How close were the Benitez-Cervantes, Palomino fights?

I find this a curious comment. Im not sure if it relates to either Benitez or Cervantes but Carlos Eleta, Duran's manager, refused fights with both on more than one occasion. In fact, unless Im mistaken, I believe Duran was supposed to face Benitez on the day Curry did in the first fight.

 

Once Wilfred Benetiz struggled with Harold Weston Jr., in early 1977, the 'mystique' of
Benetiz was washed away, at least in NYC.

Roberto Duran was 'not' inked for that fight, he was training for his scheduled Las Vegas bout
with Esteban DeJesus in January 1978.

It was Monroe Brooks that was supposed to fight Benetiz in Madison Square Garden that November night,
he cancelled out 10-days earlier, and Bruce Curry was offered the fight, while training in
Stockton, California.

I know, I was there at Madison Square Garden.

And Bruce Curry won that fight,,,,,,,,not on the scorecards though!

 

I disagree about Weston. He was a hell of a lot better than his record or you indicate. Curry was no slouch either.

Irregardless, Duran had several opportunities to fight both Cervantes and Benitez and for whatever reason Eleta opted out of those matches. I think Cervantes would have given Duran hell. Im not sure about Benitez at that point but he sure gave Duran hell when they finally met. If you watch that fight closely you will see Benitez totally took away Durans right hand. If he can do that and be as strong and effective inside at 140 as he was at 147 and 154 its a long night for Duran.

 

Benitez showboated too much the first time he fought Weston. The judges didn't like it.

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JwU5SnmA5b8[/ame]

 

I just double checked and it was Duran who was scheduled to fight Benitez in MSG on Nov 18 1977. He pulled out due to the flu. Don Dunphy backs this up on the original telecast.

 

klmopton,

I never said Harold Weston Jr. wasn't a good fighter.
On the contrary, Harold was a good fighter, with suprisingly good power, though
his record didn't show it.
Good inside skills. And a sharp veteran, not be taken lightly.

And yes, Bruce Curry, one tough customer, who bounced Benetiz off the canvas
3 times, and staggered El Radar with the first punch he landed in the 1st Round.

I will follow up on the Roberto Duran agreement for a bout with Benetiz in 11/77.
Hard to imgaine he would sign for that fight, when he had a big bout set up with
Esteban DeJesus in January (2 months later) in Las Vegas.

 

It was an over the weight 10 round non title bout and if I had to guess it was a package deal with the Dejesus bout as they were both agreed upon very close together (after the Viruet fight). Duran pulled out with the flu in early November and Bruce Curry was immediately subbed. At the time the book on Curry was that he was not a big puncher (at least this is what was stated at fight time) and so I guess papa Benitez and Wilfredo were pretty confident going in. As it turns out Curry could pop and Benitez found that out painfully quick. One of the sad things, and amazing to boot, is that Benitez was diagnosed with fairly severe brain damage by the late 1970s and yet still managed to compete at the highest levels of the sport. Even more remarkable is that he was basically a shot fighter by the time he was 25. Imagine that. All of those fights and titles and washed up at 25. Its my opinion that this had a lot to do with the fact that Gregorio had him fighting in informal boxing matches in the street for money by the time he was five years old. I have a five year old and I cant imagine putting him through something like that.

 

klompton,

By the way,,,,,,,,,that boxing announcer for the Wilfred Benetiz vs. Harold Weston Jr. fight.
The legendary John Condon of Madison Square Garden,,,,,,,one of the best!

He did mention, that Teddy Brenner (Boxing Promoter for Madison Square Garden) offered Roberto Duran
$100,000 to fight Benetiz for the WBA Light Welterweight Title in early-1977.
But the WBA stripped Benetiz of the title, soon after this bout.

Wilfred one of my favorite all-time fighters.
The father was the proverbial 'blood sucker',,,,,to put it mildly.
He ruined the kid, who did at times, show an emotional imbalance.

