a very good counter puncher due to his footwork and ability to fight at a controlled and comfortable in and out range, he didn't have the reflexes or handspeed of Leonard, which is what Leonard relied on primarily while fighting mostly flat-footed against Benitez. Curry generally opted to fight more offensively, especially against slicksters who he wouldn't have fared as well against at their game, regardless of whether or not Leonard had more power.
     
  4. Robbi

    Robbi Marvelous Full Member

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    We are pretty much seeing things the same way, generally, although vice versa on how often Curry elects to fight at long range. While Curry's wasn't as quick as Leonard with his handspeed, he relied on his timing somewhat more. Accuracy and timing were Curry's main attributes, which made him such very resourceful punch picker with either hand.

    His anticipation, offensively and defensively, was just as good as Leonard in those areas. Just executed differently. Leonard liked to use the perimeter of the ring and was probably a smarter fighter overall. As I said earlier, Curry doesn't have Leonard's swift movement around the ring to outbox Duran.
     
  5. MRBILL

    MRBILL Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    I'd pick the 1984 Donald Curry to outbox the 1979 Wilfred Benitez. Curry could box, was quick and, owned power at 147.... Wilfred Benitez was a master boxer with a radar like defense, but his power was marginal.... I do NOT give a f@#k if Benitez KO'd Mo Hope in 1981 at 154 pounds with one booming right hand, it was a fluke; never to be repeated ever again by Benitez.... Curry had power; Benitez did not.....

    MR.BILL

    P.S.

    I thought the stoppage that Benitez suffered against Leonard in 1979 was somewhat bogus....... Benitez was tired and cut, but not on ***** street in the final few seconds of the 15th round.... I think Benitez could've finished that fight..... Benitez was behind, and he was going to lose to Leonard, though he could've finished the fight......
     
  6. Robbi

    Robbi Marvelous Full Member

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    Curry's defense was "radar like" as well. Although he tended to block and use his feet to pull out of range, shift around, cover-up into a shell while dropping inside, etc, etc. Benitez relied on head movement more, although his judgement of distance was along the same lines as Curry's. Both are seen as, within range, technicians.
     
  7. MRBILL

    MRBILL Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Both Curry and Benitez seemingly went to hell over night, as well........ Curry NEVER looked the same after his TKO loss to Honeyghan in '86, and Benitez looked timid against Tommy Hearns earlier in 1982..... BUT! Curry would win at 147, in a time machine....... Peace...

    MR.BILL:hey
     
  8. Sweet Pea

    Sweet Pea Obsessed with Boxing banned

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    Benitez looked as good as he could've against Hearns. I thought both fighters showed fantastic technical prowess in that fight, Hearns was simply the more efficient offensive fighter, which nabbed him most of the rounds, though I thought most were close and Benitez fared noticeably better against Hearns than he did Leonard. From comparing the Leonard fight with some of Benitez's best performances, I can safely say (IMO) that Benitez was just not quite on his A game that night. Not as quick, sharp, controlled, etc. Then again it's possible a good portion of that had to do with Leonard, who was pitch perfect that night, and who I'd always favor over Benitez even if he was at his best.

    Afterwards he fell off fast, starting after he moved up and down from MW against Hamsho and really taking effect with his ankle break loss to Davey Moore. Never the same again, and clearly wasn't the same during those fights.
     
  9. MRBILL

    MRBILL Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    I knew it was all over for Benitez after his 1987 ass-kicking KO loss to Matt Hilton on national television.... That was Benitez' most wicked beating he ever suffered as a pro.... After that, I no longer gave Benitez anymore of my attention....:nono

    MR.BILL
     
  10. MRBILL

    MRBILL Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    I knew Curry was fodder in 1990 / '91 when he fought "Nunn & Norris" on cable TV..... Curry was a shell in those fights..... Sickening to even reflect on....

    MR.BILL
     
  11. la-califa

    la-califa Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Instead of Medal, Who would you take if Hearns defended his WBC Championship Against Curry?
     
  12. Mantequilla

    Mantequilla Boxing Addict Full Member

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    I think Curry had more than just reasonable power Robbi.he was a very hard, debilitating puncher imo.

    he hit hard enoough to potentiallu badly trouble Benitez with just a punch or two, though landing them would easier said than done.
     
  13. Robbi

    Robbi Marvelous Full Member

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    Hearns, even though he had problems making the weight on that particular date when he fought Medal. It would have been interesting to see how Curry would have performed had he vacated his welterweight titles and challenged Hearns or McCallum that night. Mentally he would have had momentum on his side of being unbeaten, and also he'd physically have been in-shape at the higher weight. Mentally and physically he'd be perfect.

    I don't fancy Curry's chances against Hearns. The activity level of Hearns' jab would have caused him all sorts of problems defensively. Fighting inside would be his best option, no doubt. But Hearns was an expert at using movement and generally keeping his opponents right on the end of his punches. IMO Curry would also have problems coping with the power while getting inside.
     
  14. Robbi

    Robbi Marvelous Full Member

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    Yeah, but Curry wasn't a devastating puncher. When I said "reasonable power" I meant well above average. IMO, he was a sharp-shooter and point scoring puncher, first and foremost. I think his style really showed his comfort levels regarding what confidence he had in his power. Not a power-puff puncher, although not devasting either. At welterweight he was no Hearns, but probably a notch below Leonard.
     
  15. Flea Man

    Flea Man มวยสากล Full Member

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    I'd actually go for a draw. I think Benitez's defensive skill would rile Curry, who would be missing with his sharp power punches.

    I think they would both box/fight in spurts and I'm afraid it's too hard for me to consider.