Way too many amateur fights at an early age, when brain development is of the
utmost importance.
Flat out stupid risk-taking fights, as the father went for the short-end 'money now'.
Mustafa Hamsho
Davey Moore
Matthew Hilton

You could see this train coming apart, as it headed down the tracks.

 

Hilton was the worst. Had Hamsho been forced to fight within the rules (he fouled probably about 20 times per round) Benitez could have beaten him, as it was Hamsho fouled every step of the way and Benitez just stood in a corner looking confused. I also think the Moore fight was winnable too, but the Hilton ko was brutal. Just sickening.

 

KL,

OH THE HORROR!
Benetiz had no business in their with Matthew Hilton.

After the December 82' loss to Tommy Hearns, they should have taken him
back down to 147 lbs. 'Welterweight', where he belonged.
And in the ring, with no heavy punchers.

Go after a title there, against Donald Curry or Milton McCrory, winable fights and big $$$.
Or pick and choose who to fight at 154 lbs., when the time was right.
Even Tony Cerda was a hard hitter, the middleweight fight he had in 1983 right after Hearns.

 

Curry vs Benetiz would have been an interesting fight.

Marketable, plus both fighters having a lot to gain.

 

Yes,

For 1983 and 1984.
Donald Curry vs. Wlifred Benetiz, could see a 'triple' with those guys.
Throw in a Milton McCrory and Lloyd Honeyghan.

Big $$$$$$$$.

 

Actually this doesn't seem to be true, about being confident coming in that is.

First of all im a rookie when it comes to boxing, i shouldn't even be posting here.
But out of all the old fights and boxers i've watched, Benitez is by far my favorite. I absolutely love watching him and he just recently became a small obsession of mine.

Regarding the quote above:

Thats from the SI.com vault, a great seven page article about Benitez. Il Duce mentions Teddy Brenner, he said this about Benitez and his father:

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1125178/1/index.htm



Leonard-Benitez II would have been a great fight after he beat Duran. That to me is the biggest fight that never happened(i think im alone on this one).
Benitez was focused at the time, back with his father and serious about his training. He wanted the Leonard-money.
Leonard during the broadcast for Duran-Benitez even jokes that they were fighting for the right to get a re-match against him.
I do believe Leonard had/has tremendous amount of genuine respect for Benitez and his ability.


Here are some other SI articles from that time involving Benitez:

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1126376/1/index.htm
Post Leonard fight.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1125209/1/index.htm
Post Duran fight. Talks a lot about events leading up to the fight.
Benitez says he didn't like coming down and making that weight. He wanted to move up.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1126212/1/index.htm
Post Hearns. Interesting words from his father:

He beats Hagler .... Oh yes i did.


If anybody has some other good reads regarding benitez, please go ahead and post.

 

Just did a bit of quick research on that Benitez - Curry/Duran/Brooks bout. I couldn't remember it and it started nagging at me. First of all, Curry was a substitute but not for Brooks, Il Duce, it was indeed Duran like Klompton said. However, Duran did not pull out with the flu. Apparently, Don King put the blocks to the non-title fight, exercising a stipulation in the Duran-DeJesus contract that said Duran could not fight ANYONE before the January fight with DeJesus in Caesar's Palace in January. I guess King was protecting the promotion (and obviously his own investment) by not having a fight blown by a possible loss, KO or cut.

Scartissue

 

Again, I may be mistaken about this, but I could have sworn in the buildup on tv to Benitez-Curry 1 they talked about how Curry was not a big puncher etc.

I could be wrong about that mind you, Im certainly no expert on this era, but Im pretty sure that was the book on Curry. His record was only a 50/50 KO record at the time> He did have some decent KO wins, especially at that point in his career, but nothing I would consider earth shattering. Also, he was far less experienced than Benitez. Benitez was a guy who was always confident. He trained for less than a week for Leonard and look at him during the stare down. I dont think they went into the Curry fight worrying too much.